2013 NRA 500 Predictions
NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series will make its first prime time appearance of the season with the running of the NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Saturday night’s race is set to get underway at 8 p.m. and it will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
NASCAR Sprint Cup NRA 500 Preview and Prediction
Race: NRA 500, Fort Worth, TX.
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2013
Time: 8 p.m. (ET)
Broadcast: FOX
Odds: Bovada
Jimmie Johnson left little doubt that he is geared-up for another legitimate run at a Sprint Cup title with a victory last week at Martinsville. Clint Bowyer finished third and veteran NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon ended-up third.
The following is a closer look at our favorite, contender, and longshot picks for this Saturday night’s race with odds provided by Sportsbook.
The Favorite (odd of less than 10/1)
Jimmie Johnson is one of two co-favorites at +600 to win this race along with Kyle Busch. The value in Johnson’s odds is fairly obvious given his current form.
The No. 48 car is currently in first place in the Sprint Cup standings with 231 points and after the first six races of the new season, it has posted four top-10 finishes that also includes a victory in the Daytona 500.
Adding even more value to Johnsons’ odds is his recent performance at Texas.
He followed-up a second-place finish in last year’s race with a victory in the second race at this track in 2012. His average finishing position here is 9.3.
The Contender (odds from 10/1 to 19/1)
Sportsbook’s list is littered with a number of quality drivers in this odd’s category, but the most value lies in Kasey Kahne at +1200. The No. 5 car took the checkered flag earlier in the season at Bristol as part of four top-10 finishes that has it sitting in fifth-place in the Sprint Cup standings with 199 points. [ad-8757089]
Kahne has already led for 223 laps this season as compared to a total of 282 laps for the entire 2012 Sprint Cup season.
He won this race in 2006 and is coming off a seventh-place finish in last year’s race.
The Longshot (odds 20/1 or greater)
When trying to find value in some of the longer odds on the board, a name that jumps off the page is Paul Menard at +7500. With odds this high nothing more than a very small play is recommended, but this relatively unheralded Sprint Cup driver is one to watch after racing his way to ninth place in the standings with 179 points.
The No. 27 car ended-up 18th last week but this followed three-straight top-10 finishes including an eighth-place finish at Fontana.
In 13 previous Sprint Cup races at Texas, his best finish is fifth in this race back in 2011.
Odds from Bovada
Jimmie Johnson 6/1
Kyle Busch 6/1
Brad Keselowski 7/1
Greg Biffle 7/1
Carl Edwards 10/1
Matt Kenseth 12/1
Kasey Kahne 12/1
Tony Stewart 12/1
Jeff Gordon 12/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 15/1
Clint Bowyer 15/1
Kevin Harvick 18/1
Martin Truex Jr 25/1
Brian Vickers 25/1
Mark Martin 30/1
Joey Logano 30/1
Ricky Stenhouse 50/1
Kurt Busch 50/1
Ryan Newman 60/1
Paul Menard 75/1
Jamie McMurray 75/1
Marcos Ambrose 100/1
Aric Almirola 100/1
Jeff Burton 100/1
Trevor Bayne 100/1
AJ Allmendinger 100/1
Danica Patrick 100/1
Casey Mears 100/1
Juan Montoya 100/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 50/1
