The final practice session for the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is completed, and the contenders and pretenders get a bit clearer. The top speeds and average speeds of each driver are the best indicator of who will run well on Sunday. Knowledge is power, and that is definitely true when it comes to betting. It is still a gamble, but taking into account the practice times can greatly improve your odds.
Post-Practice Top 5
1. Matt Kenseth: He is working on a perfect weekend. Kenseth has led every practice session and is starting the race on the pole. He posted the third-best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour as well, and based on the practice times, he is the man to beat this weekend. Kenseth is a two-time winner at Vegas, and win No. 3 at the track could be in the works.
2. Kyle Busch: The Nevada native appears poised to give his home track fans something to cheer about this weekend. He posted the second-fastest lap during Happy Hour Saturday, and he recorded the top 10-lap average speed. Betters always have a shot at the win when they back Busch, and the fact that he was one of the strongest cars in practice makes him an even more attractive pick.
3. Carl Edwards: He only has one top-five finish at Vegas, but that was a victory in 2008. Edwards has been a roll this weekend, practicing and qualifying inside the top-five. He had the fourth-fastest lap in Happy Hour and the second-best 10-lap average speed. The No. 99 car appears to have the balance needed to win Sunday, and Edwards deserves a look from betters.
4. Ryan Newman: Newman doesn’t have a lot of recent success at Vegas, but you wouldn’t know it by his practice times. He put down the third-fastest lap of the final session Saturday and backed it up with the sixth-best 10-lap average speed. Newman’s No. 39 is fast, and he could reward betters willing to overlook his past performances and trust the speed charts.
5. David Reutimann: It seems like every year, Reutimann is able to win a race at a 1.5-mile track. Well, that one victory could come this weekend at LVMS. Reutimann had the sixth-fastest lap in Saturday practice and the seventh-best 10-lap average speed. The consistency between short and long runs is generally the sign of a true contender. He has finished as high as fourth at Vegas in the past, and while he looks to cash in Sunday, betters should do the same.
Post-Practice Top Sleepers
1. Paul Menard: There were already signs pointing to a good day for Menard even before he took the track to practice. After posting the fifth-best 10-lap average speed during Happy Hour, he cemented his status as an attractive long-shot pick. Menard recorded five of his six top-10s last season at 1.5-mile tracks. We’ve already seen him notch career-best finishes at Daytona and Phoenix this year, and there is no reason to think he won’t do the same at Vegas. Even a small bet could provide a huge payoff if Menard breaks through and wins his first Cup race this weekend.
2. A.J. Allmendinger: He has been terrible in his two starts at Vegas, but Allmendinger is enjoying an excellent start to the season. Couple that with the fact that he posted the fourth-best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour, and you have some serious potential. Keep in mind that Allmendinger currently sits third in the overall standings, and he is averaging a top-10 finish per race so far in 2011. If you like riding the hot hand, Allmendinger makes for a nice pick.
Check out the latest 2011 Kobalt 400 Odds on our NASCAR Betting Odds page.