Date & Time: Sunday, February 20, 2011 – 1:00 pm EST on ESPN
Where: Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida

This Sunday starting at 1 p.m. (ET) the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series kicks off the 2011 racing season with the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. This is by far NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious race of the year and just like winning a Major in golf, most drivers would agree that their career would feel incomplete if they did not add this title to their resume.

Part of the allure of the Daytona 500 is the difficulty in surviving the grueling 200 + laps of racing to actually win. Lead changes are extremely common and one small mistake either on the track or in pit row can end a driver’s chances for the day. Only nine drivers in the history of the 500 have won it more than once and the last time somebody won it back-to-back was Sterling Martin in 1994 and 1995.

Turning to this year’s event Bodog.com has opened Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the current odds-on-favorite to win at 8/1. The primary reason is because he has already secured the pole position for the race by posting the fastest lap time in last Sunday’s qualifying run. He is also a sentimental pick to win this year as it is the 10th anniversary of his father’s tragic death in this very race. Earnhardt Jr. has not been a factor in the Sprint Cup point’s race the past few seasons, but he does have a previous win in the Daytona 500 in 2004 and a second-place finish in last year’s race.

The second-favorites are Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch at 9/1. Stewart remains one of the most successful and popular NASCAR drivers on the Sprint Cup circuit with 247 career top 10 finishes and 39 wins including three at this track, but he has never taken the checkered flag in the Daytona 500. His best finish in this race was second-place in 2004. Last year, he finished 22nd after starting from the sixth position.

Kyle Busch has only run the 500 six times in his career, finishing no better than 14th, but he does have one career win and two second-place finishes at this track. His aggressive style of racing has certainly not endeared him to the other Sprint Cup drivers, but Busch remains a threat to win anytime he gets behind the wheel.

Jeff Gordon is the fourth-favorite at 11/1 despite the fact he has not won a Sprint Cup race since April of 2009. He remains a perennial favorite because he is a three-time Daytona 500 champion, but his favorable odds this year can be attributed to qualifying for the outside pole position in Sunday’s qualifying run. The last time Gordon won the 500 was in 2004 and his best finish in recent memory was 10th in 2007.

Last year’s Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray joins Denny Hamlin in the next wave of favorites at 12/1. McMurray failed to qualify for the Chase last season, be he did manage to win NASCAR’s second most prestigious race as well, the Brickyard 400.

Hamlin could offer the best betting value in this group as he is already one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers in just five seasons on the Sprint Cup circuit. He came within 39 points of winning last year’s racing title and led the field with eight victories. Daytona has not been kind to Hamlin in the past with just one top five finish in 10 races, but you get the feeling he is due for a breakout performance in this year’s race.

Bet on the Daytona 500 “Where the Line Originates” and  get a generous 50% sign up bonus (up to $500) at BookMaker.com.

Daytona 500 Odds Update- February 18

The field is set for Sunday’s running of the ‘Great American Race’, the Daytona 500 after the results of yesterday’s Gatorade Duel. The most stunning development of Daytona’s Speed Week leading up to Sunday’s race was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wreck in Wednesday’s practice that dropped the pole sitter all the way the to the back of the pack.

Earnhardt Jr. will have to start in last place with a backup car but Bodog.com as of Friday’s line still has him as one of the favorites at 9/1. Kevin Harvick, who will start in seventh position, is the current favorite at 8/1. Kurt Busch won the first Gatorade Duel on Thursday will take Junior’s spot on the pole for the start of the race. He is now listed at 10/1. His brother Kyle will start from the 10th position and listed at 9/1, while Tony Stewart, who has never won a Daytona 500 in his illustrious career, will start back in 25th position and the fifth favorite at 10/1.

Jamie McMurray, who is not a part of the Chase this season, took the checkered flag for the third time this year with a victory in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway last Saturday night. Four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson remained in first place in the standings with 5843 points after finishing third.

This Sunday afternoon, Oct. 24 NASCAR heads back to Martinsville Speedway in Virginia for the TUMS Fast Relief 500. The race is scheduled for a 1 p.m. (ET) start. Johnson along with Denny Hamlin are the current odds-on-favorites to win this week but there are 10 other drivers still in the Chase that might have something to say about that.

Here is a look at the top seven drivers in the Sprint Cup point standings along with their odds to win this week at Martinsville.

Bet on the Martinsville 500 “Where the Line Originates” and  get a generous 50% sign up bonus (up to $500) at Bookmaker.com.

Jimmie Johnson             3/1

Johnson continues to hold the lead with 5843 points after another top five finish in the Chase. Earlier this season at Martinsville, he finished ninth after starting third. Last year in this race he started 15^th and finished second ending a three year winning streak dating back to 2006. Johnson has won six times in his 17 career races at this track and has an amazing 16 top 10 finishes.

Denny Hamlin                 3/1

A fourth place finish at Charlotte last week gives Hamlin 5802 points, leaving him just 41 points out of first. He will be going for his third straight victory at this track with a win in the first race here this season after starting 19^th and a win in last year’s race after starting 17^th. Hamlin has raced at Martinsville nine times in his career and has eight top 10 finishes including three trips to victory lane.

Kevin Harvick                 12/1

Last week’s eighth place finish leaves Harvick with 5766 points, 77 points out of the lead. Earlier this season at this track he started on the pole but ended up 35^th. Last year in this race, he started and finished 10^th. Harvick’s best effort in this race is a couple of seventh place finishes in 2003 and 2008. He has seven top 10 finishes here with six of them coming in this race.

Jeff Gordon                     6/1

Gordon finished all the way back in 23^rd last week in Charlotte but he remains fourth in the standings with 5687 points and is now 156 points back. After starting 11^th in the first race here this season he finished third. Last year in this race he finished fifth after starting second. In a long and storied career at Martinsville, Gordon has 29 top 10 finishes including six victories overall and four victories in this race. He last took the checkered flag in 2005 after starting 16^th.

Kyle Busch                       12/1

A second place finish at Charlotte vaulted Busch to fifth place in the standings with 5666 points, leaving him 177 behind Johnson. In the first race at this track this year he finished 22^nd after starting 10^th. Last year in this race he started all the way back from the 41^st position and raced to a fourth place finish. He also finished fourth in this race in 2007 after starting sixth. Busch has five career top 10 finishes here with three of them coming in this race.

Tony Stewart                   10/1

Stewart is also 177 points out of the lead with 5666 points after a 21^st place finish last week. He started fifth in the first race at Martinsville this season but ended up 26^th. Last year in this race he started 13^th and finished ninth. Stewart’s only win in this race was in 2000 when he went wire to wire after starting on the pole. He has 13 top 10 finishes at this track including five in this race.

Carl Edwards                    25/1

A 12^th place finish in last week’s race gives Edwards 5643 points in the Chase, an even 200 points out of the lead. Earlier this season here he finished eighth after starting 13^th. Last year in this race, he finished 29^th after starting 20^th. His best career finish in this race was third in 2008 after starting fourth. Edwards has only three top 10 finishes at Martinsville in 12 career starts.

NASCAR – Bank of America 500

Tony Stewart made his move towards the top of the leader board in the fourth race of the Chase with a victory in the Pepsi Max 400 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. last Sunday. Four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson remained in first place in the standings with 5673 points after finishing third

This Saturday night, Oct. 16 NASCAR heads back to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. for the Bank of America 500. The race is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. (ET) start. Johnson is once again the current odds-on-favorite to win this week but there are 11 other drivers still in the Chase that might have something to say about that.

Here is a look at the top seven drivers in the Sprint Cup point standings along with their odds to win this week at Charlotte.

