2010 Pepsi Max 400 Predictions – Betting Preview + Picks + Odds
Preview: Fontana is another track involved in the NASCAR Cup Series schedule realignment for 2011. Next year, the venue has just one race date and it will be in the spring. Meanwhile, this weekend’s Pepsi Max 400 is 100 miles shorter than the typical Fontana race – a fact that took several drivers by surprise on Qualifying Day Friday.
Race: Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club (California) Speedway
Date: Sunday, October 10, 2010
Time: 3:16 PM EST (scheduled green flag)
TV: 3:00 PM EST on ESPN
Jamie McMurray captured the pole with Elliott Sadler in P2.
Chase driver Denny Hamlin starts 34th and Kurt Busch, 38th.
Safe Bets:
1. Jimmie Johnson (9/5): Johnson won four of the last six ACS races, including three straight fall races plus the spring race this year. He has the most wins at Fontana among active drivers (5) and the best average finish (5.5). In the past seven Fontana races, Johnson has only finished outside the top-3 once. 2. Matt Kenseth (10/1): Not normally known as a top qualifier, Kenseth is starting third Sunday after a strong qualifying effort – the highest starting spot among Chase contenders. 
Kenseth’s team is bringing a brand-new chassis to Fontana this weekend and, so far, it seems to be working well for him.
Dark Horse:
1. Kasey Kahne (25/1): Kahne won at Fontana in the fall ’06 race, though with a different team and a different car. He qualified fifth for Sunday’s race and was ninth on the speed chart for Saturday morning practice.
Summary: Last week’s race winner, Greg Biffle, is a two-time winner at Fontana and was strong in practice Saturday as well. His crew chief, Greg Erwin, notes, “We’ve seen fuel mileage come into play at California several times, so pit strategy will be a factor.” Strategy will be especially important given the new race length.
Roush-Fenway Racing teammates Biffle and Kenseth paced Saturday’s first practice session.
Odds To Win – Race: Pepsi Max 400
Sun, October 3rd (1:00PM EST) at Auto Club Speedway
Jimmie Johnson 2/1
Greg Biffle 6/1
Matt Kenseth 8/1
Kyle Busch 12/1
Carl Edwards 12/1
Jamie McMurray 12/1
Jeff Gordon 12/1
Kevin Harvick 18/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 18/1
Denny Hamlin 20/1
Tony Stewart 20/1
Kasey Kahne 20/1
Jeff Burton 25/1
Martin Truex Jr 30/1
Clint Bowyer 30/1
Mark Martin 30/1
Kurt Busch 30/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 40/1
Joey Logano 40/1
Ryan Newman 50/1
David Reutimann 60/1
Elliott Sadler 100/1
David Ragan 100/1
AJ Allmendinger 100/1
Paul Menard 200/1
Reed Sorenson 300/1
Brad Keselowski 300/1
Sam Hornish Jr 500/1
Marcos Ambrose 500/1
Scott Speed 1000/1
Regan Smith 1000/1
Travis Kvapil 5000/1
Bobby Labonte 5000/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 500/1
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Becca Gladden is a freelance writer and race handicapper specializing in NASCAR.
