2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup Predictions: Top Championship Sleepers

2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup Predictions: Top Championship Sleepers : Since the Chase format was introduced in the Cup Series in 2004, there haven’t exactly been a lot of upsets. In fact, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have combined to win seven of the nine titles under the Chase system. On the flip side, Brad Keselowski pulled off one of the most improbable title runs just last year so there is a chance that a new trend could be starting. Not to mention the fact that Stewart is currently sidelined with a broken leg, taking one of the best drivers in Chase history out of the equation. With that in mind, here is a closer look at a few dark horse championship contenders that could be worth betting on as the Cup Series prepares to open the Chase for the Sprint Cup at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend.

1.      Kevin Harvick (18/1): It is hard to believe that six drivers are currently favored ahead of Harvick to win the title this season. Yes, he is a lame-duck driver in his final year with Richard Childress Racing, but that hasn’t exactly slowed him down this year. In fact, he has been one of the most consistent drivers in the series, logging 21 top-15 finishes in the first 26 races. Meanwhile, Harvick has two wins and has finished outside the top 20 just three times. Whenever a driver can go the entire regular season with nearly as many victories as finishes outside they top 20, they are doing something right. Harvick’s consistent style hasn’t netted him a championship yet, but he has finished fourth or better in the final standings three times in the last four years. At his current, odds, he is definitely the most underrated driver heading into the Chase.

2.      Joey Logano (20/1): Last year, Brad Keselowksi rode a late-season surge into the Chase and eventually all the way to a championship. This year, his Penske Racing teammate could follow a similar path to the title. After all, Logano has scored more points than any other driver in the seven races, leading up to the Chase. During the stretch, he has finished eighth or better six times and picked up a win at Michigan. No, Logano has never had the look of a driver capable of winning a title, but his recent hot stretch has been by far the best of his career. Not to mention the fact that this is still the same driver that was nicknamed “Sliced Bread” when he debuted as a highly-touted teenager. It took Logano a lot longer than expected to realize his potential, but he just spent the last two months being the best driver in the series. At the very least, he has a puncher’s chance to do the same over the final 10 races.

3.      Ryan Newman (40/1): Newman actually has the longest odds of any of the 12 championship contenders, but he is also the most intriguing betting option of the longshots. After all, he wasn’t even in the Chase until a few days ago when NASCAR’s penalties to Michael Waltrip Racing dropped Martin Truex Jr. out of the final playoff spot. As a result, Newman has absolutely nothing to lose, and he and the No. 39 team can afford to take plenty of chances in order to earn strong finishes. By the way, Newman also enters the Chase running as well as he has all season. In fact, he has scored the second-most points of any driver in the seven races leading up to the Chase. If bettors are going to go out on a limb, why not go with a hot driver that was just given an unexpected second life.

Check the latest NASCAR Vegas Odds and Betting Lines from BOVADA below: