NASCAR Sportsbook – Start Weekend Betting with Jeff Byrd Qualifying Matchups

NASCAR betting fans should start their weekend of wagering on one of America’s signature sports by taking a look at the qualifying matchups for this Sunday’s Jeff Byrd 500.

Jeff Gordon takes on Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards, the Kobalt Tools 400 winner, takes on Tony Stewart in two of the matchups for Friday. Four other matchups should allow NASCAR handicappers to get their race on Friday!

Keep reading for free picks for all of this Friday’s matchups!

NASCAR: Jeff Byrd 500

Where: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Connecticut

When: March 18, 2011 at 3:30 pm EST

Track: .533 miles, Oval

TV: Speed

Qualifying Matchups

Carl Edwards -125 vs. Tony Stewart -105 – - Mr. Edwards qualified second and eight in the 2 races at Bristol in 2010. Smoke qualified eleventh and fourth. I was leaning towards Carl but I’m not fond of putting up an extra 20 points for the right to back Mr. Edwards. I’ll take the better odds on Tony the Tiger to get the job done.

Pick: Tony Stewart

Jeff Gordon -125 vs. Ryan Newman -105 – - Gordo has 3 Top 10 starts at Bristol in the last 5 races there. Unfortunately, in the other 2 races Jeff started thirty-third and twenty-six. Ryan has 3 Top 10 starts out of the last 5 at Bristol as well. Same logic applies in this NACAR odds betting matchup as it does in Edwards vs. Stewart. I’m backing Rhino Newman.

Pick: Ryan Newman

Clint Bowyer -120 vs. Kevin Harvick -110 – - Bowyer sucked it up twice during qualifying at Bristol in 2010 with a twenty-fourth and then a twenty-sixth place start. Harvick has started thirty, thirty-third and twenty-eight at the last 3 races over the track. It’s obviously Clint’s matchup to lose, right?

Pick: Clint Bowyer

Joey Logano -150 vs. David Reutimann +120 – - Joey started third and won a pole last year at Bristol. Sweet, right? Reutimann has started sixth, fifth and tenth in the last 3 races at Bristol. I hate laying so much money in the online NASCAR sports book in a matchup. So, I’m putting a small piece of change on DR to take down Joey “Lizard” Logano on March 18.

Pick: David Reutimann

Jamie McMurray -140 vs. Martin Truex Jr. +110 – - That position 7 that McMurray secured in the second race at Bristol in 2010 was far and away better than any position that Martin Truex Jr. has secured at Bristol save for a ninth in the first race over the track last year. I still can’t back JM at the odds to win this matchup. It’s too much dough to lay on a driver in a qualifying matchup. I can’t do it.

Pick: Martin Truex Jr.

Paul Menard -110 vs. Marcose Ambrose -120 – - Nice, competitive matchup. Menard started in position 12 in both races at Bristol in 2010. Marcose started twenty-second and then ninth. I’ll go with Menard because when it’s this close in a NASCAR qualifying matchup, the odds make the difference to me.

Pick: Paul Menard