NASCAR Betting Preview – Hamlin looks to continue dominance at Pocono
NASCAR odds - Kasey Kahne (+485), Jimmie Johnson (+500), Denny Hamlin (+550), Kyle Busch (+600), Carl Edwards (+750)
WHAT: Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway
WHEN: Sunday, August 3 @ 2:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania at Pocono Raceway
JGR's Denny Hamlin has been a beast at 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway, home to this week's stop on the Sprint Cup series, the Pennsylvania 500. However, the sportsbook betting odds say Kasey Kahne, winner of the June race at Pocono, is the favorite to head to Victory Lane this weekend.
Kahne is favored with +485 odds. The No. 9 driver's June victory was his second win in three weeks, but it might have been an aberration as Kahne normally runs poorly at Pocono. Despite an starting average position of 7.9, Kahne has a finishing average of 17.7.
Jimmie Johnson is heating up after following a second-place finish in Chicagoland two weeks ago with a win in the tire debacle at Indianapolis last weekend. With NASCAR betting odds of +500 and a finishing average of 10.3?second among active drivers?the No. 48 Chevrolet will surely be running near the front of the pack at Pocono.
Hamlin is next with +550 Pocono odds. The No. 11 driver has finished in the top-10 all five times he's participated at this track, including two top-fives and a pair of wins in his rookie year in 2006. His career finishing average of 2.8 at Pocono is far and away the best among active drivers; this crew clearly knows the setup to get to Victory Lane at this flat, long, triangular track.
After winning three races in four weeks, points leader Kyle Busch wasn't a factor at Indianapolis last week, finishing 15th. However, “Rowdy” still has a sizable 253-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the standings, so look for the No. 18 team to be even more risky with new setups heading into the Chase. Busch comes in with NASCAR betting odds of +600.
A dark horse pick could be Kyle's older brother and 2004 series champion Kurt Busch, who has NASCAR betting odds of +4000. Though it's been a rough season for the No. 2 team, Busch dominated this race last year by leading 175 of 200 laps on his way to the checkered flag. Busch has a solid finishing average of 14.2 and has finished in the top-five in seven of 15 races at Pocono.
I like Hamlin to win the Pennsylvania 500; he's been too good here to bet against. Even though Hamlin has gone on record as saying Pocono is long and boring, I'm sure he changes his mind when he heads to Victory Lane. If you're online sports betting, take the No. 11 FedEx Toyota to be the class of the field at Pocono.
Born in the betting capital of Las Vegas, Lee-Roy has grown to appreciate the likes of IndyCar and Formula 1 racing, but his first love is the high-speed ovals of NASCAR and he is a HUGE Tony Stewart fan. When it comes to motorsports handicapping, Buckles takes the checkered flag. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