Jimmie Johnson             3/1

Johnson continues to keep the pressure on the rest of the field with a third place finish last week at Fontana . He remains the Sprint Cup leader with 5673 points. He started fifth in the first race at Charlotte this season and finished 37^th. Johnson won this race in 2009 for the third time in his career after starting from the pole. The other two victories were in 2005 after starting third and in 2004 after starting ninth. He currently has six wins at this track along with six additional top 10 finishes.

Denny Hamlin                12/1

An eighth place finish last week gives Hamlin 5637 points, leaving him only 36 points out of the lead. Earlier this season at this track he started seventh and finished 18^th. Last year in this race he finished way back in 42^nd after starting 17^th. Hamlin’s best career finish in this race was in 2005 when he ended up eighth after starting 39^th. He has three top 10 finishes in 10 career starts at Charlotte .

Kevin Harvick                  15/1

Harvick continues to remain near the top of the leader board with 5619 points after a seventh place finish in last week’s race. He finished 11^th in the first race here this season, after starting 32^nd. Last year in this race, he started 32^nd and finished 18^th. His best career effort in this race was an eighth place finish in 2001 after starting 14^th. Harvick only has three top 10 finishes at Charlotte with the last one coming in 2003.

Jeff Gordon                     12/1

Gordon held onto the fourth spot in the standings with a ninth place finish at Fontana . He now has 5588 points and is 85 points out of first. In the first race here this year he finished sixth after starting 15^th. Last year in this race he started ninth and finished fourth. Gordon has two career victories in this race; 1999 after starting 22^nd and more recently in 2007 after starting fourth. He has 20 top 10 finishes at this track with 10 coming in this race.

Tony Stewart                  12/1

A huge victory in last week’s Pepsi Max 400 vaults Stewart right into the thick of the Chase. He now has 5566 total points and is within striking distance at 107 points back. Earlier this year here, he finished 15^th after starting 26^th. Last year in this race he started fifth and finished 13^th. Stewart won this race in 2003 after starting sixth. He has 11 top 10 finishes at Charlotte including six in this race.

Kurt Busch                        9/1

A disappointing 21^st finish last week leaves Busch 140 points behind Johnson with a total of 5533. This week he will be going for the Charlotte series sweep after winning the first race here this year from a second place start. Last year in this race, he finished 10^th after starting 15^th. His best finish in this race was second after starting seventh in 2005. Busch only has four top 10 finishes at this track but three were in this race.

Carl Edwards                    9/1

Edwards 34^th finish last week put a dent in his title hopes as he is now 162 points out of the lead with 5511. He finished 16^th in the first race here this season, after starting 31^st. Last year in this race he ended up 39^th after starting 28^th. Edwards’ best finish in this race was in 2007 when he came in fifth after starting 18^th. He has seven career top 10 finishes at Charlotte including three in this race.

Greg Biffle pulled off an upset in the third race of the Chase with a victory in the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway last Sunday. Four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson moved into first place in the standings with 5503 points after finishing second.

This Sunday, Oct. 10 NASCAR heads back to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. for the Pepsi Max 400. The race is scheduled for a 3 p.m. (ET) start. Johnson is the current odds-on-favorite to win this week but there are 11 other drivers still in the Chase that might have something to say about that.

Here is a look at the top seven drivers in the Sprint Cup point standings along with their odds to win this week at Fontana.

Jimmie Johnson            2/1

Johnson took another step closer to his fifth straight Sprint Cup championship with his second place finish last week at Kansas. He is the new Chase leader with 5503 total points. Earlier in the year at Fontana he continued his dominance at this track with his fifth career victory after starting seventh. He won has won this race the last three years (2007-2009) and has 11 top 10 finishes here in his career.

Denny Hamlin               15/1

A 12^th place finish last week gives Hamlin 5495 points, leaving him just eight points out of first. He finished 29^th in the first race here this season, after starting 25^th. Last year in this race he started on the pole but ended up a disappointing 37^th. Hamlin’s best finish in this race was in 2008 when he ended up third after starting 21^st. He has three top 10 finishes in nine career races at this track.

