2011 Scotts EZ Seed 300 Vegas Odds and Predictions – Favorites and Drivers to Bet On: During the entire 2010 Nationwide season, only once did a non-Cup driver go to Victory Lane. Justin Allgaier accomplished the feat at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, and this weekend, the series makes a return visit. The fact that a non-Cup driver won the race last season doesn’t guarantee the same will happen this year, but the fact that this race was the only one where an upset occurred should have betters intrigued.
Allgaier’s victory wasn’t watered down either. He went toe-to-toe with the top drivers in NASCAR and came away with the win. He was followed to the line by Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle. All five drivers were not only former Bristol winners, but former series champs as well.
In the August event, it was all about Kyle Busch. He led a race-high 116 laps on his way to his second career Nationwide win at Bristol. The victory was part of a weekend triple for Busch, who won the Truck and Cup Series events as well.
The Favorites
For bettors looking for a driver that is always near the front at Bristol, Kevin Harvick, is the smart choice. In his last 14 starts at the track, he has 13 top-10s, 11 top-five finishes, six finishes of second or better, and three wins. Harvick is the safest bet in the field to be in the mix for the win this weekend.
Former Bristol winner Carl Edwards has been on the doorstep of repeat performance the last two seasons. He has five straight top-five finishes at the track, including a pair of second-place runs. With the Ford drivers running very well in 2011, this could be the race he gets over the hump.
Bettors should know by now that Kyle Busch is a threat to win whenever he steps behind the wheel of a Nationwide car. He is a two-time winner at Bristol, and he finished third and first at the track last year. In addition to his two wins, Busch has four third-place finishes in his career. If you like backing the favorites, throw some money Busch’s way.
The Dark Horses
Considering he pulled the massive upset in this race last season, Justin Allgaier is definitely worth a speculative bet. He isn’t a one-trick pony at Bristol by any means, having two top-five finishes in four starts at the track. Allgaier has proven he can beat the big boys, and that is more than a lot of other longshot picks can say.
It is becoming obvious that Reed Sorenson’s confidence is growing by the week. He remains the series point leader heading into Bristol, and he has had success at the track in the past. Sorenson has finished as high as third, and he finished in the top-10 in both races last season. It seems like only a matter of time before he gets win, and betters might want to take a chance on him this weekend.
Sleepers Specials
Jason Leffler is arguably the best non-Cup driver at Bristol, even though he has yet to win a race at the track. He has seven straight top-15 finishes at the track, including six top-10s. Leffler has finished as high as second on two occasions, and betters have to love the decent odds on a big payout.
Big things were expected out of Elliott Sadler this year, but thus far, he has underperformed. A trip to Bristol could remedy the situation, considering he started on the pole and finished third at the track last August. Sadler is a proven winner driving top-notch equipment, and bettors are making a mistake if they write him off already.
Big Names to Avoid
Whether it is the Cup Series or Nationwide Series, Joey Logano has had his issues at Bristol. His 12.3 average in four Nationwide starts isn’t bad, but he has never finished higher than ninth. Since he is normally such a strong performer, Logano’s odds simply aren’t favorable enough when you consider his chances of winning.
After three races, it appears Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is going to be a title contender this season, and he is currently the only series regular with top-10 finishes in all three races of 2011. Despite the hot start, bettors should think twice before backing Stenhouse Jr. this weekend. In two starts at Bristol, he has yet to finish in the top-20.
PREDICTION: Kevin Harvick to WIN at +600 Odds
Drivers/Odds
Driver to win the Nationwide Scotts EZ Seed 300
Kyle Busch +225
Carl Edwards +350
Brad Keselowski +600
Kevin Harvick +600
Dale Earnhardt Jr +700
Joey Logano +800
Elliot Sadler +1200
Kasey Kahne +900
Justin Allgaier +1200
Reed Sorrenson +1500
Trevor Bayne +1800
Aric Almirola +2500
Field +1000
Check out this week’s NASCAR vegas odds for this week’s 2011 Jeff Byrd 500 Sprint Cup Series race.