2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Favorites and Sleepers to Win Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway: NASCAR betting odds to win the 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 this Saturday, May 12th at at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina have been posted at all the major Las Vegas and best online sportsbooks with Jimmie Johnson having been installed as the 7/1 +700 favorite to win the 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500.
After a wild weekend at Talladega, the Cup Series gets back to normal this weekend at one of its oldest tracks. Darlington Raceway is known as the original superspeedway, as well as “The Lady in Black” because of the black marks drivers put on the wall as they try to maneuver the narrow surface. Whatever you call the track, the tradition that goes along with it makes a win at Darlington one of the most-celebrated accomplishments in the sport.
Last year, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards established themselves as the guys to beat, and in the closing laps, it appeared Edwards was going to notch his first Darlington win. However, a late caution shuffled the running order, and Regan Smith took the lead thanks to some risky pit strategy. Without fresh tires, Smith should have been a sitting duck, but a caution shortly after the ensuing restart chewed up most of the remaining laps. A two-lap shootout remained, and when second-place Edwards bounced off the wall, Smith held on for his first-career Cup Series win and one of the biggest upsets in Southern 500 history.
The Favorites – 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
He leads all drivers with a 6.5 average finish at Darlington, and Denny Hamlin has never finished outside the top 15 in six career starts. He has also finished seventh or better in four of his last five starts, including a win in 2010. Hamlin already has two wins in 2012, and heading to one of his best tracks, he could make another trip to Victory Lane.
In his Hall of Fame career, Jeff Gordon has won seven times at Darlington. More importantly, he has remained a stud in recent years. Gordon has finished 12th or better in eight straight starts, notching seven top-five finishes during the stretch. His last win at the track came in 2007, but he has been in the mix for another victory in almost every race for the last decade.
Point leader Greg Biffle has been piling up top-five finishes all season, and Saturday’s trip to Darlington could be a golden opportunity to notch another win. He won back-to-back races at the track in 2005 and 2006, and he has finished in the top 10 in two of his last three starts. Darlington is one of only four tracks where Biffle has multiple victories, and there is a good chance he could add to his total this weekend.
The Dark Horses – 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
Coming off his second victory of the season, Brad Keselowski has plenty of momentum heading to Darlington. He has enjoyed a lot of early success at the track, finishing in the top 12 in all three career starts. Keselowski’s 7.3 average finish at Darlington is the second best in the series, and after a career-best third-place finish run there last year, a win this weekend isn’t out of the question.
Although he has never won at Darlington, Carl Edwards has come close several times in recent years. He has finished in the top five in three of his last five starts, including second-place runs in 2008 and last year. Edwards needs a statement win to establish himself as the title contender everyone thought he would this year, and a victory at “The Lady in Black” would be quite a statement.
Sleeper Specials – 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
He has cooled off a bit the last two weeks after a scorching start, but Martin Truex Jr. should get back on track this weekend. He has finished in the top 15 in five of his six starts at Darlington, including two top-10s in his last three starts. Darlington is one of Truex’s best tracks, and this weekend’s race may be his best chance to snap his long winless drought.
There hasn’t been much for Jamie McMurray to cheer about the last year and a half, but Darlington has been a bright spot. He finished second at the track in 2010 and followed it up with a ninth-place run last year. McMurray has finished fourth or better three times at Darlington, and if he is going to save his season with a surprise win, it could happen this weekend.
Drivers to Avoid – 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
The normally consistent Clint Bowyer has been downright terrible at Darlington. He has a 24.5 average finish and just one top 10 in six career starts. Worse yet, Bowyer has finished outside the top 30 in his last three starts at the track. For a driver that has never even cracked the top five at Darlington, a win seems well out of reach.
Kevin Harvick has been the most consistent driver in the series for the last two seasons, but Darlington has been a trouble spot. He has finished outside the top 10 in seven of his last eight starts at the track, and he hasn’t finished in the top five since 2003. Harvick is used to competing for wins and championships, and he just isn’t an elite option at Darlington.
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2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500 Odds – May 6th at at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
Driver Odds to Win the 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500
401 Jimmie Johnson +700
402 Greg Biffle +900
403 Jeff Gordon +900
404 Kyle Busch +900
405 Carl Edwards +900
406 Tony Stewart +900
407 Matt Kenseth +1000
408 Kevin Harvick +1000
409 Denny Hamlin +1000
410 Brad Keselowski +1200
411 Kasey Kahne +1200
412 Dale Earhardt Jr +1500
413 Martin Truex Jr +2500
414 Mark Martin +2500
415 Ryan Newman +3000
416 Clint Bowyer +3000
417 Kurt Busch +5000
418 Jamie McMurray +5000
419 Jeff Burton +5000
420 Field +1500
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