Nascar Thread.

[kosar19]

Another wild and wacky race last week in Daytona. Tony Stewart was ill and after driving the car into the top 3 (and all other drivers telling their crew chiefs that he had the best car on the track), pulled out of the race and a backup driver took over. "Oh the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune".

This week we move up to Chicago for the Lifelock.com 400.

Will come back later with my thoughts in general of this race, but in the meantime the following should be taken

Kasey Kahne 16/1 SJ
Brian Vickers 30/1 BlSq (or 25/1 SJ)
Kevin Harvick 33/1 BlSq

(KK will be my 3 star nap)

[kosar19]

79	Matt Kenseth
76	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
73	Brian Vickers
65	Kasey Kahne
62	Jimmie Johnson
48	Tony Stewart
47	Kevin Harvick
40	Denny Hamlin
35	Jeff Burton
31	Carl Edwards
29	Kyle Busch
26	Kurt Busch

These are my ratings for this weeks race in Chicago for the Top 12 drivers.

Chicago is another of the 1½m upwards Cookie tracks that make up much of the schedule. It does have similarites to Michigan, Texas etc, but data shows that cars that go well at Pocono do well here (1st and 2nd there this year were Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers).
KK has not done well at Chicago in the past, but feel that he has a real shot to turn it around this weekend.
I make him my 3* Nap
Matt Kenseth has the best overall driver rating at Chicago, plus has performed well at all the relevant tracks this year.
He will be my 2* Selection
Brian Vickers has looked solid in most of these type of races, and a decent top 6 rating at Chicago, so I make him my 1* selection

Kasey Kahne 16/1 available
Matt Kenseth 9/1 available
Brian Vickers 30/1 available.

Would mention that Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson will be tough to beat, and Kevin Harvick loves this track, so should also go well. Championship leader Kyle Busch is always going to be there or thereabouts, but I am looking for some value (and he cannot win every race-can he?)
Would pass on a massive 300/1 shot, who may surprise and may be worth a little interest ew. Reed Sorenson.

Any late news that I feel may be of interest, I will pass on tomorrow.

[kosar19]

Best 2 drivers on tonights Sessions, appear to be Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
Would suggest a small ew interest in David Gililand 200/1 SJ who has shown up well in the sessions (and went well at Pocono).

Kenseth,Kahne and Vickers are in the Top 10

[trickrick]

That wretched Jimmie Johnson is up there again..

Kosar...Convince me why I shouldn't take the 13/2 on him 'cos I'm sorely tempted...!

[kosar19]

Its hard not to make a case for him Trick, as he is going to be hanging around all day. Personally based on what I have seen in all the sessions then the 6/1 Edwards is far better value. Has won 3 races on the 1½ mile tracks, similar to this already this season, and it looks like he may have the car to beat again.
Hoping of the 3 I have put up as Selections in my staking plan, that Matt Kenseth finally puts a win on the board. He appears to be the best hope of the 3 (Although all were in the Top 10 of the Speed charts last night)

[trickrick]

Alrighty Kosar, I've followed my gut feeling (Johnson 7/1) and also gone for one of your picks..(Edwards 6/1) both with Boyles..

[trickrick]

Johnson finished 2nd....

The gut feeling nearly did it for me...

[kosar19]

Busch finally was able to get by on the fourth turn of the 266th lap and then hold on for the final trip around the 1.5-mile oval.
But it was his aggressive move at the beginning of restart that was just as important. Busch showed why he leads the Sprint Cup points race with some great driving at the end.
``I was right there on his rear bumper and fortunately that was our race-winning move,'' Busch said. ``Just being able to stay with him on the restart and not spin my tires and get to his outside through one and two.''
But without the final yellow, the ninth of the race, Busch said he would have lost. Johnson had initially gone by him with 17 laps remaining and was running strong.
``Did I surprise myself? Yes. Without that caution the race was over. Jimmy was going to lead us to the checkered flag,'' Busch said. ``So when that caution came out, it kind of changed everything and I was just trying on that restart, doing whatever I could to get back by him.''
``I thought I had such a good car, I thought I'd get away from him on the restart. He got a great start and was right there with me and just broke past that bumper plane through the center of one and two. And that was it,'' Johnson said.
``If I could do it over again I'd play more defense on the restart.''
Johnson even apologized to his team for his late strategy.
``For a two-lap shootout, the outside always wins. I didn't make the best decision there,'' Johnson added. ``I should know better. I've passed guys on the last lap on the outside. I should have given him the bottom and been a little smarter with that.''

Trick, thought I would send this to really make you sick

[kosar19]

Both Edwards (when he took over 65 laps from the end), and Johnson appeared to have the winning cars. However a few dollars of equipment failed on Edwards car, which cost him dear. Then Johnson who was driving away to win easy, lost out on the caution being thrown, and then by a superb piece of driving by Busch.
Have to hand it to Kyle who had a great car all day (but strangely Edwards,Johnson and Kenseth had the faster cars, but all suffered mishaps along the way).
I should just tip up Kyle to win every race, because everything is falling his way at the moment. Next up is Indianapolis in 2 weeks, and he should have the car to beat there as well

[trickrick]

Originally Posted by kosar19

Trick, thought I would send this to really make you sick

Cheers Kosar

[kosar19]

Allstate 400 -

Nascar returns this week at the Brickyard (Indianapolis), the most revered circuit in America. With this being another of the super fast speedways, the usual suspects will contend for the win this week. I will be back after the practice sessions to give my final thoughts on this, having been caught out recently trying to get the best odds pre sessions.
I will however say that the 20/1 on Jeff Gordon looks rather large for someone who has such a good record in this event

[kosar19]

I will give my 3* nap (even before Qualifying today), as practice last night confirmed he is the man to beat

Jimmie Johnson (7/1 up with Skybet)

Also if you did not get the 20/1 Jeff Gordon, then the 14/1 with Skybet may be worth a look. He is a 4 time winner here and looked good last night also

[trickrick]

Well, I've had so many near misses recently with Jimmie Johnson, I've got to follow you with this one...

He owes me big time !!

[kosar19]

JJ has won the Poll. Will be short price fav for this later tonight.

I will be up ater tonight with my Top 3, but expect to have
Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne as my other two

[trickrick]

Well I covered with an e/w on Gordon...

Who is Mark Martin (who is sharing the front row with Johnson)? Not seen much mention of him in the past...? I get the impression he is some wiley old veteran driver...

God - I hope that goddamn Busch geezer doesnt win again.. I don't know much about NASCAR, but one thing I do know is that I hate him !!! (well my bank balance does !!)