NASCAR Betting – Picking the Winner of the Kobalt Tools 500

NASCAR travels to Atlanta, Georgia for the Kobalt Tools 500.

Matt Kenseth, who won the first two Sprint Cup races this season, failed to even make it to the 100 mile marker in the Shelby 427 last week. Can Kenseth bounce back and pick up his third victory of the year or will Kyle Busch win his second race of the season?

Let’s analyze the chances of some of the drivers in the Kobalt Tools 500.

NASCAR: Kobalt Tools 500 To Win

1. Kyle Busch +500 – - Kyle got his firs victory of the season in the Shelby 427 last weekend. There’s a reason that Kyle’s ranked number one in the NASCAR Power Rankings. When Busch starts winning, he wins a lot. There’s no reason to believe that Kyle won’t put back to back victories together since he’s driving so well and his crew is making all of the right moves. He’s the pick.

2. Jeff Gordon +600 – -It’s only a matter of time before Gordon takes home the checkered flag. Already, he is driving much better than he did all of last season. Hendirck Motorsports really hasn’t been on point so far this season but that could all change with a Jeff Gordon victory in the Kobalt Tools 500.

3. Jimmie Johnson +500 – - Jimmie has had a terrible start to 2009. Like his teammate, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie is too good of a driver to stay down too long. Three weeks into the season is about the time when Team Jimmie begins to start picking it up ever so slightly. Johnson won’t really get it going until towards the end of the season, but he could sneak in a victory here and there. The Kobalt Tools 500 could be one of those sneaky Johnson victories.

4. Greg Biffle +700 – - I like Biffle in this spot more than most. Talk about a driver that has been consistent! Biffle is on the cusp of a victory because he’s been driving so well. He should be able to pull one out within the next month or so. The Kobalt Tools 500 might just be the one he wins.

5. Matt Kenseth +800 – - Kenseth is going off at better odds in the Kobalt Tools 500 than in the Shelby 427 because he blew an engine early last Sunday. This Sunday, he could turn right around and have another fantastic race. At the nice odds of +800, Kenseth is a definite player in the Kobalt.

6. Carl Edwards +400 – - Carl shows up as the chalk in the BetOnline sportsbook. I don’t really understand why since Edwards really hasn’t done anything to garner chalk status. He could turn it around, that’s for sure, but his teammate, Greg Biffle, appears more likely to win the Kobalt Tools 500 than Edwards.

Best Long Shots

Tony Stewart +2000 – - Smoke made another rice run in the Shelby 427 but like the Daytona 500 and the Auto Club 500, he couldn’t close the deal. At 20 to 1, Stewart is once again a nice long shot play.

Clint Bowyer +4000 – - Bowyer was terrific last Sunday in the Shelby 427 when finishing second to Kyle Busch. He could turn the tables on Kyle in the Kobalt Tools 500 with just a little luck and no gambler should laugh at the odds. He’s a definite consideration.

Brian Vickers +3000 – - Vickers is yet another driver, like Bowyer, that made a good run in the Shelby 427. If he and his crew can build on that, then Vickers should be considered a live long shot in this race.