2011 AdvoCare 500 – Post-Practice Predictions and Top 5 Drivers

2011 AdvoCare 500 Post-Practice Predictions, Picks, Tips and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win AdvoCare 500: Racing at Atlanta is really two races in one. The 1.5-mile track allows drivers to carry so much speed that times drop off dramatically as tires wear down. Certain drivers will seem unstoppable for a few laps after pit stops, and different drivers will seem to rise to the top as more and more laps go by. As a result, drivers need to find a balance between short-run speed and long-run consistency. The driver that has the best of both worlds usually ends up in Victory Lane.

2011 AdvoCare 500 – Post-Practice Top 5

1. Brad Keselowski: Speed has been easy to come by for Keselowski lately, and the trend continued at Atlanta. He topped the charts in the opening session Friday and ranked fourth in Happy Hour Saturday. He also ranked second in terms of 10-lap average speed in the final practice. Keselowski has four straight finishes of third or better coming into this weekend’s race, and bettors should keep riding the hot hand.

2. Tony Stewart: He turned the second-fastest lap during Happy Hour Saturday, and he posted the best 10-lap average speed. Last season, Stewart dominated the fall event at Atlanta, picking up his third career win at the track. “Smoke” has yet to win a race in 2011, but that could change this weekend.

3. Kurt Busch: Although Busch never turned a really fast lap, it was clear that he had a strong car during practice. He ranked fifth in terms of 10-lap average speed in the first practice of the weekend and jumped to third in the category Saturday during Happy Hour. Busch is a three-time winner at Atlanta and has won twice at the track since 2009. He could make some noise Sunday.

4. Kyle Busch: He had his car balanced during the final practice Saturday, ranking inside the top 10 in both fastest lap and 10-lap average speed. Busch finished fifth at AMS last fall, and he is the current series leader in wins. Whenever he is close to the top of the charts during practice, he is a threat to get to Victory Lane.

5. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex Jr. made a serious statement in the opening practice Friday. He put down the fourth-fastest lap overall, and no driver had a better 10-lap average speed. Despite having just two top-10 finishes in 12 career starts at Atlanta, Truex Jr. could bring bettors a big payoff this weekend if he can back up his practice times.

2011 AdvoCare 500 – Post-Practice Top Sleepers

1. David Ragan: Ragan was consistently in the top 15 throughout both practice session this weekend, and he was a top 10 car on longer runs. Ragan has never had a ton of success at Atlanta, but the Roush Fenway Racing organization as a whole has. Ragan certainly has the equipment to get the job done, and he may finally have the experience he needs as well.

View the most current vegas betting odds to win the 2011 AdvoCare 500 for this Sunday, September 4th at Atlanta Motor Speedway.