NASCAR Auto Club 500 – Preview, Predictions, Odds

After a dramatic finish in the Great American Race; the Daytona 500, NASCAR heads clear across the country this weekend for the Auto Club 500 from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Going off as a prohibitive underdog, Jamie McMurray took the checkered flag in Daytona. The following is a preview of a few of the drivers to watch for in this Sunday’s Sprint Cup race along with their current odds to win.

Denny Hamlin 12-1

Hamlin was in the mix last week in Daytona but faded at the end to finish 17^th running the full 208 laps. Heading into this week’s race his best finish in the Auto Club 500 was last year. After starting 24^th, he completed the entire 250 laps to finish 6^th. His best finish ever at this track was in 2008 when he finished 3^rd.

Jimmie Johnson 9-2

Johnson’s defense of his four straight NASCAR titles got off to a shaky start in Daytona. Car troubles plagued him all day on the way to a disappointing 35^th place finish after starting 3^rd. This week at Fontana expect him to iron out these issues and be a factor in this race. Johnson has had three second place finishes in the Auto Club 500; 2008, 2006, and 2005 and he has won four times in other races at this track so you would have to believe he is due. Last year he started 2^nd and ended up 9^th.

Kevin Harvick 25-1

With a solid seventh place finish at Daytona and a win in the Bud Shootout, Harvick’s team has high expectations for this week’s race. His best finish in this race was 6^th back in 2005. His best finish ever at Fontana was 4^th, in 2008. Last year he started 19^th and finished 38^th after an accident on lap 207 knocked his car out of the race.

Greg Biffle 12-1

Biffle turned in a strong performance at Daytona with a third place finish. Look for him to have a good performance this week as he has had a lot of success at this track. He won the Auto Club 500 in 2005 and had two second place finishes in other races at Fontana in 2008 and 2005. Last year he started 5^th and finished 4^th.

Kasey Kahne 15-1

Kahne got caught up in an accident on lap 202 at Daytona and ended up 30^th. His best finish in this race was a 4^th place in 2006. He also won a race at Fontana later that season. Last year he started #22 and finished 12^th, completing all 250 laps of the race.

Tony Stewart 12-1

Stewart will look to bounce back this week after yet another Daytona 500 title eluded him, finishing 22^nd overall. His best finish in this race was 7^th back in 2008. He also has two 4^th place finishes at Fontana, but they were way back in 1999 and 2001. Last year he started 11^th and finished 8^th.

Matt Kenseth 15-1

Kenseth was right in the thick of things last week at Daytona, but got caught up in the pack at the end, finishing 8^th. Fontana could be his favorite track as he has won the Auto Club 500 three times in the past despite extremely poor starting positions. His first win was in 2006 when he started 31st, he repeated as champion in 2007 after starting from the 25^th position, and won the event again last year after staring 24^th.