2011 Aaron’s 499 – Post-Practice Predictions, Picks and Preview – Top 5 Drivers and Sleeper

2011 Aarons’ 499 Post-Practice Predictions, Picks and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win 2011 Aaron’s 499: Sunday’s race at Talladega is supposed to be very similar to the season opener at Daytona. If that turns out to be true, bettors can expect a record number of leaders, lead changes, and maybe even wrecks. Results at the track are tough to predict, and with rain wiping out one of the two practices, there is even less information to go on than normal. That being said, the teams did get a chance to complete one full session, and a few cars stood out above the rest.

Post-Practice Top 5

Tony Stewart: Stewart posted the fastest lap during practice, and he also posted the second-best 10-lap average speed. “Smoke” appeared very comfortable in the draft, running well when pushing other cars and when being pushed. He is a former winner at Talladega, and at one point, he finished second in three straight events. Stewart came within two laps of winning the Daytona 500 this season, and he could get a little revenge this weekend.

Ryan Newman: Newman is Tony Stewart’s teammate, and it was obvious that the Stewart-Haas Racing cars had found a little something extra in practice. Newman had the second-fastest laps of the session, along with the best 10-lap average speed. Newman has four top-10s and four finishes outside the top-20 in his last eight starts at Talladega, but despite the up and down record, bettors may want to throw some money his way. The No. 39 looked good on the stopwatch.

Denny Hamlin:Hamlin posted a top-10 lap during practice, and he also managed the third-best 10-lap average speed. It has taken Hamlin a little while to figure out the plate tracks, but he notched a pair of top-10 finishes at Talladega last season. Hamlin is one of the more talented drivers in the series, and he is always a threat to win when he has a fast car.

Joey Logano: Logano joined his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin by posting a top-10 time during the practice. He also joined him by posting a top-five time in terms of 10-lap average speeds. Logano may be young, but he has had a lot of early success at Talladega. With three top-10 finishes in four career starts at the track, a win this Sunday isn’t out of the question.

Kevin Harvick: He had a decent top speed during practice, ranking 11th. However, his strength has always been his ability to make a charge late in races, and Harvick had the fifth-best 10-lap average speed in the session. Last season, Harvick won the April race at Talladega and followed it up with a second-place run in the fall. In other words, bettors shouldn’t forget about him when it comes time to put some money down.

Brad Keselowski: He posted the 12th-fastest lap in practice, but Keselowski’s appeal comes from his past performances. In four starts at Talladega, he has three top-10s. Not to mention the fact that he won at the track in his debut in one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history. Keselowski hasn’t done much on the Cup level since that win, but what better place to recapture the magic than the track that put him on the map.