2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown Odds, Predictions and Free Picks – Favorites and Drivers Lines to Win NASCAR Sprint Showdown:NASCAR betting odds to win the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown this Friday, May 20th at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina have been posted at all the major Las Vegas and online sportsbooks and Dale Earnhardt Jr has been installed as the +300 favorite to win the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown. While 19 drivers are already locked into the 2011 All-Star Race, three spots are still up for grabs. Two of those spots will be filled during the Sprint Showdown – a qualifying race where the top-two finishers transfer to the main event. The event is split into two 20-lap segments with an optional pit stop in between, and like the All-Star Race, it is held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In many ways, the qualifying race is even more intense than the All-Star Race itself. After all, the only thing more exciting than watching drivers race for $1 million is watching them race for one last chance to race for $1 million.
Last season, a host of big names were fighting for the two transfer spots. Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya were expected to be the four main contenders, but Martin Truex Jr. had other ideas. Taking advantage of track position, Truex Jr. kept his No. 56 Toyota out front during the second half of the race to secure the win and a spot in the All-Star Race. Biffle ended up second, claiming the final transfer spot in the process.
The Favorites
Not only has Kasey Kahne won the All-Star Race in the past, but he actually won the event despite starting dead last. More importantly, he is one of the best in the series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His three wins at the track since the start of the 2006 season are the most in the series, and he ranks in the top five in terms of average finish at Charlotte. Kahne should be able to transfer to the All-Star Race, and he is a threat to win it all if he does.
Joey Logano has had his share of struggles in 2011, but Charlotte Motor Speedway has always been kind to him. In fact, he leads all active drivers with an 8.5 average finish at the track. Logano has finished 13th or better in all four of his starts at the track and has finished inside the top-10 three times. He is more than capable of grabbing a transfer spot.
The Dark Horses
He missed all he races at Charlotte last season dealing with an illness, but Brian Vickers could return with a vengeance this weekend. In his last May start at the track, he led the second-most laps and finished fifth. More importantly, he has won the Sprint Showdown\ and has the aggressive style needed to win a shootout-style event.
The 1.5-mile tracks are his specialty, and Charlotte Motor Speedway is no exception for Paul Menard. He recorded five of his six top-10 finishes last season at 1.5-mile tracks, including an eighth-place finish at Charlotte in May. It remains to be seen if he can take the next step and win a race, but Menard should be in contention for a transfer spot at the very least.
Sleepers Specials
Believe it or not, Bobby Labonte actually has the third-best average finish at Charlotte since the start of the 2001 season. For whatever reason, the veteran continues to run well at this 1.5-mile track. Armed with some decent equipment for the first time in years, Labonte is more than capable of surprising the competition and grabbing one of the transfer spots.
The numbers don’t point to Marcos Ambrose being a contender at Charlotte, but he has never made a start at the track since joining Richard Petty Motorsports. The new organization has vastly improved his performance on the intermediate oval tracks. Already this season, Ambrose has finished fourth at Las Vegas, sixth at Texas and third at Dover. He could have a career night at Charlotte this weekend.
Big Names to Avoid
Since winning at Charlotte in 2008, Jeff Burton has struggled at the 1.5-mile track. He has failed to crack the top 10 in his four starts since the victory, finishing 20th or worse three times. With Burton struggling overall in 2011 and his performance at Charlotte slipping, it is best for bettors to stay away from him this weekend.
The immense popularity of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will probably earn him a spot in the All-Star Race via the fan vote, but don’t count on him racing his way in. After all, Junior has finished 22nd or worse in five straight starts at Charlotte. Granted, he is having his best season in several years, but he has shown no signs of life at this 1.5-mile track.
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Be sure to check the NSAwins.com Betting Daily Blog all week for updated All-Star Race odds, free picks, predictions and articles from NASCAR expert Brian Polking. NSAwins.com is your home for 2011 Sprint All-Star Race Betting and Handicapping coverage!
2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown Odds – May 20th
Driver Odds to Win the NASCAR All-Star Race
Driver to win the Sprint Showdown
1301 Dale Earnhardt Jr +300
1302 Martin Truex Jr +500
1303 Jeff Burton +600
1304 Brian Vickers +700
1305 Joey Logano +800
1306 AJ Allmendinger +1000
1307 David Ragan +1000
1308 Paul Menard +1000
1309 Brad Keselowski +1200
1310 Marcos Ambrose +1200
1311 Bobby Labonte +2500
1312 Field +1000
Check the latest NASCAR Betting Odds and Lines from BoDog below: