2011 5 Hour Energy 500 Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
It is becoming more and more clear that the Sprint Cup Series is becoming as competitive as it ever has. For the third time this season the we had a surprise winner take home the checkered flag. Brad Keselowski won the STP 400 last week with odds at 100/1. Earlier this season Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 at 100/1 and then in May Regan Smith shocked everyone with a win at Darlington at 500/1.
This week the drivers will test their skills at the 5 Hour Energy 500, the first of two races held at Pocono Raceway. This track provides a unique challenge to the field, as its triangular shaped track is known by many as the “Tricky Triangle.” Denny Hamlin won this event last year (Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500), while Greg Biffle took home the checkered flag in the fall race (Pennsylvania 500).
Carl Edwarrds leads the point standings by 40 points over Jimmie Johnson, but has just one win on the season. Johnson, who normally has close to a handful of wins by this point in the season, also has just one win in 2011. The parity among the drivers makes it extremely hard to predict who is going to come out on top each week.
For those of you who are looking to do a little betting on the race this week, here is a look at the three drivers who I feel have the best shot at making their way to victory la
Denny Hamlin (+400) – Hamlin comes in as clear favorite to win this week, and I believe he has the best shot of all the favorites to get the job done. Hamlin’s win at this event last year was his fourth career first place finish at Pocono Raceway. Since winning his first ever race at this event back in 2006, Hamlin has finished outside of the top 10 just twice. His average finish of 8.2 is the best of any driver i the field. He also comes into the race off a strong showing last week at the STP 400, where he took home a third place finish.
Tony Stewart (+1000) – If there is a driver that comes close to the success that Hamlin has had at Pocono, it’s Tony Stewart. He has two career wins at this track, including a win at this event back in 209. He finished 3rd at this event last year and backed it up with a 2nd place finish on this track in the fall. He has nine top 10 finishes in his last 10 starts on this track, and at +1000 odds he is well worth the price in this race.
Kurt Busch (+2500) - With all the surprises that have been happening on the track this season, I thought I would use one of my picks on a guy who isn’t getting a whole lot of credit heading into the race this weekend, but still a guy who I feel has a great shot at winning. Kurt Busch comes in off back-to-back top 10 finishes at the Coca-Cola 600 and the STP 400, and has two career wins at Pocono. Busch has also found himself near the lead in a lot of starts at Pocono. He has five other finishes inside the top five, including four runner-up finishes.
Complete 5 Hour Energy 500 Odds
| AJ Allmendinger | +6000 |
| Bobby Labonte | +35000 |
| Brad Keselowski | +5000 |
| Brian Vickers | +4000 |
| Carl Edwards | +700 |
| Clint Bowyer | +2500 |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr | +1200 |
| David Ragan | +4000 |
| David Reutimann | +5000 |
| Denny Hamlin | +400 |
| Greg Biffle | +1500 |
| Jamie McMurray | +4000 |
| Jeff Burton | +4000 |
| Jeff Gordon | +1200 |
| Jimmie Johnson | +600 |
| Joey Logano | +4000 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | +4000 |
| Kasey Kahne | +3000 |
| Kevin Harvick | +1200 |
| Kurt Busch | +2500 |
| Kyle Busch | +1000 |
| Marcos Ambrose | +5000 |
| Mark Martin | +4000 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +4000 |
| Matt Kenseth | +1500 |
| Paul Menard | +7000 |
| Regan Smith | +8000 |
| Ryan Newman | +4000 |
| Tony Stewart | +1000 |
| Field (Any Other Driver) | +15000 |
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One Response to “2011 5 Hour Energy 500 Predictions”
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It’s going to be a big win for denny hamlin saturday night, on his home track. All nascar fans out there be ware denny hamlin no.11 on a move to win thee track championship. Thank you race fans.