Pepsi 500 Odds
Carl Edwards, the hottest driver in NASCAR as the Sprint Cup Series approaches the cut off for the Chase for The Sprint Cup once again finds himself as the oddsmakers favorite for this weekends Pepsi 500.
Edwards opened betting on the 2008 Pepsi 500 from California Speedway with some of the shortest odds we have seen from a favorite this season. Prior to Friday’s Coors Pole Qualifying session Edwards was listed at 3.5/1 Odds to Win The 2008 Pepsi 500 according to oddsmakers at online sports books Bodog and SBG Global.
The short odds and small payout on Edwards are certainly well deserved even without factoring in what Edwards has done in the last 4 races leading up to this weekends 500 mile contest from Fontana. Edwards has enjoyed a lot of success at this style of track (d-shaped, 2 mile oval). In 8 career starts at Auto Club Speedway Edwards has 1 pole, 1 win, 6 top 5’s, 7 top 10’s and an average finish of 6.8.
Close behind Edwards at 4/1 odds to win is Edwards newest on-track rival and Sprint Cup Series points leader Kyle Busch. Busch who is also a previous winner at California has 3 top 5’s, 6 top 10’s and an average finish of 10.2 in 8 career starts at Fontana.
Both Edwards and Busch were placed on probation by NASCAR after an altercation that occurred after the Sharpie 500 in which Busch rammed Edwards on the victory lap.
Rounding out the top 5 odds to win the Pepsi 500 are Jimmie Johnson at 5/1 – Johnson is a two-time winner at Auto Club Speedway (including last years fall California race) and has an average finishing position of 6.4, Matt Kenseth at 9/1 – Kenseth is also a two-time Fontana winner and has an average finish of 9.9 and finally Tony Stewart at 11/1 odds to win. Of the top 5 2008 Pepsi 500 odds to win favorites Stewart is the only driver without a win at California.
Odds to Win The 2008 Pepsi 500 – Pepsi 500 Odds
Carl Edwards +350
Kyle Busch +400
Jimmie Johnson +500
Matt Kenseth +900
Tony Stewart +1100
Dale Earnhardt Jr. +1200
Greg Biffle +1250
Jeff Gordon +1400
Kasey Kahne +1500
Denny Hamlin +1700
Brian Vickers +2500
Mark Martin +3000
Kevin Harvick +3000
David Ragan +3000
Jeff Burton +3500
Martin Truex Jr. +4500
Kurt Busch +5000
Elliott Sadler +5000
Clint Bowyer +5000
Ryan Newman +6000
Travis Kvapil +10000
Reed Sorenson +10000
Paul Menard +10000
Bobby Labonte +10000
Sam Hornish Jr. +10000
David Reutimann +10000
A.J. Allmendinger +10000
Jamie McMurray +10000
Juan Pablo Montoya +10000
David Gilliland +10000
Dave Blaney +10000
Casey Mears +10000
Michael Waltrip +10000
Field (Any Other Driver) +7500
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Pepsi 500 Race Information
Race Date: Sunday August 31, 2008
Location: Auto Club Speedway – Fontana, California
Pre-Race: 7PM eastern
Green Flag: Approx. 8:15PM eastern
TV Coverage: ESPN & ESPN HD
Radio Coverage: MRN (Motor Racing Network)
Race Distance: 500 miles/250 laps
Track Type: 2.0 mile D-shaped oval 14 degree banking
Defending Race Winner: Jimmie Johnson
