2011 NASCAR All-Star Race – Post-Practice Predictions and Top 5 Drivers

2011 Sprint All-Star Race Post-Practice Predictions, Picks and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win 2011 Sprint All-Star Race: Given the unique format of the All-Star Race, including multiple segments with breaks in between, practice times don’t mean as much this weekend as they normally would. That being said, picking a driver with a fast car is never a bad strategy in any format. Drivers with the fastest cars are going to be better equipped to recover from the field jumbling that goes on in between the segments as teams opt for different pit strategies.

Post-Practice Top 5

1. Kyle Busch: Busch topped the only practice session for the All-Star Race, and he has been one of the top drivers at Charlotte for several years. He has seven straight top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish last fall. Busch appeared to be on his way to winning last year’s All-Star Race until his own teammate put him in the wall. He will be out to make amends Saturday night as he starts from the pole.
2. Carl Edwards: In addition to putting down the second-fastest lap during practice, Edwards has been establishing himself as the top driver at 1.5-mile tracks in 2011. He won at Las Vegas and finished second at Darlington a few weeks ago. Ford drivers have been dominating the intermediate tracks this year, and Edwards is leading the charge.
3. Kasey Kahne: Kahne has been hitting his stride lately, and the momentum carried into Charlotte. He recorded the fourth-fastest lap in the lone practice session, and he already has one win in the All-Star Race in his career. More importantly, Kahne’s four victories at Charlotte since the start of the 2006 season are the most in the series.
4. Jimmie Johnson: He posted a solid top-10 lap during practice, and Johnson brings an unmatched resume into Saturday’s race. In addition to a pair of wins in the All-Star Race, Johnson has amassed six wins at Charlotte during the regular season. Not to mention the fact that he led the most laps in last year’s All-Star Race. He will be a contender.
5. Denny Hamlin: Last year’s series leader in wins has been slowly regaining his form, and in a winner-take-all event like the All-Star Race, the pressure of winning a championship should be off his shoulders for at least a night. A relaxed Hamlin is a threat to win, and his top-10 time during practice cemented his status as a threat.

Post-Practice Top Sleeper

1. Regan Smith: Smith has been a different driver since his win at Darlington, and it is amazing what a little bit of confidence can do for a race team. He posted a top-10 time during practice, and he has been a consistent top-20 threat at Charlotte during the regular season. With nothing to lose and plenty of momentum, Smith’s team will be more than willing to take another pit road gamble to pull an upset.

View the most current NASCAR Gambling Odds for the 2011 Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 21st in Charlotte, NC.