Can anyone beat Jimmie Johnson? NASCAR Sprint Cup betting fans will have to come to terms with that question as the elite stock car league revs up for its 63rd season, beginning with the Daytona 500, Feb. 20. Actually, the season starts with the Bud Shootout on Feb. 12 and although there will be betting on that individual event, drivers do not earn points toward the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the 36-race campaign that concludes with the Ford 400, in Miami, Nov. 20.
To no one's surprise, Johnson, who has won the last five (yes, five) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championships, opened as the solid 5/2 favorite to capture a six-pack of titles. The Driver of the Year in 2006, 2007 and last year, Johnson, who also was named the Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year in 2009, drives for powerful Hendrick Motorsports, which also boasts Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin in their Chevy cockpits.
Johnson had to come from behind to narrowly edge Denny Hamlin for the championship last year. In fact, Johnson's six victories were second to Hamlin's eight, although Johnson had 23 top 10 finishes, to 18 for Hamlin. The latter, who drives a Toyota for former NFL Head Coach Joe Gibbs, opened as the 6/1 second choice in NASCAR Sprint Cup future book betting.
Although he had only three victories last year, Kevin Harvick finished in the top 10 a circuit best 26 times and wound up third in the standings in 2010, a mere two points behind Hamlin and just 41 behind Johnson. Harvick joins Carl Edwards, who was fourth in the standings a year ago, at future book odds of 8/1.
Kyle Busch, a teammate of Hamlin, is offered at odds of 9/1. Busch, the younger brother of 2004 Nextel Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, finished eighth in the standings a year ago, is the onlyNASCAR driver to win races in two of its national touring series on the same day, winning the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series races held on February 21, 2009. On August 21, 2010, Busch became the first driver to win in all three of NASCAR's top three touring series in the same weekend (Bristol).
You can get odds of 10/1 on Gordon, a four-time Sprint Cup champion, earning a fifth title this year. Gordon, who finished ninth in the overall standings despite failing to reach the winner's circle last year, last won a Sprint Cup championship a decade ago, in 2001. Gordon, who will turn 40 in August, is co-owner of Johnson's #48 car so while he's been less than kind to bettors the last five seasons, his own bankroll hasn't suffered.
Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth also are considered legitimate threats to Johnson's reign. Stewart, 12/1, is the only driver to win both the Winston Cup under the old points system, and the Nextel Cup under the chase playoff format, capturing those championships in 2002 and 2005 respectively. His 2005 Cup title marks the last time a driver other than Jimmie Johnson has won the points championship. Stewart finished seventh in the points standings last year.
Biffle, 15/1, s a past champion in NASCAR's other two national touring divisions, the Nationwide Series, where he still competes part-time, and the Camping World Truck Series. Biffle wound up in sixth place in last year's Cup chase.
Though winless in 2010, Kenseth, 16/1, was fifth in the overall standings a year ago. He is the reigning Daytona 500 champion, and a former Sprint series Rookie of the Year in 2000 and the season championship in 2003.
Interesting longshots include Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch, each 20/1, and Earnhardt Jr., 50/1. Bowyer and Busch finished 10th and 11th respectively in last year's championship chase, each winning twice during the course of the season. "Little E" is coming off a dismal season in which he failed to win a race, notched just eight top 10 finishes in 36 starts, and wound up 21st in the standings.
They may not have dropped the flag for the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series but NASCAR Sprint Cup Series betting already has pedals to the metal.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
