2008 Coke Zero 400 Preview & Odds
July 1, 2008
While many of us will be off relaxing this weekend enjoying the summer weather and celebrating our nations holiday, NASCAR drivers keep on going and this weekend they head to Daytona, Florida for the 50th running at Daytona in the summer. It has went through a number of names including Firecracker 400, but is now the Coke Zero 400, and it gets underway this Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Last year Jamie McMurray was the man in victory lane, and this year Ryan Newman will look to be the first driver in 25 years to win the Daytona 500 to start the season, and then go on and when the summer race at Daytona. To get a better look at the race this weekend Jason Lowry is going to take a look at some of the favorites, guys in the middle of the pack, and the long shots to win this weekend at Daytona.
Favorites:
Kyle Busch 5/1, Dale Earnhardt Jr 6/1, Tony Stewart 6/, Jeff Gordan 7/1, Jimmie Johnson 8/1, and Denny Hamlin 10/1
Its easy to see why this group of drivers is the favorites this weekend, as all 6 of these drivers are currently in the top 10 in the point standings. The driver who needs this race the most would have to be Tony Stewart, as he is only 26 points away from being in 13th and out of the top 12 guys who race at the end of the season. Stewart, Gordon, and Earnhardt Jr. are the only 3 drivers to have won this race, but don’t ever count out Busch this season as he has been the best driver all season.
Middle of the Pack:
Kurt Busch 15/1, Jeff Burton 25/1, Kevin Harvick 25/1, Clint Bowyer 25/1, Carl Edwards 30/1, Kasey Kahne 30/1, Matt Kenseth 30/1, and Ryan Newman 30/1
With the race coming on the same track as the Daytona 500, you have to look at Newman as a real threat to win this weekend, along with Kurt Busch who is coming off a win last week and a 2nd place finish at the Daytona 500 as well. Kahne and Edwards both have multiple wins this season, and you have to take them seriously each and every week. This race mean a lot to guys like Kenseth, Newman, Harvick, Bowyer, and Kahne as they all are right in the mix of the top 12.
Long Shot:
Brian Vickers 35/1, Martin Truex Jr 35/1, Elliot Sadler 40/1, Jamie McMurray 40/1, Greg Biffle 40/1, and Michael Waltrip 50/1
Just to show you that anyone can win any given week, McMurrray won this race a year ago, and is rewarded with 40/1 odds the next year. The other guy to win this race is Waltrip back in 2002. Biffle sits pretty safe in 8th place right now in the point standings, but guys like Martin Truex Jr and Vickers are guys that could really use a big finish this weekend, as they both sit right around a 100 points behind current 12th place driver Kevin Harvick.
While we went through almost all the big name drivers this weekend, there are still a few others we didn’t mention. If you are still looking for another drivers odds check out the complete list below. For those of you wanting to get a big bet on the race this weekend be sure to get over to Sportsbook.com and get an account started today.
Complete list of drivers odds thanks to Sportsbook.com
AJ Allmendinger 100 - 1
Bobby Labonte 60 - 1
Brian Vickers 35 - 1
Carl Edwards 30 - 1
Casey Mears 50 - 1
Clint Bowyer 25 - 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 6 - 1
Dave Blaney 100 - 1
David Gilliland 60 - 1
David Ragan 40 - 1
David Reutimann 100 -
Denny Hamlin 10 - 1
Elliott Sadler 40 - 1
Greg Biffle 40 - 1
Jamie McMurray 40 - 1
Jeff Burton 25 - 1
Jeff Gordon 7 - 1
Jimmie Johnson 8 - 1
Juan Pablo Montoya6 0 - 1
Kasey Kahne 30 - 1
Kevin Harvick 25 - 1
Kurt Busch 15 - 1
Kyle Busch 5 - 1
Mark Martin 30 - 1
Martin Truex Jr 35 - 1
Matt Kenseth 30 - 1
Michael Waltrip 50 - 1
Paul Menard 100 - 1
Reed Sorenson 100 - 1
Ryan Newman 30 - 1
Sam Hornish Jr 100 - 1
Tony Stewart 6 - 1
Travis Kvapil 100 - 1
zx Field (Any Other Driver) 50 - 1