2011 Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 Breakdown – Beating the Odds: Who to Bet On

2011 Crown Royal Presents The Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400 Betting Odds Breakdown – Who to Bet On and How to Win Money on NASCAR Betting this week: Short tracks provide a unique breed of racing that elevates car control and aggressiveness above horsepower and handling. A skilled driver can muscle their way to a top-five finish at a short track with a mediocre car, and that simply can’t be done at the larger speedways. As a result, drivers and teams that have been struggling this season can suddenly become decent options this weekend at Richmond. For bettors, this presents a golden opportunity to make some money.

Headlining the list of drivers being underrated by oddsmakers is Joey Logano. Bettors need to realize that his 30/1 odds are a product of his bad luck this season and not his history at Richmond. Logano has finished in the top-20 in all four starts at the track, including a strong fourth-place showing last fall. Why not take a chance on a talented young driver coming off a top-five finish at Richmond getting favorable odds?

Another driver getting 30/1 odds to win this weekend is Ryan Newman, and bettors should be salivating. Not only is he having a strong 2011 season, but he has been solid at Richmond in the past as well. Newman is a former winner at the short track, and he has finished 11th or better in seven of his last eight starts, including four straight.

The ultimate steal this weekend could be Marcos Ambrose. He is currently getting 100/1 odds, which are ridiculous for a driver that has three finishes of 11th or better in four starts at Richmond. Last season, Ambrose finished ninth and fifth at the track, and he has the potential to provide the best payoff of the season since Trevor Bayne’s win at Daytona to open the year.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Carl Edwards. Granted, he is having a great year and is a proven winner, but he doesn’t have the career numbers at Richmond to back up his 8/1 odds this weekend. In 13 starts at the track, Edwards has just three top-10 finishes, and he has finished inside the top-five only once. Those aren’t exactly the numbers that one associates with one of the top options.

There was a time when Tony Stewart was next to unstoppable at Richmond. However, the three-time track winner hasn’t won at the short track since the 2002 season. While he has had plenty of solid runs since that victory, Stewart hasn’t finished in the top-15 in his last three starts at the track. At 9/1 odds, bettors should spend their money on a driver with a little more momentum and a little nicer payoff.

At 22/1 odds, Greg Biffle finds himself  being favored over a number of drivers with better track records at Richmond. Biffle has really struggled at the track since the Car of Tomorrow began being used full-time, and he has failed to finish in the top-10 in his last eight starts at Richmond. Even though he is running well entering the race, bettors can get a lot more for their money by looking elsewhere.

He is a longshot at 150/1 odds, but for bettors that want to throw a few bucks down in the hope of a surprise payoff should consider Bobby Labonte. When he was in his prime, he was a consistent top-five driver at Richmond. His numbers have dipped in recent years, but this season, he is driving for the same No. 47 team that finished ninth and fifth at Richmond in 2010. With the best car he has had in years, Labonte may have one last victory in him.

View the most current vegas betting odds to win the 2011 Crown Royal 400 for this Saturday, April 30th in Richmond.