2011 Showtime Southern 500 Vegas Odds and Predictions – Favorites and Drivers to Bet On: For most races, a majority of drivers are focused on getting a solid top-10 finish while the only focus of those betting on the race is to win. This weekend at Darlington, bettors and drivers are focused on the same thing. As one of NASCAR’s oldest and most historic tracks, drivers will have a checkers or wreckers mindset this weekend. It is one of the few tracks where a driver will risk a top-10 finish to take a shot at the win. This Saturday night, the stakes are high for all parties involved.
Last year, Denny Hamlin became the newest face to win at the track nicknamed “The Lady Black.” It became apparent early in the night that it would a three-horse race between Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and pole-sitter Jamie McMurray. Each driver spent significant time out front, with Gordon leading a race-high 110 laps, Hamlin leading 104, and McMurray leading 71. After Gordon’s team made one final adjustment that turned out to be the wrong one, Hamlin was able to hold off McMurray to seal the victory.
The Favorites
After leading the most laps at Darlington last season but finishing fourth, expect Jeff Gordon to do everything in his power to close the deal this weekend. He currently has a streak of seven straight top-five finishes at the track, which is the longest in the series. Gordon last won at Darlington in 2007, but he is the safest bet to be in the mix to add another victory to his resume.
His victory last season was easy to see coming, considering Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with a 6.6 average finish at Darlington. He has four top-10 finishes in five starts at the track and has never finished outside the top-15. Hamlin has yet to win in 2011, but this could be the weekend he pays off for bettors.
Jimmie Johnson is a smart pick at just about every track, and Darlington is no exception. In addition to his back-to-back wins a few years ago, Johnson’s 9.3 average finish at the track is the second-best in the series. In 12 career starts, he has tallied nine top-10 finishes, including six top-five finishes. Bettors can count on Johnson having a chance to win this weekend.
The Dark Horses
In five of his last six starts at Darlington, Ryan Newman has finished inside the top-10. More importantly, he has always run well at the track, compiling a 12.2 average finish for his career. He has yet to win a race, but he has finished as high as second as one of six top-five efforts. He could surprise this weekend.
He won back-to-back races at Darlington a few years back, but Greg Biffle has just one top-10 in his last four starts at the track. However, his results are misleading. A blown engine and a cut tire ended what could have easily been two more race-winning runs. Bettors can rest assured that Biffle has a few more wins at Darlington left in him.
Sleeper Specials
Even though he has only made two starts at Darlington, Brad Keselowski does own the third-best average finish among active drivers. He finished seventh in his debut in 2009, and he followed it up with a 12th-place run last year. Darlington is by far Keselowski’s best intermediate track, and if he is going to pull off an upset, it could happen this weekend.
Despite being one of the most up and down performers at Darlington, bettors can’t discount Jamie McMurray. His second-place finish last year was one of three top-four finishes at the track for McMurray. Bettors need a sleeper option that can actually win, not just one that can run in the top-10. McMurray may end up wrecked, but at least he has shown he can compete for the top spot.
Big Names to Avoid
His numbers at the track are solid, but Tony Stewart isn’t typically a threat to win at Darlington. In fact, he has just two top-five finishes at the track in the last 10 years. Stewart has never won at Darlington, and considering all the tracks where he has won during his decorated career, the goose egg in the win column should be enough to scare bettors away.
Although he is arguably the hottest driver in the series, Clint Bowyer is a bit of a reach when looking for a potential winner this weekend. He has never finished in the top-five in five career starts at Darlington, and he has just a single top-10 finish. The normally solid Bowyer has an unimpressive 23.2 average finish at the track.
Check out the opening vegas odds to win the 2011 Showtime Southern 500 this Saturday, May 7th at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
| 3 EASY STEPS to BET on the 2011 Showtime Southern 500! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN BetUS Account STEP 2: In the Referall Section choose “Website” and type in “NSAWINS.COM” in details field. STEP 3: Deposit with Credit Card and get a 55% BONUS instantly or Deposit by Check and get a 55% BONUS instantly plus an EXTRA 45% BONUS by emailing your account # to [email protected] with “BetUS 100% BONUS” in the subject line. |
Check our NSAwins.com daily for the latest updated NASCAR gambling odds from BoDog.