NASCAR Notes from Las Vegas
By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com
Two weeks ago the NASCAR season unofficially started when the teams all tested at Daytona as a prelude to Daytona Speedweeks. The test sessions are always a help for each team because they can attempt different set ups in attempt to maximize speed for the biggest race of the season, the Daytona 500. For the bettor that likes to make a few wagers at the Nevada Sports Books, the test sessions were also an opportunity to get a jump start on the odds.
Every year the pre-season Daytona sessions offer a glimpse of someone that may have a shot at running well that normally doesn’t. The big money teams of Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs are expected to run well and be the teams to beat, but every so often someone comes out of no where and not only runs well, but they actually win the race. In 2002 Ward Burton was consistently blazing fast in single car laps and drafting laps during pre-season. They utilized all their lessons learned from the sessions and went on to win the Daytona 500.
Burton opened anywhere from 25 to 1 to 50 at various Sports Books and made for a nice payday for several bettors who utilized all their information gained to their advantage. Just like any other sport you can wager on, information is the absolute key to success.
Toyotas are fast….really Fast!
Any questions about how the Toyota would fare in its second season on the NASCAR tour were answered with a resounding exclamation point. During the Daytona test sessions, Toyota’s had 5 of the 6 top single car speeds and 10 of the top 15. Those type of speeds are reminiscent of what Chevy has done in all plate races for the last 8 seasons. Much of the accolades from the manufacturer can go directly to Joe Gibbs for trading his Chevy’s in for Toyota’s.
The Gibbs operation has offered assistance to every Toyota team and shared the wealth of knowledge they possess in areas like maximizing horsepower, handling, and aerodynamics. Last season the Toyota teams came limping into Daytona with virtually no testing and they spent the entire season lost with little success. Look for that to all change this season as Toyota is likely to win at least 6 races.
Junior is ready for Daytona?
Dale Earnhardt Jr was fastest during the testing and will be tough to beat. He has been placed as the 6 to 1 favorite to win. The story is just too perfect; it’s almost like a fairy tale. He moves out of the wicked step-mothers house after being mistreated and finds knowledge, wisdom, and not to mention a fast car under the tutelage of the wisest, richest person in all the universe. After learning how to properly deal with the mistreatment, young Grasshopper takes his first opportunity to show just how good he really is and shines to everyone’s enjoyment as he searches and finds the hidden Crown jewels of the land.
Translation of this bad fictitious tale? Rick Hendrick gives Junior all the tools he needs to show Teresa Earnhardt she really messed up by letting him go. He then he goes on to win the Daytona 500 and Junior-Nation goes wild. It sounds too good to be true, but I’m kind of believing its going to happen.
Drivers to watch at Daytona
Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Junior, and Tony Stewart are the drivers to beat. The fun part at this early stage of the season is identifying possible long shot candidates that should run well enough to possibly win. On the list right now is Casey Mears at 22/1, Kyle Busch at 18/1, Kasey Kahne at 50/1, Dario Franchitti at 85/1, Dave Blaney at 100/1, and Michael Waltrip at 125/1.
Vegas testing this week!
Monday and Tuesday the Cup teams will be testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wednesday and Thursday the Nationwide Series, formally known as the Busch Series, will be testing. For the Cup series the sessions will be pivotal because the current car has never raced on a high banked 1.5 mile track. Last season, the car known as the “Car of Tomorrow”, raced on every type of track except the intermediate tracks. The data accumulated during the two days will be utilized at all the intermediates which account for nearly half the races on the season.
Needless to say, being fast on these tracks are the keys to winning the Season title. Guess what tracks Jimmie Johnson has dominated on over the last two season? How did Jack Roush get titles with Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch? The answer is being consistent the intermediate tracks. The team that gets their act together quickest with the new car will have the early advantage on a Championship.
As always with the testing at Vegas, admission is free. So get out there and get your years first taste of the sweet mix of burnt fuel, melted rubber, and the thunder of 800 horses.