To say the oddsmakers favor Jimmie Johnson (3-1) in the Pennsylvania 500 is like saying Michael Phelps can swim a bit. I have never seen odds that low for a NASCAR race.
You can’t argue with their thinking after Happy Hour made Tony Stewart (8-1) unhappy when he crashed causing him to start at the rear this afternoon. In this déjà vu moment we can’t forget what he did June 7 at Pocono when he started last in his backup car and won.
The front row has produced a winner in 23 of 63 races in the honeymooner mountains so if it seems once again that Stewart won’t win you have to look at Johnson, who must be trying hard to wipe the saliva from his chin.
Here are my matchup picks:
Mark Martin (-150) vs Jeff Gordon (+120)
The practice times tell the tale for this matchup. Martin was third fastest in Happy Hour and fastest in Practice 1. Gordon is starting in third which has produced eight winners, while Mark starts in ninth - but I say he has the car to finish ahead of Jeffie.
Kasey Kahne (-130) vs Juan Pablo Montoya (Even)
Montoya has had a week to turn his boiling veins into ice after being robbed of a win at Indianapolis. You can hear his teeth grind as he readies for revenge for the huge miscarriage of justice dumped on him. Get out of the way. I pick Juan.
Jimmie Johnson (-190) vs Tony Stewart (+150)
Oh those hilarious oddsmakers doing this to us lowlifes. It would be so easy to pick the low hanging fruit (no reflection on Jimmie’s maleness), but bettors have memories that cause many hours of lost sleep. How do you forget what Tony did here two months ago when he was on the pole, crashed in practice, went to the rear in his backup and then won? It’s too scary to think he can do it again. Pick Jimmie.
Brian Vickers (-105) vs Ryan Newman (-125)
After a mediocre couple of years in 2007 and 2008 Newman is back among the best of the NASCAR jockeys. He has a win at Pocono and has six top 5s to go with it. His AF is 13.3.
Vickers has also had good results at Pocono with four top 5s under his belt. Newman’s practices were considerably faster than Vickers so I am picking Newman.
Last week: 1-3
Season: 29-37