2010 Kobalt Tools 500 Predictions – Betting Preview + Picks + Odds
Preview: It’s down to the final two races of the 2010 season, with this week’s event taking place on the flat desert miler where the Cup Series has been racing since 1988.
Although Jimmie Johnson is currently behind by 33 points in the standings, he’s ahead when it comes to the stats at Phoenix International Raceway.
Race: Kobalt Tools 500 – Phoenix International Raceway
Date: Sunday, November 14, 2010
Time: 3:15 PM EST (scheduled Green Flag)
TV: 3:00 PM EST on ESPN
In the past six races here (both spring and fall dates), Johnson has won four times, including this race last year, making him the only active driver with more than two wins.
He also has the best average finish (4.9) with eight straight top-fives here heading into Sunday’s race. Ryan Newman was the winner in spring, though he only led four laps.
Safe Bets:
1. Jimmie Johnson (5/2): Although Johnson has pretty much owned this track in recent years, there are chinks in the No. 48 team’s armor this time around, including a highly publicized mid-race crew swap with the No. 24 team last week in Texas after several slow pit stops, and the fact that Johnson has lost the points lead with two races to go.
Johnson qualified 21st, his worst starting spot in the last eight Phoenix races. Still, after four straight championships, we’ve learned never to count him out. 
2. Denny Hamlin (4/1): Hamlin has never won at PIR, but has finished third here four times including last November. Now on top of the Cup points and having a career year, Hamlin and the No. 11 team have momentum on their side. He qualified 17th for Sunday’s race.
Dark Horse:
1. Clint Bowyer (25/1): Bowyer has finished as high as second at PIR (April 2008) and has two straight top-10s including a seventh in this race last year. He qualified 14th.
Summary: It’s still a three-man Chase headed into Sunday’s race, so don’t count out Kevin Harvick, a two-time Phoenix winner who swept the track in 2006. He qualified 29th. Carl Edwards and AJ Allmendinger start on the front row Sunday, with Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle in row two.
There will be two practice sessions Saturday.
Odds to Win the Kobalt Tools 500
Sun, Nov, 14th (3:00pm EST) at Phoenix International Raceway
Johnson, Jimmie 3-1
Edwards, Carl 5-1
Busch, Kyle 6-1
Hamlin, Denny 6-1
Busch, Kurt 8-1
Harvick, Kevin 10-1
McMurray, Jamie 12-1
Biffle, Greg 12-1
Stewart, Tony 18-1
Gordon, Jeff 20-1
Bowyer, Clint 25-1
Lagano, Joey 25-1
Kenseth, Matt 25-1
Allmendinger, A.J. 30-1
Martin, Mark 30-1
Newman, Ryan 35-1
Earnhardt Jr., Dale 60-1
Reutimann, David 60-1
Burton, Jeff 60-1
Ragan, David 75-1
Kahne, Kasey 75-1
Montoya, Juan 75-1
Almirola, Aric 100-1
Smith, Regan 100-1
Ambrose, Marcos 200-1
Keselowski, Brad 300-1
Menard, Paul 300-1
Sadler, Elliott 500-1
Hornish, Jr., Sam 500-1
Labonte, Bobby 1000-1
Speed, Scott 1000-1
Kvapil, Travis 1000-1
Against the Field (any other driver) 500-1
The 2010 Kobalt Tools 500 Gambling! Open A Nascar Betting Acct. @ Betus – Get up to 145% in bonuses, + qualify for yearly Nascar Contests – CLICK HERE!…
Becca Gladden is a freelance writer and race handicapper specializing in NASCAR.