Kevin Harvick                10/1

Harvick moved into third place in the standings with 5473 points after a third place finish in last week’s race. He is now just 30 points out of the lead. Earlier this season here he finished second after starting sixth. Last year in this race he started seventh and finished 10^th. Harvick’s best career finish in this race was fourth in 2008 after starting 33^rd. He has six top 10 finishes at this track including two in this race.

Carl Edwards                   8/1

Last week at Kansas, Edwards finished sixth which gives him 5450 points; 53 points out of first. In the first race at this track this season he started 31^st and finished 13^th. Last year in this race he started 11^th and finished sixth. He took second in this race in 2007 after starting 19^th, which was his best finish ever. He has 10 career top 10 finishes at this track and has never finished out of the top 10 in this race in six starts.

Jeff Gordon                      8/1

Gordon remains winless on the year but now has 5445 points after a fifth place finish last week. He is now 58 points in back of Johnson. He finished 20^th in the first race at Fontana this season after starting 28^th. Last year in this race he started 10^th and ended up second, which happened to be his best finish ever in this race. For his career, Gordon has 10 top 10 finishes and three victories back when there was only one race a year at this track.

Kurt Busch                     12/1

A 13^th place finish at Kansas gives Busch 5433 points, leaving him 70 points out of the lead. Earlier this year at this track he finished sixth after starting 12^th. Last year he started 24^th and finished eighth for only his second career top 10 finish in this race. He does have eight top 10 finishes at this track.

Kyle Busch                      12/1

The other Busch brother finished a disappointing 24^th last week, dropping him to seventh in the standings with 5423 points and 80 points out of first place. Busch finished 14^th in the first race at Fontana this year after starting ninth. Last year in this race, he finished 24^th after starting 19^th. He won this race in 2005 after starting 25^th. Busch has eight career top 10 finishes at this track with four of them coming in this race.

Bet on the Fontana 400 “Where the Line Originates” and  get a generous 50% sign up bonus (up to $500) at Bookmaker.com.

NASCAR – Price Chopper 400

It only took two races into the Chase before four-time defending Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson made his presence felt with a victory in the AAA 400 at the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway last Sunday. Denny Hamlin finished ninth and held onto the Sprint Cup point lead with 5368 points.

This Sunday, Oct. 3 NASCAR heads to Kansas Speedway for the Price Chopper 400. The race is scheduled for a 1 p.m. (ET) start. Johnson is the current odds-on-favorite to win again this week but there are 11 other drivers still in the Chase that might have something to say about that.

Here is a look at the top seven drivers in the Sprint Cup point standings along with their odds to win this week at Kansas.

Bet on the Kansas 400 “Where the Line Originates” and  get a generous 50% sign up bonus (up to $500) at Bookmaker.com.

Denny Hamlin            12/1

A ninth place finish at Dover last week was enough to keep Hamlin in the top spot of the Sprint Cup point standings with 5368 total points. Last year in this race he started 22^nd and finished fifth which was his best finish ever in five career races at Kansas. It was also his only top 10 finish here.

Jimmie Johnson           7/2

Johnson took a major step towards winning his fifth straight Sprint Cup title with a huge victory last week at the Monster Mile. He now has 5333 total points and is only 35 points out of the lead. Last year in this race he started 11^th and finished ninth. In 2008, starting from the pole, he won this race for the first time. Johnson has eight career starts at Kansas and has finished in the top 10 six times.

Kyle Busch                    7/1

After finishing sixth in last week’s race, Busch now has 5323 points and is 45 points out of first. Last year in this race, he finished 12^thafter starting all the way back in the 34^th position. In 2006 Busch started 13^th and ended up seventh, which was his only top 10 finish in six career starts at this track.

