2014 Camping World RV Sales 301 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Vegas Favorites and Drivers to Bet: The Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend for the first of two trips to the 1.0-mile oval. The track’s most distinguishing characteristics are its flat corners, and the lack of banking creates a unique challenge for drivers and crew chiefs. It is difficult to pass at NHMS, and while drivers must balance conserving their brakes with maintaining speed, crew chiefs have to figure out the proper pit strategy to keep their drivers at the front of the field. It takes the right setup, the right driver and the right strategy to win a race at New Hampshire.
The Favorites
He has been one of the best in the series at New Hampshire since his rookie year, and Jimmie Johnson’s 9.2 average finish at the track is the second best among active drivers. He is also a three-time winner at the track, and he has finished in the top 10 in 12 of his last 14 starts at New Hampshire. Meanwhile, no driver has been better at the track the last two seasons as Johnson’s 4.8 average finish since 2012 is by far the best in the series.
He has remained a consistent force at New Hampshire for more almost two decades, and Jeff Gordon still averages a top-10 finish at the track despite making 38 starts. Overall, his 10.6 average finish at NHMS ranks third in the series, but since 2004, he owns a series-leading 8.6 average finish at the track. Gordon has managed to crack the top 15 in his last 17 starts at New Hampshire, and the three-time track winner is one of the safest bets to be in the mix for a win this weekend.
His 9.0 average finish at New Hampshire leads all drivers, and Denny Hamlin always seems to be in contention at the track. In 16 starts, he only has two finishes outside the top 15 compared to 10 top-10 finishes. More importantly, Hamlin is a two-time winner at New Hampshire, and he has finished second on three other occasions.
While he may not be the most consistent driver at New Hampshire, Tony Stewart is one of the best at finishing at the front at the track. In 29 starts, he has piled up 13 top-five finishes. Among his top-five performances are three trips to victory lane to go along with five additional second-place finishes. Stewart knows what it takes to win at New Hampshire.
The Dark Horses
While he has been in a bit of a slump at New Hampshire the past couple of years, Kurt Busch is also a proven winner at the track. In fact, he has made three trips to victory lane at NHMS in his career. Busch has also been running very well in recent weeks so don’t be surprised if he busts out of his slump at New Hampshire in a big way this weekend.
Although he is looking for his first win at New Hampshire, Brad Keselowski has emerged as one of the up-and-comers at the track. He has a 5.6 average finish in his last five starts at NHMS, and he has four finishes of sixth or better during the stretch, including finishes of fourth and fifth in his last two starts in the July race. It seems like only a matter of time before he ends up in victory lane.
He is the defending winner of this weekend’s race, and while Brian Vickers hasn’t won a lot of races in his career, his victory at New Hampshire last year was no fluke. After all, he has finished in the top 15 in his last five starts at the track, and he has compiled a 7.4 average finish during the stretch. Vickers has actually finished in the top 10 in his last three starts at NHMS so back-to-back wins is a real possibility this weekend.
Sleeper Special
Veteran Jeff Burton will be making just his second start of the 2014 season this weekend, but it couldn’t come at a better track. After all, his four wins at New Hampshire are the most all-time, and last year, he finished third and eighth in two starts at the track. Burton may be a part-time driver at this point in his career, but he could still be a factor at one of his best tracks.
Big Name to Avoid
While he hasn’t been terrible at New Hampshire, Carl Edwards has had trouble being a serious contender at the track. In 19 starts, he has only managed two top-five finishes, and he has gone 10 straight starts at the track without cracking the top five. Edwards might be able to salvage a top-10 this weekend, but a victory seems very unlikely.
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