2009 Sharpie 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will race under the lights this week for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 22.
There are three races left before the Chase for the Championship begins, and points leader Tony Stewart joins Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards as the pre-race favorites to win the race.
Stewart, Busch, and Edwards are each 7/1 favorites to win the race according to oddsmakers at the online sportsbook Sports Interaction. The other short odds to win is Jeff Gordon (8/1)
Stewart is the 2001 winner of this event and holds a 284-point lead over Gordon in the points standings. A 17th place finish last weekend in the Carfax 400 ended a 10-race streak where Stewart finished in the top 10. Stewart has four wins on the year and 18 top 10 finishes.
Kyle Busch sits 15th in the points standings and everyone expects him to finish strong to break into the top 12. A fourth place finish at Watkins Glen on Aug. 10 has been surrounded by five races where he finished outside the top 10. Busch has three wins on the year, but not placed in the top three since winning the Friedman 400 on May 2.
Edwards is the two-time defending champion of the Sharpie 500. Edwards is fourth in the points standings and has finished in the top five in back-to-back races. Edwards is winless in 2009.
Jeff Gordon won the 2002 event has eight top 10 finishes in his last 10 races. Gordon has one win on the season and 16 top 10 finishes.
The Sharpie 500 will take place Saturday, Aug. 22 from Bristol Motor Speedway at 7:30 p.m. ET. For complete odds and track information on this year’s event, see below.
Odds to win the Sharpie 500
Tony Stewart 7/1
Kyle Busch 7/1
Carl Edwards 7/1
Jeff Gordon 8/1
Mark Martin 9/1
Denny Hamlin 9/1
Jimmie Johnson 10/1
Kurt Busch 12/1
Kasey Kahne 14/1
Greg Biffle 14/1
Kevin Harvick 20/1
Clint Bowyer 20/1
Matt Kenseth 22/1
Ryan Newman 25/1
Juan Montoya 28/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 28/1
Jamie McMurray 30/1
Jeff Burton 30/1
Field (any other driver) 12/1
2009 Sharpie 500 Information
Race Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
Pre-Race: 6:30 PM ET
Green Flag: Approx. 7:43 p.m.
TV Coverage: ESPN
Radio Coverage: MRN
Track Type: Oval (500 laps)