Kurt Busch                   12/1

This Busch brother finished fourth last week, giving him 5309 points for the Chase. He is now 59 points out of the lead. Last year in this race, he finished 11^th after starting 39^th. His best career finish in this race was sixth in 2006, after starting 22^nd. Busch has just two top 10 finishes in the nine years NASCAR has raced at Kansas.

Kevin Harvick              12/1

Harvick ended up 15^th in last week’s race and now has a total of 5303 points, 65 points back. Last year in this race he started 38^th and finished 24^th. He has nine career starts at Kansas and has finished sixth three times; in 2003, 2007, and 2008. These are his only top 10 finishes in this race.

Carl Edwards               10/1

A fifth place finish at Dover last week gives Edwards 5295 points, leaving him 73 points behind Hamlin. Last year in this race he started 17^th and finished 10^th. His best career finish in this race was in 2008 when he took second after starting 34^th. Edwards has four top 10 finishes in six races at this track.

Jeff Burton                   18/1

Burton took seventh place in last week’s race, giving him 5288 points for the Chase. He is now 80 points out of the lead. Last year in this race, he finished 23^rd after starting 35^th. His best career effort at Kansas was a fifth place finish in 2006 after starting 10^th. In nine career races at this track he only has two top 10 finishes.

We are only one race into the Chase and things are already turned upside down after Clint Bowyer’s upset victory in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Sunday. Denny Hamlin finished  in second place and held onto the Sprint Cup point lead with 5230 points.

This Sunday, Sept 26 NASCAR heads back to Dover International Speedway for the AAA 400. The race is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch are the current co-favorites to win this race but there are 10 other drivers still in the Chase that might have something to say about that.

Here is a look at the top seven drivers in the Sprint Cup point standings along with their odds to win this week at Dover.

Bet on the Dover 400 “Where the Line Originates” and  get a generous 50% sign up bonus (up to $500) at Bookmaker.com.

Denny Hamlin          7/1

Hamlin’s second place finish at New Hampshire keeps him in lead for the Sprint Cup Championship with 5230 points. Earlier this season at Dover he finished fourth after starting 14^th. Last year in this race he finished 22^nd after starting 13^th. Hamlin’s best finish in this race was ninth in 2006 after starting 23^rd. He has three top 10 finishes in nine career starts at this track.

Kevin Harvick            7/1

A fifth place finish last week gives Harvick 5185 points; 45 points out of first. He finished seventh in the first race here this season after starting 30^th. Last year in this race he started 20^th and finished 12^th. Harvick’s best effort in this race was a fourth place finish in 2003 after starting third. He has seven top 10 finishes at this track with three of them coming in this race.

Kyle Busch                 2/1

With a ninth place finish in last week’s race Busch now has 5168 points and is 62 points out of the lead. He won the first race at Dover this season after starting fourth. Last year in this race he started 15^th and finished a disappointing 31^st. Busch’s best career finish in this race was in 2005 when he ended up second after starting third. He has six top 10 finishes at this track including two wins. He has two top 10 finishes in this race.

Jeff Gordon               7/1

Gordon came in sixth place last week and has 5155 points, 75 points back. Earlier this year here he finished 11^th after starting 15^th. Last year in this race he started seventh and finished sixth. Gordon does have two victories in this race but they were way back in 1995 and 1996. For his career he has 21 top 10 finishes at Dover including four wins. He has 11 top 10 finishes in this race.

Kurt Busch                 6/1

A 13^th place finish last week gives Busch a total of 5144 points, leaving him 86 points out of the lead. This season in the first race at this track he started 12^th and finished 19^th. Last year in this race he started 16^th and finished fifth. His best finish in this race was fourth in 2006 after starting 10^th. Busch has six top 10 finishes at this track including four in this race.

Jimmie Johnson        2/1

Johnson had a rough go of it last week and after a 25^th place finish finds himself 92 points behind Hamlin with 5138 total points. Earlier this season at Dover he started fifth and finished 16^th. He won this race last year after starting on the pole. He also won this race in 2002; starting 19^th and in 2005; starting fifth. Johnson has 11 top 10 finishes at this track including five victories. He has four top 10 finishes in the race with three of them being wins.

