NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Review

We are four races into the 2010 NASCAR season and the Chase for the Race is underway. With no race scheduled for this week it is a good time to take a look at how some of the favorites are doing so far along with their current odds to win this year’s Sprint Cup.

Jimmie Johnson Current Odds 9-5

The four time Sprint Cup Champion is off to another great start as he looks to extend his record to five titles in a row. After a disappointing 35^th place finish at Daytona because of car trouble, he went out and won the next two races; the Auto Club 500 at Fontana and the Shelby American at Las Vegas. Last week in Atlanta, he started from the 16^th position and finished 12^th. Through four races Johnson is currently in 4^th place overall, 74 points out of the lead.

Jeff Gordon Current Odds 6-1

Gordon got off to a shaky start in Daytona starting 21^st and finishing 26^th. The following week in California things did not get much better with a 28^th place start and a 20^th place finish. His team rallied in Las Vegas with a 2^nd place start and a third place finish. Last week in Atlanta he started 5^th and finished 18^th. Through four races Gordon is in 11^th place, 162 points out of the lead.

Mark Martin Current Odds 8-1

The senior man on the circuit is off to another solid start in 2010. He started on the pole in Daytona and finished a respectable 12^th. He followed that up with a pair of fourth place finishes at Fontana and Las Vegas. Last week in Atlanta he took a step backwards after getting caught up in wreck on lap 331 and finishing 33^rd. He is currently in 7^th place, 123 points back.

Tony Stewart Current Odds 17-2

Stewart is one of the top favorites anytime he steps onto the track but this season has been a little rough so far. His best start was from the 6^th position at Daytona and his best finish was 7^th in the Shelby American. He also took 9^th in the Auto Parts 500, giving him two top 10 finishes so far this year. Last week in Atlanta he started 15^th and finished 13^th, never really challenging for the win. Through the first four week he is in 8^th place, 134 points out of the lead.

Denny Hamlin Current Odds 11-1

The best thing that Hamlin can say about this season so far is that he has finished every race. His best finish so far was at Daytona where he came in 17^th. His main problem early on has been his starting position. In four races his best start was from the 20^th position last week in Atlanta. He ended up finishing 21^st in that race. Through four weeks he is currently in 22^nd place, already digging himself a -235 point hole.

Kyle Busch Current Odds 13-1

Busch’s early success of last season has certainly not carried over into this year. While he has started every race in the top 10, his best effort so far is a pair of 14^th place finishes at Daytona and Fontana. He has finished all four races either on or just back of the lead lap, but cannot seem to keep himself near the front of the pack down the stretch. Last week he started 2^nd, but could only manage a 25^th place finish. He is currently in 15^th place, 176 points out of the lead.