Fresh off a dominating performance at Phoenix, Jeff Gordon is looking to double up this week and what better track to do that then Las Vegas. Gordon’s career stats (ie average finish) doesn’t lead the way but ride the hot hand this week. He’s amassed the most points in the last two Vegas races and is coming off a win at Phoenix.
You don’t have to stray too far to make your next choice. Betting against Jimmie Johnson would be like saying the sun won’t rise tomorrow. Sure the sun eventually will stop rising but will Johnson have stopped winning by then? Johnson is a strong bet this week.
Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are great options also but you already know that.
A guy I’m looking at strongly this weekend is Clint Bowyer. Bowyer finished 8th last season and was 2nd in 2009. He’s coming off two weeks of bad luck and is desperately trying to climb out of an early points hole.
Behind even Bowyer in the standings is former champion Matt Kenseth. Kenseth had bad luck at Daytona and ran awful in the second half of Phoenix last week. He finds himself 23rd in the standings but does come to one of his better tracks in Las Vegas. Had Kenseth had better runs to open the season he’d be higher on this list.
Other great buy low options include Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle. Neither have seen their season get off to the start they desired but both are strong chase contenders and if the chips fall correctly title hopefuls.
Before I get too far I’d be forgetful if I didn’t say Mark Martin is also another big name to watch. In 16 starts he has 10 top-10’s and looks to have distanced himself from last years struggles. It appears Martin is another good bet to find victory lane this year. At which point someone will remind him he’s not going to be in the #5 next year. Genius!
The third time could be the charm for Joey Logano. The youngster is one to watch on Sunday.
Then there is the case of Dale Earnhardt Jr. With all the happenings of the last two weeks those who are Jr fans or those who believe the sport is scripted should bet on him this week. What better way to get ratings and merchandise sales then to have a feel good story turn into wins for your biggest two cash cows?
Last years “feel good story” Jamie McMurray has had a lot of the same luck of Clint Bowyer this year. The difference is Bowyer has strong track success of l ate to fall back on and McMurray could be firmly out of the hunt for the chase after Sunday. McMurray is simply trying to keep his head above water until some of his better tracks emerge on the schedule. Likewise his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya has a career best finish of 19th and hasn’t so much as led a single lap.
Early strong starts for Paul Menard and AJ Allmendinger are not reasons to over value them this week. Neither has even led a lap at Las Vegas in six combined starts. The blue deuce of Brad Keselowski is also a car to stay away from. Keselowski finished 26th last year and still looks lost at the Cup level.