Carl Edwards             19/1

After finishing 11^th at New Hampshire Edwards has 5135 points and is 95 points back. In the first race here this season he started ninth and finished eighth. Last year in this race he started 30^th and finished 11^th. Edwards won this race in 2007 after starting 15^th. He has eight top 10 finishes at this track with four of them in this race.

NASCAR Sylvania 300 Preview

NASCAR’s regular season has come to an end and after 26 races the top 12 drivers in the point standings will now compete in the ‘Chase’ for the 2010 Sprint Cup Championship. The ‘Chase’ pits these drivers against one another over a 10 race schedule ending on November 21 at Homestead, Florida. The driver with the most points at the end of that race is declared this year’s champion.

It all begins this Sunday afternoon with the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH. starting at 1 p.m. The following is a look at the top seven drivers in the point standings along with their odds to win this week at New Hampshire.

Denny Hamlin 5/1

Hamlin vaulted all the way to the top of the leader board with a win last week in Richmond. He begins the Chase with 5060 points. Earlier this season at Loudon he finished 14^th after starting 20. Last year, he started fourth and ended up second, which was his best career finish in this race. Hamlin has six top 10 finishes at this track with three of them coming in this race.

Jimmie Johnson 4/1

Johnson starts the Chase with 5050 points putting him in prime position to win his fifth straight Sprint Cup title. In the June race here, he started 10^th and took the checkered flag for the win. Last year in this race he started 16^th and finished fourth. Johnson won this race in 2003 after starting eighth. He has 12 top 10 finishes in New Hampshire and six in this race.

Kevin Harvick 10/1

A ninth place finish last week knocked Harvick out of the top spot in the standings for the first time this season. He starts the Chase with 5030 points, 30 points out of first. In the first race here this season he started 24^th and finished fifth. Last year in this race he started 12^th and finished 32nd. Starting from the pole, he won this race in 2006. Harvick has 10 top 10 finishes here including four in this race.

Kyle Busch 5/1

Busch is once again in great position for the Chase with 5030 points, just 30 points in back of Hamlin. In the June race here he started 22^nd and finished 11^th. Last year in this race he started ninth and finished fifth. His best finish in the race was in 2007 when he ended up fourth after starting 12^th. Busch has 11 career starts at this track and has finished in the top 10 five times with one victory.

Kurt Busch 12/1

An 18^th place finish in Richmond last week left Busch with 5020 points to start the Chase. Earlier this season at this track he started and finished third. Last year in this race he finished sixth after starting third. Starting seventh, he won this race in 2004. Busch has 10 top 10 finishes at this track including four in this race.

Tony Stewart 12/1

Stewart begins the Chase with 5010 points, 50 points out of the lead. He almost won the June race here, finishing second after starting 25^th. Last year in this race he started second and finished 14^th. Stewart has never won this race but he does have three second place finishes; 1999 starting fifth, 2005 starting on the pole, and 2006 starting 32^nd. He has 14 top 10 finishes at Loudon with seven of them coming in this race.

Greg Biffle 35/1

Biffle rounds out the top seven with 5010 points, the same as Stewart. In the first race here this season he started 34^th and finished 16^th. Last year in this race he started 22^nd and finished ninth. Biffle won this race in 2008 after starting ninth. He has six career top 10 finishes at New Hampshire including three in this race.

NASCAR Richmond – Air Guard 400

It is crunch time for a handful of drivers ‘on the bubble’ to make it into the ‘Chase’ for this season’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship as this is the last race to qualify and there are only two spots still up for grabs. The ‘Chase’ pits the top 12 drivers in the point standings against one another over a 10 race schedule ending on November 21 at Homestead, Florida. The driver with the most points at the end of that race is declared this year’s champion.

