Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are co-favorites in NASCAR odds as each is listed at 5-1. Edwards finished second in this race last year and won the race in 2005 and in 2008. Kyle Busch is the point’s leader and is in contention every week so it is not a surprise to see him favored. Of the 12 spots in the Chase, five are already set with Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick already in. Other drivers in good shape are Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch. The race is for the last four spots with the pressure really on Tony Stewart.
The pole sitter has won just three times in the fall race at Atlanta but that doesn’t mean that starting up front is not important. Of the 103 races, spring and fall included in Atlanta, 59 or of the winners have started in the top five and 81 winners have started in the top ten.
Red Hot Keselowski
It is hard to argue if you want to take a shot with Brad Keselowski again this week. He is the hottest driver in NASCAR having won twice in the last four races. He is also racing for a $3 million dollar payout as part of the Sprint Summer Showdown. Keselowski is 12-1 in NASCAR odds.
Carl Edwards
One of the best drivers in Atlanta has been Edwards. He has two wins at the track and finished second in last year’s Advocare 500. There is not much value in Edwards at 5-1 but he definitely could win.
Pressure on Stewart and Hamlin
The two drivers in the spotlight are Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin as they look to make the Chase. Stewart won last year’s race but he hasn’t done much recently and it is tough to bet on him to win. Denny Hamlin hasn’t been much better but in the last five races in Atlanta he has led 185 laps. Last year he won the pole and led until his engine died. Stewart and Hamlin are both listed at 12-1.
You don’t want to count out five-time Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson who is rounding into form at the perfect time. He has three wins in Atlanta and is listed with odds of 7-1.
