2011 Kobalt Tools 500: Betting on Underdogs for Big Payoffs

2011 Kobalt Tools 500 Expert Picks: Betting on Underdogs for Big Payoffs – How to Bet on the 2011 Kobalt Tools 500: In the Cup Series, the multi-car, powerhouse organizations tend to have an advantage. However, when the playing field is leveled for whatever reason, the recipe for an upset exists. When the series visits Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, the newly repaved and reconfigured track will pose an equal challenge to every team. Drivers will be facing the new layout for the first time under race conditions, and nobody knows exactly what to expect. It is a real possibility that big names that have had a ton of success in the past could struggle this weekend. As a result, the door could be open for some less known drivers, and A.J. Allmendinger and Mark Martin could cash in.

Martin has had a forgettable season in his final year with Hendrick Motorsports, but Phoenix has always been one of his best tracks. He has finished inside the top 20 in his last 20 starts at the track, picking up 11 top-10 finishes during the stretch. Martin’s 8.7 average finish during the same span is the second best in the series. Despite the incredible overall numbers, he is a 40/1 longshot to win this weekend.

He has been even stronger in recent years, finishing in the top 10 in four of his last five starts. During the stretch, he has three finishes of fourth or better, including a win. Martin’s victory was part of a recent run of dominance for Hendrick Motorsports. HMS drivers have combined to win six of the last eight races at Phoenix. Martin’s teammate Jeff Gordon won at the track in February, and if Martin completes a season sweep for the organization, bettors will hit it big.

While Martin has a history of elite finishes, Allmendinger is more of a speculative pick. On the plus side, his 60/1 odds mean that bettors stand to make even more money if he breaks through and wins this weekend. He is trending in the right direction, finishing in the top 15 in three of his last four starts at Phoenix. He also recorded a career-best ninth-place finish at the track earlier this season.

Allmendinger has the somewhat unenviable title of being considered the best driver in the series without a victory. However, his best opportunities have often come at flat tracks, and PIR falls into that category. He has been steadily improving at Phoenix in his recent starts, and if he builds on his top-10 run from February, Allmendinger could be a legitimate player for the win this Sunday. At his current odds, bettors will want to think long and hard about taking a shot on him.

View the most current 2011 Kobalt Tools 500 Odds for the 2011 Kobalt Tools 500 this Sunday, November 13th at Phoenix International Raceway.