2013 GoBowling.com 400 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Vegas Favorites and Sleepers: The Cup Series heads back to Pocono Raceway this weekend, and if Jimmie Johnson’s car is anywhere near as strong as it was when the series visited the 2.5-mile, triangle-shaped track in June, the rest of the field could be in for a long afternoon. In the June event, Johnson started on the pole and never really looked back. He led 128 of the 160 laps and cruised to an easy victory.
Last August, Johnson was also in control of the race, but a flat tire eventually handed the win to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Johnson led a race-high 44 laps and was out front on a restart with rain moving in. However, he cut a tire entering Turn 1 and washed up the track, taking out Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin in the process. Meanwhile, Gordon skated through the melee to emerge with the lead, and when rain ended the race a few laps later, Gordon went to victory lane.
2013 GoBowling.com 400 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Favorites
Throw out what Jimmie Johnson did at Pocono in June, and he would still be among the favorites to win this weekend. After all, his 8.5 average finish at the track is the best in the series, and he had finished in the top five in four of his last six starts heading into this season. Add in his dominating victory at the track a few weeks ago when he led 128 of the 160 laps, and there is no doubt that Johnson has a good chance to break out the brooms this weekend and complete the season sweep.
Since joining the series in 2005, no driver has been to victory lane at Pocono more times than Denny Hamlin. In addition to his series-leading four wins at the track during the stretch, he has finished sixth or better nine times in 15 starts. Hamlin has also led the second-most laps of any driver during the last five races at Pocono so it’s not like he is slowing down any.
Heading into this weekend’s race, no driver has a longer active streak of top-five finishes at Pocono than Tony Stewart. He has reeled off three straight top-fives and has six in his last 10 starts at the track. Stewart is already a two-time winner at Pocono, and he is a threat to add to that total whenever the series visits the triangle-shaped track.
The Dark Horses
Coming off a huge win at Indianapolis, Ryan Newman might not be finished winning races. After all, he is a former winner at Pocono, and he has been one of the most consistent drivers at the track in recent years. Newman has cracked the top 15 in his last 10 starts at Pocono, and more importantly, he has finished sixth or better in three of his last four starts. Throw in the fact that the corners at Indy and Pocono are very similar, and the setup that had him kissing the bricks last weekend could have him in victory lane again Sunday.
While he may not pile up wins like he used to in his prime, Jeff Gordon has actually been getting better with age at Pocono. He is the defending winner of this weekend’s race, and he is a six-time winner at the track overall. Three of those victories have come since 2007, and during the stretch, he has finished sixth or better seven times.
Sleeper Special
Although he has missed the last three races at Pocono and has raced just twice at the track since 2010, Brian Vickers is still worth gambling on this weekend when he gets behind the wheel of the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 machine. After all, he did win at New Hampshire in his last start in the car a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, he has nine top-15 finishes in 14 starts at Pocono and has finished fourth or better four times, including a pair of second-place runs.
Big Name to Avoid
Although he is tied for the series lead with four wins in 2013, bettors may want to think twice before trusting Matt Kenseth this weekend. For one, he has managed just two top-10s in his last 10 starts at Pocono. Meanwhile, he has managed just a single top-five finish in his last 20 starts and is winless at the track for his career. Kenseth has gone 14 starts at Pocono without cracking the top five so it would be a major surprise to see him end up in victory lane Sunday.
Be sure to check the NSAwins.com Betting Daily Blog all week for updated 2013 GoBowling.com 400 odds, free tips, free picks, predictions and articles from NASCAR expert tipster Brian Polking. NSAwins.com is your home for 2013 GoBowling.com 400 Betting Odds and Handicapping coverage!
Odds to win the Nascar 2013 GoBowling.com 400
Jimmie Johnson 3/1
Kasey Kahne 7/1
Tony Stewart 7/1
Denny Hamlin 9/1
Kyle Busch 10/1
Matt Kenseth 10/1
Jeff Gordon 10/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 12/1
Kurt Busch 15/1
Kevin Harvick 15/1
Ryan Newman 15/1
Joey Logano 25/1
Carl Edwards 25/1
Greg Biffle 25/1
Brad Keselowski 25/1
Clint Bowyer 30/1
Martin Truex Jr 30/1
Jamie McMurray 40/1
Juan Montoya 50/1
Mark Martin 75/1
AJ Allmendinger 100/1
Danica Patrick 100/1
Marcos Ambrose 100/1
Aric Almirola 100/1
Jeff Burton 100/1
Ricky Stenhouse 100/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 50/1
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