Gatorade Duels Preview
By Micah Roberts
The Gatorade Duel is this Thursday at Daytona and it will be the first time we get a chance to see everyone in NASCAR racing on the track this season. How the drivers finish in each of the two qualifying races will determine where they start in Sunday’s Daytona 500.
There are 54 cars entered in this year's Daytona 500 with only 43 available slots. Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are locked in to this year's race by qualifying as the fastest two on Saturday. 33 other drivers will be locked in because of finishing in the top-35 in points last season.
The remaining positions will be up for grabs in what makes for great racing at the end of each of the races. Drivers who aren’t normally featured in any race will have the spotlight on them as they try to race their self into the race and battle for positioning.
As for the top teams, they want to win the race, but it’s more about running well, feeling out their car, and not getting into trouble. The cars they will be driving are the ones they’ll be using on Sunday. There’s no need for a driver to get racey too much in this race when they are already qualified and guaranteed a spot in the race.
Nevertheless, they still go at it pretty hard trying to win and the winners are usually the elite restrictor-plate drivers.
The first race will be Mark Martin’s group and all other odd numbered qualifiers from Saturday. This looks to be the toughest of the two groups since it features Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and Jeff Burton.
Look for the Hendrick trio of Gordon, Johnson, and Martin to battle for the win.
Gatorade Duel No. 1 - Top 5 Finish Prediction:
1) #24 Jeff Gordon (8/1)
2) #1 Jamie McMurray (25/1)
3) #18 Kyle Busch (5/1)
4) #48 Jimmie Johnson (6/1)
5) #29 Kevin Harvick (10/1)
In the second race headed by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., it looks to be a showdown between Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and Junior. Because the pool of drivers in this group aren’t as a talented in plate racing as they are in race one, don’t expect too great of odds in this race.
Gatorade Duel No. 2 - Top 5 Finish Prediction:
1) #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr (5/2)
2) #2 Kurt Busch (5/1)
3) #12 Brad Kieslowski (20/1)
4) #14 Tony Stewart (2/1)
5) #42 Juan Pablo Montoya (10/1)
As odd as it may seem since there are two races every year, winning one of the duel races doesn’t necessarily translate into success in the Daytona 500. It’s only happened eight times in the 51 years.
Fireball Roberts was the first to do so in 1962. Cale Yarbrough did it twice (1977 and 1984), followed by Bill Elliott (1985), Bobby Allison (1988), Sterling Marlin (1995), Dale Earnhardt (1998), and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (2004).
Earnhardt had won the Duels 12 times over his career, but it wasn’t until his 11th win that he parlayed that success into a win in the 500.
Junior blew by the field in 2004 with a car that no one could touch in either race. I look for him to equal the double-feat this year.
Betting the NASCAR Gatorade Duels
By Greg Engle
It's unlike anything the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series does during the season.
Known officially as the Gatorade Duel Qualifying Races, these 150-mile events will determine the starting grid for the Great American Race - the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 Sunday.
Normal qualifying in the Sprint Cup Series consists of solo laps and fields that are set by a system of qualifying speeds, owners points and past champions provisionals. But the season-opening Daytona 500, demands a little something special.
With Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. grabbing spots up front in qualifying and the top 35 teams in owner’s points guaranteed a shot in the Daytona 500, along with four drivers (Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Scott Speed and Joe Nemechek) outside that top 35 getting in on speed alone, that leaves just four spots open and 19 desperate drivers trying to fill them.
While the entire process can be confusing, it makes for some of the best racing – and the best betting.
Duel No. 1
Mark Martin (+800) will lead the field to the green in the first Duel. Some of the desperate drivers in the first show include John Andretti (+7500), Max Papis (+7500) and Reed Sorenson (+7500) if bettors feel like rolling the dice on desperation.
Among those that have to race their way in, look for Sorenson to come out on top. Richard Petty Motorsports released Sorenson last season, a move many said wasn't exactly the right one. Sorenson qualified 38th last Saturday and will roll off 19th. He is a long shot to win the race, but driving for Braun Racing and facing an uncertain 2010, Sorenson will be a man on a mission as he tries to race his way into the Daytona 500.
As for the winner of the first Duel, Carl Edwards (+1000) surprised many by leading 42 laps in last Saturday night’s Bud Shootout. At a track where Chevy normally dominates, Edwards showed Ford could still lead the way. While his only real competition may come from Kevin Harvick (+800) in his Richard Childress Racing Chevy, Edwards will rise to top and provides great value at his current 10-1 odds.
Spoilers: Jamie McMurray (+2000) who's looked strong all week could be the wild card in the first Duel and four-time champion Jimmie Johnson (+700) is always a threat.
Duel No. 2
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+500) will no doubt hear the roar of his legions of fans as he takes the green flag for the second Duel. The drivers who have to race their way into field for the 500 include Casey Mears (+4000), Boris Said (+6000) and Robby Gordon (+6000). In the second Duel, look for Robby Gordon to muscle his way high enough to race Sunday.
There are no surprises when it comes to the winner. Tony Stewart (+250) looked strong Saturday night, won here last summer and is always a force to be reckoned with. His only real threat might come from Kurt Busch (+800). Busch hasn't showed a great deal of strength in his Dodge this week, but he tends to be a clutch player. And as the sole Dodge representative in the entire field, he may just have something to prove. Chance are that come the checkered, Stewart will hold off Busch and bask in the glow of victory lane.
Spoilers: Juan Pablo Montoya (+1000) is a contender thus far and desperately wants a win on an oval. Kasey Kahne (+1000) in a new Richard Petty Motorsports Ford finished second in the Shootout Saturday night and could be a real threat with a terrific payout.
I made a few bets today but can't go over your head since these duels can be such a crap shoot since you really don't if they are really trying to win or just working on things for the 500.
Duel 1
Carl Edwards 9/1 & Greg Biffle 18/1
All of the Roush cars have looked great every time they have been on the track this week.
Duel 2
Kasey Kahne 10/1 & Matt Kenseth 11/1
Gonna stay with Rousch cars again in the second Duel.
Duel 1
Carl Edwards 9/1 & Greg Biffle 18/1
Guys like Max Papis shouldn't even be allowed on the track. 😡
Duel 2
Kasey Kahne 10/1 & Matt Kenseth 11/1
Cha Ching 8)
I had edwards and kahne too at 8/1 each.
I am gonna be watching the fords on Sunday again. I like their power.
Guys like Ragan and Almendinger are gonna offer some value in matchups I bet.
I had edwards and kahne too at 8/1 each.
I am gonna be watching the fords on Sunday again. I like their power.
Guys like Ragan and Almendinger are gonna offer some value in matchups I bet.
I agree, Almendinger has shown he can drive at Daytona.