2011 Hollywood Casino 400 – Post-Practice Predictions

2011 Hollywood Casino 400 Post-Practice Predictions, Picks, Tips and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win Hollywood Casino 400: Kansas Speedway has seen its share of crazy finishes, including a few upsets. One constant theme in both the upset victories and wins by the big names has been fuel mileage. For whatever reason, the 1.5-mile track always seems to come down to whether or not a few drivers can stretch their fuel to the finish. With the championship hanging in the balance, it will be interesting to see if the crew chiefs of the drivers in the Chase will be willing to risk running out of gas in order to pick up a win.

2011 Hollywood Casino 400 – Post-Practice Top 5

1. Matt Kenseth: After posting the fifth-best average speed in the first practice Saturday, Kenseth showed even more muscle in Happy Hour. He posted the third-fastest lap in the session and the top 10-lap average speed. Kenseth has back-to-back finishes of seventh or better at the track, and he has been one of the best at 1.5-mile tracks this year. Starting in the top five, he should be a threat to win Sunday.

2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson was strong from start to finish in the practice sessions Saturday. He posted the second-fastest lap in the first session, along with the third-best 10-lap average speed. Johnson followed it up with the fourth-fastest lap in Happy hour and the third-best 10-lap average speed. Johnson is riding a streak of five straight top-10 finishes at Kansas, and he is always a threat to win come playoff time.  

3. Carl Edwards: He showed plenty of speed in both practices, recording the third-fastest lap in the opening session and the sixth-fastest lap in Happy Hour. Edwards has finished in the top 10 in his last four starts at Kansas and has finished as high as second. He has been one of the best all year at the 1.5-mile tracks, and the current series point leader should make plenty of noise Sunday.

4. Greg Biffle: Biffle showed a little bit of everything during the practice sessions Saturday. He recorded the fifth-fastest lap in the first session of the afternoon and had the seventh-best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour. Biffle is also the defending winner of this weekend’s race, and he has finished in the top three six times in 10 starts.

5. Clint Bowyer: The Kansas native has made it clear he wants to win at his home track, and based on his practice times, he might have a car to get the job done this weekend. After posting the 12th-fastest lap in the first session Saturday, Bowyer topped the charts in Happy Hour. He also posted the second-best 10-lap average speed in both sessions. Bowyer could give the fans something to cheer about this weekend.

2011 Hollywood Casino 400 – Post-Practice Top Sleeper

1. David Ragan: Ragan was as stout as any driver in the field during practice Saturday. He posted the fourth-fastest lap in the opening session and jumped to second on the charts in the final practice. He also recorded the fifth-best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour and the best average speed in the opening practice. Ragan has never even had a top-five finish at Kansas, but he appears to have a car more than capable of pulling off an upset.

View the most current vegas betting odds to win the 2011 Hollywood Casino 400 for this Sunday, October 9th at Kansas Speedway.