Categories
Nascar

NASCAR Sprint Cup Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Preview and Prediction

Martinsville – Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Predictions

The Chase for NASCAR’s 2013 Sprint Cup title returns to Martinsville this week for the running of the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500. Sunday afternoon’s race is set to get underway at 2 p.m. and it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Preview and Prediction
Race: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway
Date: Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013
Time: 2 p.m. (ET)
Broadcast: ESPN
Odds By Bovada

For the second week in a row a driver that is not in the Chase has taken the checkered flag with Jamie McMurray’s win last Sunday at Talladega. Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a run at the flag with a second-place finish and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ended-up third.

The following is a closer look at our favorite, contender, and longshot picks for Sunday’s race with odds provided by Sportsbook.

The Favorite (odd of less than 10/1)

Jimmie Johnson spent most of this season atop the Sprint Cup standings and, at the time of the year when it means the most, he is back on top with 2254 points.

Johnson is no stranger to winning the title with five-straight Sprint Cups from 2006 to 2010. He also knows that with just four races left in this year’s Chase a win this week at one of his favorite tracks would put him one step closer to claiming that elusive sixth title.

Looking at his past performance at Martinsville it is easy to see why the No. 48 car has been listed as a heavy +180 favorite to win this Sunday.

Johnson won this race last season and will be going for the season sweep this year after his victory in the first race at this track.

His average finishing position at Martinsville over the course of a storied Sprint Cup career is an impressive 5.3.

The Contender (odds from 10/1 to 19/1)

The only other driver in the Chase that has a legitimate shot at catching Johnson is Matt Kenseth. The No. 20 car slipped in the standings after a disappointing 20th-place finish at Talladega, but it remains just four points out of the lead. Kenseth has been opened at +1000 to win his third race of this season’s Chase and his eighth point race overall. [ad-8757089]

Past performance at Martinsville is weighing heavily against his odds with an average finishing position of 15.8.

He has never won a Sprint Cup race at this track, but motivation and current form still make him an attractive play.

The Longshot (odds 20/1 or greater)

With two non-Chase drivers winning the last two races, it could be a good time for a small play on another longshot to win this week. Our choice would be Carl Edwards at +3000.

The No. 99 car has slipped to 10th in the standings and out of the title race, but it did post a victory at Richmond right before the start of the Chase. Since then this team has three top-10 finishes in its last six races.

Past performance at Martinsville does not add much value to these odds, but from 2008 through 2011, Edwards finished in the top 10 in five of his eight trips around this track.

Odds from Bovada

JIMMIE JOHNSON 9-5
JEFF GORDON 6-1
KYLE BUSCH 7-1
MATT KENSETH 10-1
KASEY KAHNE 10-1
DENNY HAMLIN 12-1
KEVIN HARVICK 12-1
BRAD KESELOWSKI 12-1
CLINT BOWYER 12-1
DALE EARNHARDT JR 18-1
KURT BUSCH 30-1
MARTIN TRUEX JR 30-1
CARL EDWARDS 30-1
JOEY LOGANO 30-1
GREG BIFFLE 30-1
RYAN NEWMAN 30-1
JAMIE McMURRAY 50-1
ARIC ALMIROLA 100-1
JUAN MONTOYA 100-1
JEFF BURTON 100-1
MARK MARTIN 100-1
PAUL MENARD 100-1
MARCOS AMBROSE 200-1
RICKY STENHOUSE JR 300-1
ELLIOTT SADLER 300-1
KYLE LARSON 300-1
DANICA PATRICK 500-1
FIELD 500-1

Odds To Win 2013 SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

JIMMIE JOHNSON 1-3
MATT KENSETH 2-1
KYLE BUSCH 10-1
KEVIN HARVICK 12-1
JEFF GORDON 30-1
CLINT BOWYER 100-1
GREG BIFFLE 100-1
CARL EDWARDS 100-1
DALE EARNHARDT JR 100-1
KURT BUSCH 100-1
JOEY LOGANO 300-1
RYAN NEWMAN 300-1
KASEY KAHNE 1000-1

*SPRINT Cup Odds provided by Bovada (Click Here now – Open A free Nascar betting account today!)

By Dave Schwab

David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.