NASCAR – Odds to Win the Sprint Cup Championship

Three races into the 2009 NASCAR Season is a good time to revisit the odds on drivers to win the 2009 Sprint Cup.

Jimmie Johnson is going for his fourth Sprint Cup Championship in a row.  Currently ranked in the top ten in the NASCAR Power Rankings, it would be an amazing feat for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.  But there are other drivers in the sportsbook that are going off at much better odds than Jimmie.

Let’s analyze the best wagering options in the sportsbook to win the 2009 Sprint Cup Championship.

NASCAR: Sprint Cup Championship – Odds to Win

1. Kyle Busch +500 – - Busch finally came through with a victory in the Shelby 427.   The victory in the Shelby after his 4th place finish in the Auto Club 500 means that Busch is starting to get it going like he did in 2008.  Of course, Kyle is going to have to keep it going into the stretch for the Cup but because he’s at higher odds than Jimmie right now, he’s definitely the better bet.

2. Jeff Gordon +500 – - Gordon had another nice run in the Shelby 427.  He finished second in the Auto Club 500 and had a decent run in the Daytona 500.  Like the other drivers for Hendrick, Gordon is going to take his time until the real Chase starts.

3. Jimmie Johnson +450 – - Jimmie is a serious player again to win the Sprint Cup Championship because he’s won the last three.  That makes him the favorite in the sportsbook.  Will he pull it off at low odds?  Maybe.  But so far, he hasn’t done so well on the track.

4. Matt Kenseth +700 – - At 7 to 1, Matt Kenseth, who won the Daytona 500 and the Auto Club 500 before blowing an engine in the Shelby 427, is the driver to bet if gamblers are looking for a hot guy who could keep it going well into the Chase.  Of course, if Kenseth blows his engine a few more times, then forget it.  He might not even make the Chase.

5. Carl Edwards +500 – - How long is it going to take before the Edwards of 2008 takes over for the Edwards of 2009?  The 2008 Edwards already had a victory in the bag after the third week of the season.  The Edwards of 2009 hasn’t cracked the top ten.  Roush Racing is losing patience.  Just like bettors.

6. Tony Stewart +1500 – - It would be a great accomplishment for Stewart to leave Gibbs Racing and then win the Sprint Cup during his first year as part of a brand new team.  Of course, there’s a reason that Stewart is going off at +1500.  The truth is that Tony has had three very nice races in a row.  He’s on the cusp of a victory.  If he ends up winning a few races, then his odds will plummet.

7. Greg Biffle +700 – - Biffle appears to have his mojo back after a sub-par 2008.  He’s driving well enough to garner some attention as a slight +700 long shot to win the Sprint Cup in 2009.  Of course, he’s going to have to outrace his Roush Racing buddy, Carl Edwards, in order to win the Cup.

8. Clint Bowyer +3000 – - Yes, Bowyer makes the top ten.  I still feel that Clint has a chance to really put a scare into the other drivers on this list.  All he has to do is make the same type of runs that he made in the Shelby 427 for most of the season and get into the Chase to be a factor.

9. Jeff Burton +3000 – - We can’t forget that Burton finished 3rd in the Cup Chase in 2008.  It’s early and Burton has already made some moves.  His driving in the Shelby 427 was exceptional.  If Burton can keep it going and actually make a run in the 2009 Sprint Cup like he did in 2008, then watch out.  He’s a nice long shot play.

10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. +1800 – - Jr. gets a nod in the top ten even though he hasn’t been all that great since moving over to Hendrick Motorsports.  Heck, Jr.’s been downright awful.  But he gets the best equipment and one of these days his crew might figure out how to get him into the winner’s circle.  At +1800, he might actually be a decent bet.