Samsung Mobile 500: NASCAR betting preview
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday's Samsung Mobile 500. The 1.5-mile track will give the new blade spoilers recently introduced on the Sprint Cup cars their first real chance to show how they will affect performance.
Favorites
Mark Martin (+1000)
Martin learned this week who will replace him in the No. 5 Chevy. Will it be in 2012 or could it be sooner? Martin finished fourth last week at Phoenix and has one win, six Top 5s and 10 Top 10s here. Look for Martin to step up his game this week knowing his end, even if it's not for two years, is in sight.
Tony Stewart (+1200)
Flush from the win of his team?s last week at Phoenix, Stewart will be working hard to one up his teammate and employee this week. His 400th start here this week. Stewart has one win, four Top 5s and 10 Top-10 finishes and the momentum to go all the way.
Carl Edwards (+1500)
Edwards needs to win, wants to win and has a great chance to do so this weekend. He leads active drivers with three wins at Texas. He also has three Top 5s and four Top 10s. Coming off a season-best seventh place last week, look for Edwards to make some noise Sunday.
Others to watch
Jeff Gordon (+800)
Gordon came up short again at Phoenix, finishing second. He heads to Texas with a record of one win, seven Top 5s and nine Top 10s along with two poles. Gordon has been so close to winning several times this season and it's only a matter of time until he does so.
Jimmie Johnson (+450)
Johnson finished third last week after leading the most laps (actually tying for that honor). At Texas Johnson has one win, six Top 5s and nine Top 10s here. As Johnson showed last week and every week, he's always a threat and will be again Sunday.
Kyle Busch (+1000)
Busch tied with Johnson for the most laps led last week at Phoenix but came up short finishing eighth. At Texas, Busch has three Top 5s and four Top 10s. Despite a slow start to the season, Busch has continued to get stronger week after week and Texas may be the place where it finally all comes together.
Head to head
Jeff Burton vs. Greg Biffle
Burton has two wins at Texas along with three Top 5s and nine Top 10s, while Biffle has one win, three Top 5s and five Top 10s. Burton is the favorite of many this week, but has yet to show the strength necessary to seal the deal. Biffle has put together a string of consistent finishes and took over second in the points last week. Biffle finished ahead of Burton at Phoenix and should do the same Sunday.
Kurt Busch vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kurt Busch looked strong early in the season, Earnhardt looked less than stellar. Last week though, the roles seemed reversed. Busch finished 35th after losing a tire early. For Earnhardt, the most important thing was the team actually put together a decent outing and finished on the lead lap. Busch has one win, two Top 5s and nine Top 10s here. Earnhardt also has a win along with three Top 5s, seven Top 10s and two poles. Look for a possible breakthrough for Earnhardt this week or at the very least a finish ahead of Busch.
Denny Hamlin vs. Matt Kenseth
Hamlin was driving injured last week as he recovered from knee surgery. While he said it didn't affect him, it combined with several mechanical problems Hamlin suffered all day and finished an uncharacteristic 30th. At Texas, Hamlin has three Top 5s and six Top-10 finishes. Kenseth finished sixth last week and seemed a contender for most of the race. Kenseth has one win, seven Top 5s, and 10 Top 10s here. Hamlin won at Martinsville prior to his surgery and said he's a great deal better heading into this week. Kenseth has been strong every week, but Hamlin will be looking for redemption. This will be the best battle in the field but look for Hamlin to come out on top.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday's Samsung Mobile 500. The 1.5-mile track will give the new blade spoilers recently introduced on the Sprint Cup cars their first real chance to show how they will affect performance.
Favorites
Mark Martin (+1000)
Martin learned this week who will replace him in the No. 5 Chevy. Will it be in 2012 or could it be sooner? Martin finished fourth last week at Phoenix and has one win, six Top 5s and 10 Top 10s here. Look for Martin to step up his game this week knowing his end, even if it's not for two years, is in sight.
Tony Stewart (+1200)
Flush from the win of his team?s last week at Phoenix, Stewart will be working hard to one up his teammate and employee this week. His 400th start here this week. Stewart has one win, four Top 5s and 10 Top-10 finishes and the momentum to go all the way.
Carl Edwards (+1500)
Edwards needs to win, wants to win and has a great chance to do so this weekend. He leads active drivers with three wins at Texas. He also has three Top 5s and four Top 10s. Coming off a season-best seventh place last week, look for Edwards to make some noise Sunday.
Others to watch
Jeff Gordon (+800)
Gordon came up short again at Phoenix, finishing second. He heads to Texas with a record of one win, seven Top 5s and nine Top 10s along with two poles. Gordon has been so close to winning several times this season and it's only a matter of time until he does so.
Jimmie Johnson (+450)
Johnson finished third last week after leading the most laps (actually tying for that honor). At Texas Johnson has one win, six Top 5s and nine Top 10s here. As Johnson showed last week and every week, he's always a threat and will be again Sunday.
Kyle Busch (+1000)
Busch tied with Johnson for the most laps led last week at Phoenix but came up short finishing eighth. At Texas, Busch has three Top 5s and four Top 10s. Despite a slow start to the season, Busch has continued to get stronger week after week and Texas may be the place where it finally all comes together.
Head to head
Jeff Burton vs. Greg Biffle
Burton has two wins at Texas along with three Top 5s and nine Top 10s, while Biffle has one win, three Top 5s and five Top 10s. Burton is the favorite of many this week, but has yet to show the strength necessary to seal the deal. Biffle has put together a string of consistent finishes and took over second in the points last week. Biffle finished ahead of Burton at Phoenix and should do the same Sunday.
Kurt Busch vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kurt Busch looked strong early in the season, Earnhardt looked less than stellar. Last week though, the roles seemed reversed. Busch finished 35th after losing a tire early. For Earnhardt, the most important thing was the team actually put together a decent outing and finished on the lead lap. Busch has one win, two Top 5s and nine Top 10s here. Earnhardt also has a win along with three Top 5s, seven Top 10s and two poles. Look for a possible breakthrough for Earnhardt this week or at the very least a finish ahead of Busch.
Denny Hamlin vs. Matt Kenseth
Hamlin was driving injured last week as he recovered from knee surgery. While he said it didn't affect him, it combined with several mechanical problems Hamlin suffered all day and finished an uncharacteristic 30th. At Texas, Hamlin has three Top 5s and six Top-10 finishes. Kenseth finished sixth last week and seemed a contender for most of the race. Kenseth has one win, seven Top 5s, and 10 Top 10s here. Hamlin won at Martinsville prior to his surgery and said he's a great deal better heading into this week. Kenseth has been strong every week, but Hamlin will be looking for redemption. This will be the best battle in the field but look for Hamlin to come out on top.
