NASCAR Betting – Harvick Favored As We Get The Show On The Road With The Bud Shootout!

NASCAR betting kicks off on Saturday, and Kevin Harvick is favored when Daytona International Speedway plays host to the Bud Shootout, an "unofficial" NASCAR event that begins at 8 PM ET and is televised on FOX. Harvick, who won the event last year AND the year before, is the NASCAR betting choice at +500, with five-time defending Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson at +800.

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Bud Shootout

Saturday, February 12 — 8 PM ET

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, FL

TV – FOX

NASCAR Betting

To Win Bud Shootout

Carl Edwards                +1200

Clint Bowyer                  +1200

Dale Earnhardt Jr          +1000

Denny Hamlin                +1000

Greg Biffle                    +2000

Jamie McMurray            +1000

Jeff Burton                   +1800

Jeff Gordon                  +1000

Jimmie Johnson            +800

Joey Logano                 +2000

Juan Pablo Montoya     +2000

Kasey Kahne                 +2500

Kevin Harvick                +500

Kurt Busch                    +1200

Kyle Busch                   +700

Mark Martin                   +2000

Matt Kenseth                 +2000

Ryan Newman               +2000

Tony Stewart                 +800

Field (Any Other Driver)     +2500

Kevin Harvick is generally considered to be the guy to beat (and the +500 NASCAR betting favorite) in this event, which is the first time many of these drivers will be rolling over Daytona’s new surface under competitive conditions. As you recall, at last year’s Daytona 500, a pothole screwed up the race a bit, and the decision was finally made to re-pave. Now they’re talking about drivers being able to go three wide and maybe even four wide in spots. This will add up to more excitement for NASCAR bettors, as one can imagine.

Harvick and Denny Hamlin are two of the drivers considered leading contenders to challenge Jimmie Johnson’s title reign. Hamlin, who got ever-so-close, is +600 in NASCAR betting to win the Sprint Cup, joining Carl Edwards, who won the last two races in 2010, at that price. Harvick is at +800, as is Kyle Busch. Johnson is still the solid favorite to make it six championships in a row, priced at +250 in NASCAR betting.

This is an "exhibition" of sorts, kind of like the All-Star Race that takes place at mid-season. It doesn’t count fo rnay points, and the guys ar ereally aiming for the Daytona 500 that takes place next weekend. But they wouldn’t mind winning this one anyway.

They’re going 75 laps in this one, and if nothing else, the Sprint Cup competitors get a chance to run over the new surface and get used to some of the new regulations, which include a new fueling system that, in effect, reduces the number of over-the-wall pit crew members form seven to six.

Kasey Kahne gets a chance to make his debut for a new race team. Kahne (+2500 in NASCAR betting this week), who signed a contract with Hendrick Motorsports that is set to begin in 2012 (he’ll replace Mark Martin). had to find a place to "park" this year, and it will be at Red Bull Racing, which is a stalwart in Formula One and other forms of racing but is still looking to make a big mark in NASCAR. Red Bull also throws out the welcome mat for Brian Vickers, who missed much of last season with a blood clot. Vickers, by the way, is +5000 in NASCAR betting to win the Sprint Cup this year.

NASCAR betting get started with a bang this week at BetOnline Sportsbook, click here!