2015 Coke Zero 400 Odds, Free Picks & Predictions – Favorites and Contenders: The Sprint Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway for the second and final time this weekend for Sunday night’s Coke Zero 400. Racing at Daytona is always special because of the track’s storied history, but thanks to the restrictor plate used at the track to curb speeds, Daytona also produces some of the most tense and exciting racing of the year.
The restrictor plates keep the cars bunched in packs like a bomb waiting to explode, and one ill-timed move or even a small bobble can trigger a train reaction that takes out a dozen or more cars. The likelihood of a big wreck only increases as the laps wind down, and the end result is usually an unpredictable finish that is in doubt until the eventual winner crosses the start-finish line.
2015 Coke Zero 400 Odds, Free Picks & Predictions: Favorites and Contenders
The Favorites
At a track that has been as chaotic and unpredictable as any on the schedule, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been one of the few constants at Daytona. He has managed to crack the top 15 in seven straight starts at the track, logging four finishes of third or better during the stretch, including a win. Junior is also one of the most accomplished restrictor plate drivers in series history, having logged nine total wins, including three at Daytona.
While his career average finish at Daytona isn’t spectacular, Jimmie Johnson has been a force at the track in recent years. He has piled up four top-five finishes in his last five starts, winning twice and leading more laps than any other driver. Johnson is a three-time winner at Daytona overall, and he is the only driver with multiple wins at the track since 2013.
After struggling at the restrictor plate tracks early in his career, Denny Hamlin has been one of the best in the business at the plate tracks since the start of last season. He has five top-10 finishes in his last six starts, including a win. Over the same span, he has finished sixth or better in all three of his starts at Daytona.
The Contenders
Although he has been a bit boom or bust at Daytona recently in terms of finishes, Matt Kenseth has still flexed plenty of muscle at the track. Over his last eight races here, he has four finishes of sixth or better, including his second of two Daytona 500 victories for his career. Kenseth has also led a series-high 252 laps during the same stretch, which are 87 more than any other driver.
Known for his late-race charges to the front of the field, Kevin Harvick always seems to find a way to contend at Daytona when it counts. He is a two-time winner at the track overall, and since the start of the 2010 season, Harvick has six finishes of seventh or better in 11 starts, including a win in the July race in 2010 and a second-place finish in this year’s Daytona 500.
He has never won at Daytona, but Clint Bowyer has been one of the steadiest performers at the track throughout his career. In fact, his 15.5 average finish at Daytona over the last 20 races ranks fifth in the series. Bowyer has finished 11th or better in four of his last five starts at Daytona, and with two wins under his belt at Talladega, there is no doubt that he can seal the deal at a restrictor plate race.
It has been a miserable season for Tony Stewart, but few drivers have enjoyed more success at Daytona. He is a four-time winner of the July race, and only the late Dale Earnhardt has more total victories at Daytona. Stewart finished second at the track as recently as 2013, and since the start of the 2005 season, he has led almost twice as many laps here as any other driver.
Although it has been more than a decade since Jeff Gordon last won a race at Daytona, few drivers have shown more speed at the restrictor plate tracks this season. Granted, bad luck in the closing laps has resulted in two finishes outside the top 30, but Gordon led a race-high 87 laps in the Daytona 500 to open the year, and he led more than 40 laps at Talladega. Gordon has the speed to win, he just needs a little luck.
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The Contenders
He has quietly emerged as one of the top road racers, and Clint Bowyer’s numbers at Sonoma rank among the best in the series. His 9.2 average finish at the track ranks second in the series, and in nine starts, he has logged seven top-10s. Bowyer has been even stronger recently, posting three top-five finishes in his last four starts, including a win in 2012.
His breakout season continues, and heading into Sunday’s race, Martin Truex Jr. has finished in the top 10 in 14 of the first 15 races of 2015. He should have no problem continuing his strong season at Sonoma, and in addition to winning at the track in dominating fashion in 2014, he ranks third in laps led over the past five races.
He is the defending winner of this weekend’s race, Carl Edwards has been one of the best in the business at road courses over the last few seasons. He has finished third or better in three of his last four starts at Sonoma, and his five top-five finishes at road course events over the last four seasons lead all drivers.
Although he is typically at his best at the intermediate ovals, Kasey Kahne has had plenty of success at Sonoma. He came out of nowhere to win at the track in 2009, and he has slowed down since. Kahne has five top-15 finishes in his last six starts at Sonoma, and during the stretch, he has logged four finishes of sixth or better, including two straight.
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Odds to win the 2015 Coke Zero 400
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 8-1
Jimmie Johnson 9-1
Kevin Harvick 10-1
Kurt Busch 12-1
Jeff Gordon 12-1
Matt Kenseth 12-1
Brad Keselowski 12-1
Kyle Busch 14-1
Carl Edwards 14-1
Kasey Kahne 14-1
Joey Logano 14-1
Martin Truex Jr. 14-1
Denny Hamlin 16-1
Clint Bowyer 25-1
Kyle Larson 25-1
Tony Stewart 25-1
Jamie McMurray 28-1
Paul Menard 35-1
Ryan Newman 35-1
Trevor Bayne 40-1
Greg Biffle 40-1
A.J. Allmendinger 50-1
Danica Patrick 50-1
David Ragan 50-1
Field (All Others) 300-1