2011 BUBBA Burger 250 Vegas Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Favorites and Drivers to Bet On: Richmond International Raceway is a favorite track of both drivers and fans, and as a result, big names tend to turn it in full force whenever the series visits the track. While the Cup drivers that pull double duty have dominated Victory Lane, the racing between the double dippers and the series regulars has been surprisingly competitive. While the upsets have been few and far between, there are usually several wildcard drivers running near the front at the end of races. At a track famous for late race bump-and-run passes, you can never rule out an unexpected gace showing up in Victory Lane.
In the May race, Brad Keselowski had the fastest car, but a late caution nearly cost him the race. When Keselowski and the other leaders stopped for tires, Kyle Busch and others stayed on the track. The final restart came with just two laps to go, but Keselowski was still able to charge back to the front on his fresh tires to pick up the win. He led 189 of the 252 laps on the night.
There wasn’t nearly as much drama in the fall event. Kevin Harvick started on the pole, led the most laps, and delivered a definitive victory. Keselowski did lead 35 laps in his attempt at a season sweep, but he was forced to settle for second. The non-Cup drivers had a strong showing as well, grabbing three of the top-five spots.
The Favorites
His victory in the fall race last season was the latest in a long list of accomplishments at Richmond for Kevin Harvick. He has won five times at the short track since the start of the 2001 season, compiling a 6.3 average finish. In his last 18 starts at RIR, Harvick has 15 top-10s, including six straight.
Carl Edwards is starting to regain his elite form in the Nationwide Series, and another victory could be in the works this weekend. He has 10 top-10 finishes in 12 starts at Richmond and has compiled a 7.1 average finish for his career. Edwards is a three-time winner at the track, and he is riding a seven-race streak of top-10 finishes at RIR.
The Dark Horses
Don’t be fooled by his mediocre 17.1 average finish. Brad Keselowski is a serious threat to win at Richmond this weekend. He is the defending winner of Friday’s race, and he has finished fourth or better in his last four starts at the track. Keselowski has shaken off a slow start at RIR and is now one of the track’s elite.
Although he has yet to win at Richmond, Joey Logano has been near the front in all three of his starts at the track in the Nationwide Series. He has a 6.3 average finish, finishing seventh or better in all three starts. Logano is still looking for his first short track win, but that could change after Saturday’s race.
Sleepers Specials
After some ups and down in the early season, Trevor Bayne is once again a major player for the series title. He could move closer to the top spot this weekend when the series heads to Richmond. Bayne has finished in the top-10 in two of his three starts at the track, including a career-best third-place run last fall.
Reed Sorenson has shown this season that he isn’t afraid to tangle with the big names in NASCAR, and he should be in the thick of things again this weekend. He has finished in the top-10 in four straight starts at Richmond and in five of his last six. Sorenson finished in the top-five at the track last fall, and he is more than capable of pulling an upset at RIR.
Big Names to Avoid
He is enjoying a successful year, but Jason Leffler has had his share of issues at Richmond. In his last 10 starts at the track, he has managed just a single top-10 finish. More importantly, he has seven finishes of 20th or worse during the stretch.
There have been countless cases of drivers trying too hard to win at their home track, and Elliott Sadler is guilty of just that at Richmond. After nearly winning in his first attempt, his performance has steadily declined. Sadler has finished outside the top-10 in his last three starts at the track, and he is simply putting too much pressure on himself.
Odds to win the Bubba Burger 250 – 2011 Bubba Burger 250 – Richmond International Raceway – Friday, April 29, 2011
Carl Edwards 9/5
Denny Hamlin 2/1
Brad Keselowski 7/2
Justin Allgaier 10/1
Paul Menard 10/1
Aric Almirola 12/1
Elliot Sadler 12/1
Reed Sorenson 18/1
Trevor Bayne 18/1
Ricky Stenhouse 20/1
Jason Leffler 20/1
Field 5/1
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Check out the latest Sprint Cup Drivers Power Rankings from NSAwins.com’s senior NASCAR writer Brian Polking.