This week’s race is the Air Guard 400 at Richmond International Speedway. It is scheduled for Saturday Night, Sept. 11 starting at 7:30 p.m. The following is a look at the top seven drivers in the point standings along with their odds to win this week at Richmond.

Kevin Harvick 12/1

Despite a 33^rd finish last week in Atlanta, Harvick still has a healthy lead in the standings with 3585 points. Earlier in the season at Richmond he started seventh and finished third. Last year in this race he ended up ninth after starting 19^th. Harvick won this race in 2006 after starting fifth. He has 12 top 10 finishes at this track, including six in this race.

Jeff Gordon 10/1

Gordon finished 13^th last week and now has 3366 points. He finished second in the first race here this year after starting fourth. Last Year in this race he started 7^th and finished third. He won this race back in 2000 after starting 13^th. Gordon has 22 top 10 finishes at Richmond with 12 of them coming in this race.

Kyle Busch 4/1

A fifth place finish at Atlanta gives Busch 3325 points. He will go for the season sweep after winning the first race here this season starting from the pole position. Last year in this race he finished fifth after starting eighth. His best finish in this race is second in 2006 after starting 12^th. Richmond has been one of Busch’s favorite tracks given the fact that he has nine top 10 finishes in 11 career races.

Tony Stewart 10/1

Stewart finally got off the schneid this season with a win at Atlanta last week. He currently has 3302 points in the standings. The first race here this year he finished a forgettable 23^rd after starting 18^th. Last year in this race he started 29^th and finished 17^th. Stewart won this race way back in 1999 and has three career victories at this track. He also has four second place finishes and eight other top 10 finishes.

Carl Edwards 12/1

A second place finish at Atlanta gives Edwards 3288 total points. Previously at Richmond this season he started 28^th and finished fifth. Last year in this race he started 10^th and finished 15^th. Edwards’s best finish in this race was in 2004 when he ended up sixth after starting 13^th. He only has four top 10 finishes at this track and only one in this race.

Jeff Burton 15/1

Burton’s fourth place finish last week gives him 3261 points on the year. He finished fourth in the first race here this season after starting 17^th. Last year in this race, he finished 18^th after starting 22^nd. Burton’s only career victory in this race was in 1998 after starting third. He has 15 top 10 finishes at Richmond including six in this race.

Jimmie Johnson 6/1

Johnson finally returned to form with a third place finish last week. He now has 3247 points for the season. Earlier this year at this track he started third and finished 10^th. Last year in this race he started fourth and finished 11^th. Between 2007 and 2008 Johnson won three out of four races at this track including two victories in this race. He only has two other top 10 finishes here over the course of his career.

NASCAR Emory Healthcare 500 Preview

It is crunch time as there are only two more races for drivers to make it into the ‘Chase’ for this season’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. The ‘Chase’ pits the top 12 drivers in the point standings against one another over a 10 race schedule ending on November 21 at Homestead, Florida. The driver with the most points at the end of that race is declared this year’s champion.

This week’s race is the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It is scheduled for Sunday night, Sept. 5 starting at 7:30 p.m. The following is a look at the top seven drivers in the point standings along with their odds to win this week at Atlanta.

Kevin Harvick 8/1

Harvick continues to hold the top spot in the standings with 3,521 points. In the first race at Atlanta this season he started 35^th and finished ninth. Last year in this race he ended up second after starting 18^th which was his best finish ever. Harvick has six top 10 finishes at this track and four in his last five races here.

Jeff Gordon 12/1

With a strong second half to the season, Gordon has 3,242 points and is 279 points out of the lead. In the first race here this season he finished 18^th after starting fifth. Last year in this race he started fourth and finished eighth. Gordon has won this race twice in his career; 1998 starting 21^st and 2003 starting 19^th. Overall he has 22 top 10 finishes at Atlanta including 11 in this race.

