Saturday, March 12, 2005
Bookies make Johnson race favorite
Hometown driver Kurt Busch is second betting choice
By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Several signs seem to be pointing to Kurt Busch this weekend as the reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup series points champion returns to race in his hometown.
But Busch is not the home favorite for Sunday's UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Two days before the green flag drops, Jimmie Johnson took the lead at the sports books.
Johnson was elevated to the top spot Friday at 5-1 at Station Casinos and the Las Vegas Hilton. Busch, a co-favorite with Johnson early in the week, is the second choice, 6-1 at Stations and 8-1 at the Hilton.
"Those are probably the two hottest drivers, going back to last season," Station Casinos sports book director Micah Roberts said. "The public is all over Johnson. He's there and ready to win every race.
"But Kurt has got a great shot. I think in the past maybe he's tried a little too hard to win here."
Roberts said the betting handle for the Las Vegas race is "almost double and maybe three times" that of the season-opening Daytona 500. Roberts has posted about 100 proposition bets on Sunday's race.
Busch edged Johnson by eight points last year in the closest finish in series championship history. Both drivers have been just as strong through two races this season.
Johnson, who won four of the past six races in 2004, finished fifth at Daytona on Feb. 20 and second at California two weeks ago. Busch finished second at Daytona and third at California.
Busch's best finish is ninth in four previous Cup races in Las Vegas. He drove his No. 97 Ford to the fifth spot in Friday's qualifying. Johnson, in the No. 48 Chevrolet, qualified ninth.
The odds on Ryan Newman, who won the pole with a speed 173.745 mph in his No. 12 Dodge, are 8-1 at Stations and 12-1 at the Hilton. The bad news for Newman is the polesitter has never won in Las Vegas.
Daytona winner Jeff Gordon is getting 7-1 odds at Stations and 9-1 at the Hilton. Gordon qualified in 11th position, one spot behind Kyle Busch, a 60-1 shot to win.
Kurt Busch is a member of the Roush Racing team, which has won five of the seven Las Vegas races. Other members of the Roush team are Matt Kenseth (8-1), Greg Biffle (12-1), Mark Martin (12-1) and Carl Edwards (22-1). Kenseth has won the past two Las Vegas races.
Jeff Burton won in Las Vegas in 1999 and 2000 while with Roush, but is no longer on the team. The odds on Burton, who qualified in 24th, are 25-1.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver and was last year's favorite, but luck has eluded him in Las Vegas with only two top-10 finishes in five tries. After placing 32nd at California and a slow qualifying run Friday that put him 34th, Earnhardt is getting 12-1 odds.
"The fans know Dale Jr. is struggling, so people are a little down on his chances," Roberts said.
Hometown driver Kurt Busch is second betting choice
By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Several signs seem to be pointing to Kurt Busch this weekend as the reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup series points champion returns to race in his hometown.
But Busch is not the home favorite for Sunday's UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Two days before the green flag drops, Jimmie Johnson took the lead at the sports books.
Johnson was elevated to the top spot Friday at 5-1 at Station Casinos and the Las Vegas Hilton. Busch, a co-favorite with Johnson early in the week, is the second choice, 6-1 at Stations and 8-1 at the Hilton.
"Those are probably the two hottest drivers, going back to last season," Station Casinos sports book director Micah Roberts said. "The public is all over Johnson. He's there and ready to win every race.
"But Kurt has got a great shot. I think in the past maybe he's tried a little too hard to win here."
Roberts said the betting handle for the Las Vegas race is "almost double and maybe three times" that of the season-opening Daytona 500. Roberts has posted about 100 proposition bets on Sunday's race.
Busch edged Johnson by eight points last year in the closest finish in series championship history. Both drivers have been just as strong through two races this season.
Johnson, who won four of the past six races in 2004, finished fifth at Daytona on Feb. 20 and second at California two weeks ago. Busch finished second at Daytona and third at California.
Busch's best finish is ninth in four previous Cup races in Las Vegas. He drove his No. 97 Ford to the fifth spot in Friday's qualifying. Johnson, in the No. 48 Chevrolet, qualified ninth.
The odds on Ryan Newman, who won the pole with a speed 173.745 mph in his No. 12 Dodge, are 8-1 at Stations and 12-1 at the Hilton. The bad news for Newman is the polesitter has never won in Las Vegas.
Daytona winner Jeff Gordon is getting 7-1 odds at Stations and 9-1 at the Hilton. Gordon qualified in 11th position, one spot behind Kyle Busch, a 60-1 shot to win.
Kurt Busch is a member of the Roush Racing team, which has won five of the seven Las Vegas races. Other members of the Roush team are Matt Kenseth (8-1), Greg Biffle (12-1), Mark Martin (12-1) and Carl Edwards (22-1). Kenseth has won the past two Las Vegas races.
Jeff Burton won in Las Vegas in 1999 and 2000 while with Roush, but is no longer on the team. The odds on Burton, who qualified in 24th, are 25-1.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver and was last year's favorite, but luck has eluded him in Las Vegas with only two top-10 finishes in five tries. After placing 32nd at California and a slow qualifying run Friday that put him 34th, Earnhardt is getting 12-1 odds.
"The fans know Dale Jr. is struggling, so people are a little down on his chances," Roberts said.
