New Hampshire Odds - Stewart gets championship hopes going at Loudon
NASCAR betting players have been waiting for the 10-race Chase to start all season, and the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire drops the green flag on the 12-driver playoff part of the year. Joey Logano earned his first Sprint Cup win here in a rain-shortened race back in June, but this week’s winner will be the man he replaced in the No.20 car.
- WHAT: NASCAR betting
- WHEN: Sunday, September 20, 2:00 PM ET
- WHERE: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
- KEY STATS: Denny Hamlin’s 8.3 finishing average is the best among active drivers at Loudon
- PICK: Tony Stewart
Denny Hamlin is favored at +600 after winning last week at Richmond, and he won the summer race at Loudon back in 2007. In seven New Hampshire races, Hamlin’s 8.3 average is tops among active drivers, powered by five top-10s. A lot of players will be interesting in Hamlin’s New Hampshire odds this week. The Hendrick duo of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are listed at +700, and they have five wins at New Hampshire between them. Gordon finished second to Logano here in June, while Johnson wasn’t far behind in ninth place. Gordon would be the more solid online betting pick here, with four top-10s in his last six races. By comparison, Johnson has only one in six starts as he prepares to go for his fourth straight Sprint Cup title. Hendrick teammate Mark Martin, who is the No.1 seed heading into the Chase because of his four wins, is rated at +800, but he has yet to win in 25 trips to Loudon. NASCAR betting players know that the Busch brothers, who are both listed at +1200, could be a factor this Sunday, as Kurt finished third in the summer race, as well as sixth in last year’s fall race. Kyle missed the Chase by the slimmest of margins, which could go either way: he could sulk, or he’ll drive like he has nothing to lose. Kurt is a better choice here with three career wins at New Hampshire, including a 2004 sweep of both races. Another driver who missed the Chase, Kevin Harvick, could be a great pick at +1200, as the No.29 driver has been on fire since confirming that he’s staying with RCR. Harvick has two straight top-10s since his press conference, as well as a win and a second-place run in the Nationwide series. He also won this race back in 2006. If you’re looking for a dark horse in your offshore sportsbook, look no further than Juan Pablo Montoya at +3000. The No.42 driver didn’t hide the fact that he was “points racing” to get into the Chase, but now that he’s there, he’s looking to win. Montoya finished 12th here in June, and with his road-course pedigree, he should be good on New Hampshire’s one-mile track with low banking. LEE-ROY'S PICK: This week’s winner finished fifth here in June, and he won the summer race in 2000 and 2005. Tony Stewart was the most consistent driver throughout the first 26 drivers, and even a recent slump shouldn’t scare NASCAR betting players off, as the No.14 team was experimenting with different things once they had sewn up their spot in the Chase. Stewart’s 12.2 average at New Hampshire is fifth among current drivers, and a win here would make a statement that he’s the favorite to win his third championship. Pick Tony Stewart at +800.
For more sports betting picks on NASCAR odds throughout the Chase for the Sprint Cup, follow Lee-Roy in the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com. Lee-Roy Buckles is BetOnline.com's racing expert.
