Preakness Stakes betting players are always looking for longer odds, only if they have a decent shot at winning, and NASCAR betting players will be doing the same for the Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday night. Even though the smart play is seven-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon, here are a few drivers to consider if you’re feeling risky.
NASCAR Betting – Saturday, May 8, 7:30 PM ET
Greg Biffle (+2000): Biffle is the only driver on this list who has won in Darlington, in fact, he has two checkered flags from this race in 2005 and 2006 under his belt. The No.16 driver has led laps in four of the last five races at Darlington, including a race-high 117 laps in last year’s race, although he faded to eighth by the end, and his starting average of 8.2 is second only to Jeff Gordon, which gives him a good start.
Juan Pablo Montoya (+2500): In three trips to Darlington, Montoya has never finished in the top 10, but he has three top-six finishes in his last four starts overall, and he knows that he needs to keep this run going if he wants any shot at making the Chase. Montoya is like Phoenix in Spurs Suns betting: wildly talented, and not defensive enough sometimes, but getting closer to a win.
Kasey Kahne (+2500): Kahne has won the pole three times in seven trips to Darlington, which he has converted into a pair of top-10 finishes, although he led 45 laps in last year’s 23rd-place result. The No.9 driver is coming off two straight 21st-place finishes, but Darlington is one of his best tracks, so expect a breakout day from Kahne.
Joey Logano (+3000): Rookies aren’t supposed to do well at Darlington, but Logano credits this race as the time when he started to put it all together in 2009. Logano started fifth here last year, and held on for a ninth-place finish even leading 19 laps along the way. After a couple of tough runs at Texas and Talladega, the No.20 driver had a decent 16th-place run at Richmond last week, and all he needs to do is be consistent to put himself in a position for his second Sprint Cup win.
Ryan Newman (+3000): Newman racked up another top-10 at Richmond, one of his favorite tracks, and he’s also a fan of Darlington, where he has six top-fives and an average of 12.5 in 11 races here. Newman, like all of these drivers except for Biffle, is racing hard for a spot in the Chase, and he needs to build off his solid run at Richmond if he wants to have an online betting chance of winning the title.
