Month: March 2011

2011 Kobalt Tools 400 Predictions – Betting Preview + Picks + Odds

Preview: The early story at Las Vegas this weekend has been the performance of the Fords, with Friday’s top four qualifiers driving blue ovals, including three from Roush Fenway Racing. Matt Kenseth scored the pole with a new track record of 188.884 mph.

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Race: The Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011
Time: 3:14 PM EST (scheduled Green Flag)
TV: 2:30 PM EST on FOX

Starting alongside Kenseth in row 1 will be Marcos Ambrose in a Richard Petty Ford, with Roushketeers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle in row 2. Whether this carries over to Sunday’s race remains to be seen, however.

Jimmie Johnson has won four of the last six races here including 2010, although Jeff Gordon led 219 of 267 laps in that race before finishing third. Johnson qualified 14th for Sunday’s race; Gordon, 13th.

Safe Bets

:

1. Jimmie Johnson (3/1): Johnson’s four wins at Las Vegas are twice as many as any other driver. He has the third-best average finish here among drivers with more than two starts at a 10.0; only Jeff Burton is better at a 9.9.

2. Jeff Gordon (4/1): Coming off an impressive win in Phoenix last weekend, his first in 66 races, Gordon is heading to a track that he dominated last year. Aside from a crash here in 2008, Gordon has averaged a 4.0 finish since 2005 and won this race in 2001.

Dark Horse:

1. Matt Kenseth (30/1): As noted above, Kenseth qualified on the pole for Sunday’s race; he has back-to-back wins here in 2003 and 2004. He finished 5th in this race last year.

Summary: Busch brothers Kyle and Kurt, native sons of Las Vegas, head into this race leading the NASCAR point standings. Both drivers would like to score a win on their home track this weekend, but, while Kyle qualified 5th, Kurt will be starting 22nd.

Odds to Win the Kobalt Tools 400
Sunday, March 6, 2011

David Ragan 75-1
David Reutimann 50-1
Denny Hamlin 15-1
Greg Biffle 10-1
Jamie McMurray 35-1
Jeff Burton 30-1
Jeff Gordon 10-1
Jimmie Johnson 6-1
Joey Logano 30-1
Juan Montoya 40-1
Kasey Kahne 30-1
Kevin Harvick 15-1
Kurt Busch 20-1
Kyle Busch 5-1
Marcos Ambrose 75-1
Mark Martin 30-1
Martin Truex Jr 40-1
Matt Kenseth 8-1
Paul Menard 100-1
Regan Smith 200-1
Ryan Newman 35-1
Tony Stewart 15-1
Trevor Bayne 200-1
zx Field (Any Other Driver) 200-1
AJ Allmendinger 60-1
Bobby Labonte 200-1
Brad Keselowski 100-1
Brian Vickers 35-1
Carl Edwards 9-2
Clint Bowyer 30-1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 50-1
David Gilliland 1000-1

Becca Gladden is a freelance writer and race handicapper specializing in NASCAR.