2009 Pocono 500 Predictions
Written by Jason Lowry
Last week at Dover International Speedway Jimmie Johnson grabbed his 2nd win of the season at the Autism Speaks 400, and will look to make it back to back wins when the Sprint Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway this weekend for the 2009 running of the Pocono 500. The race at Pocono gives drivers and unusual track to attack this weekend, as the 2.5 mile triangular track is unlike any other track on circuit. This is the first of two races ran at Pocono 500, as drivers will head back to this track at the beginning of August for the Pennsylvania 500. Last year it was Kasey Kahne who took the Pocono 500, but Carl Edwards is the last to win on this track, as he took home the 2008 Penn. 500. With the race scheduled for Sunday afternoon, here is a look at the 3 drivers I feel have the best shot at winning the 2009 running of the Pocono 500.
Carl Edwards +800 to win at Sportsbook.com: Edwards sits in 11th position at the near halfway point of the 2009 season, and a win could really go a long way in securing him in the top 12 for the end of the season. Edwards has yet to get on the board with a win this season, and hasn’t finished better than 10th since his 3rd place finish back at the Kobalt Tools 500 in early March. We already mentioned that Edwards was the last to win on this track, but that is not all that Edwards has done here at Pocono, as he won this event back in 2005 and has finished in the top 10 four times in his career. Edwards might not be the pick that jumps off the page like a Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon, but I really feel like Edwards is primed for a solid race this weekend.
Kyle Busch +700 to win at Sportsbook.com: I know some people aren’t going to agree with me on Busch being a threat to win this weekend, as Pocono is one of the few tracks that has kept him out of the winners circle, but I believe its just a matter of time before Busch wins on every track. Busch finished 43rd here a year ago due to an accident, but I really feel like this guy is going to come out and surprise some people this Sunday. Busch is currently 6th in the point standings, and is pretty much a lock to make the final 12, but I really expect this guy to be right in the thick of things when the final few laps are being run.
Tony Stewart +1200 to win at Sportsbook.com: What a remarkable season it has been so far for Tony Stewart, as the veteran jumped to first place in the point standings after his 2nd place finish at the Autism Speaks 400 last week. What really makes Stewart’s first place position interesting, is Stewart has yet to win this season. The reason Stewart finds himself in the first place slot, is he has finished 4th or better in 6 of his last 8 starts, including three 2nd place finishes. Stewart has one win at Pocono back in 2003, but has really raced well here over the last couple of years, as he has finished in the top 7 in 5 of his last 6 starts at Pocono. Its only a matter of time before Stewart grabs a checkered flag this season, and I feel like with odds he is getting this weekend, there is no better time than now to jump on the Stewart bandwagon.
For those of you looking for a complete list of drivers odds to win this weekend, head over to Sportsbook.com today.
Archive Predictions:
- Current 5 Hour Energy 500 Predictions
- 2010
- 2008
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