Kyle Busch 10/1

After a dominating win two weeks ago at Bristol, Busch has 3,170 points and is 351 points out of first. Earlier this season at Atlanta, he started second and finished 25^th. Last year in this race he started fifth and finished 13^th. His best finish in this race was in 2008 when he ended up fifth after starting 12^th. Busch has raced at Atlanta 12 times in his career, but only has two top 10 finishes and only one in this race.

Carl Edwards 12/1

Edwards’ 12^th place finish at Bristol gives him 3,113 points in the standings, 408 points back. He finished 39^th in the first race here this year after starting 10^th. Last year in this race he started 14^th and finished 37^th. Edwards has been extremely successful at Atlanta over the course of his career. In only 11 races, he has three victories including two in this race (2005 and 2008). He has eight top 10 finishes with five of them in this race.

Denny Hamlin 12/1

Hamlin had a rough go of it at Bristol, but he held onto the fifth spot in the standings with 3,108 points, which leaves him 413 points in back of Harvick. In the first race here this year he started 20^th and finished 21^st. Last year in this race he started 10^th and finished sixth. His best effort in this race was in 2008 when he finished third after starting 11^th. Hamlin has three top 10 finishes in 10 career races at this track.

Tony Stewart 12/1

Continually climbing the leader board, Stewart now has 3,107 points, 414 points out of the lead. Back in the first race here this year finished 13^th after starting 15^th. Last year in this race he started 12^th and finished 11^th. He has one career victory in this race; 2006 after starting 11^th. Stewart has 13 career top 10 finishes at this track, including seven in this race.

Jeff Burton 18/1

Burton finds himself 420 points out of the lead with 3,095 total points. In the first race this year at this track, he finished 20^th after starting 22^nd. Last year in this race he started 24^th and finished 34^th. Burton’s best effort in this race was way back in 1998 when he finished fourth after starting 35^th. He does have 12 top 10 finishes at Atlantaand seven in this race.

Kevin Harvick 11/2

For most of the season Harvick has held onto the top spot in the Sprint Cup point standings. After 24 races he currently remains in first with 3521 points. This season he has 16 Top 10 finishes including 11 top 5 finishes. His three victories this year came in Week 9 at Talladega, Week 18 at Daytona, and most recently two weeks ago in Michigan. Harvick has averaged an 8.8 finish this year.

Jeff Gordon 8/1

After a slow start, Gordon has really come on over the past two months. He currently has 3242 points, 279 points out of the lead. This season he has yet to win a race but does have 13 top 10 finishes. In 10 of these, Gordon ended up in the top five. His average finishing spot this season is 12.1.

Kyle Busch 9/2

With a dramatic win last week at Bristol, Busch moved up in the standings with 3170 points and is now 351 points out of first. He has 12 top 10 finishes this season with six ending up in the top 5. His other wins this year came in Race 10 at Richmond and Race 12 at Dover. His average finishing spot this season is 13.2.

Carl Edwards 15/1

Edwards currently has 3113 points, 408 points back. He has 12 top 10 finishes and five top 5 finishes, but has yet to find victory lane. He has the third best finishing average of the top seven drivers at 12.4.

Denny Hamlin 6/1

Hamlin holds down the fifth spot in the standings with 3108 points, 413 points in back of Harvick. He already has five victories this season; Race 6 at Martinsville, Race 8 at Texas, Race 11 at Darlington, and back to back wins in Race 14 at Pocono and Race 15 at Michigan. Hamlin has 10 top 10 finishes with all but one ending up in the top five. His average finishing spot this year is 14.6.

Tony Stewart 12/1

Stewart was another driver who got off to a slow start but now finds himself 414 points out of the lead with a total of 3107 points. He too has yet to find victory lane but does have 13 top 10 finishes including six top fives. This season Stewart’s average finishing position is 13.3.

Jeff Burton 15/1

Battling through some adversity at various times this year, Burton has still managed to accumulate 3101 points and is 420 points out of first. He has no wins this season, but has finished 12 races in the top 10 with four of them ending up in the top five. His average finishing position is 13.