2011 STP 400 – Post-Practice Predictions and Top 5 Drivers

2011 STP 400 Post-Practice Predictions, Picks and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win 2011 STP 400: Kansas Speedway has seen plenty of milestones in its relatively brief tenure on the Cup Series schedule. From non-Chasers winning playoff races to darkness ending a race early, the track has been full of surprises. This weekend, the first-ever spring race at Kansas could hold a whole new set of surprises for drivers. Track conditions are expected to be drastically different than in the fall, which means new faces could emerge as contenders this weekend.

Post-Practice Top 5

Greg Biffle: He entered the weekend as the pre-race favorite, and he cemented his status following the practice sessions Friday. Biffle posted the top overall speed in the first practice, and he followed it up with the best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour. The two-time Kansas winner has finished third or better in six of his last seven starts at the track, and bettors should consider him the No. 1 option this weekend.

Jeff Gordon: He had plenty of speed throughout the practice sessions, posting the fifth-fastest lap in the opening session and the second-fastest lap in Happy Hour. He also added the second-best 10-lap average speed in the final practice. Gordon is a two-time Kansas winner and has finished in the top five in his last five starts at the track. Bettors should consider him a legit contender Sunday.

Tony Stewart: Stewart started practice with a bang, posting the fourth-fastest lap in the first session, along with the second-best 10-lap average speed. He has a pair of wins at Kansas during his career, and he has finished fourth or better five times. Stewart led the most laps at the track last fall, and he always seems to be in the mix for the win.

Carl Edwards: The 1.5-mile tracks have been his specialty this year, and Edwards has another chance to show his stuff this weekend. He put down the second-fastest lap in the opening session Friday and followed it up with the eighth-fastest lap in Happy Hour. Edwards has plenty of top-10 finishes at Kansas, and he may finally get his first win at the track this weekend.

Matt Kenseth: Long green flag runs have been common at Kansas, and Kenseth had the No. 17 hooked up on longer runs. He recorded the third-best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour, and he did manage the 12th-fastest lap in the opening session as well. Kenseth has already won a race at a 1.5-mile track in 2011, and he has led the most laps in two of the events.

Post-Practice Top Sleeper

David Ragan: Like all the Roush Fenway Racing drivers, Ragan has been excellent at the 1.5-mile tracks this year. He posted the 10-th-fastest lap in Happy Hour Friday at Kansas, and he also recorded the best 10-lap average speed in the opening session. Ragan’s second-place finish at Charlotte last weekend was no fluke, and he appears poised to win a race in the very near future.

View the most current vegas betting odds to win the 2011 STP 400 for this Sunday, June 5th at Kansas Speedway.