The fourth Sprint Cup race of the 2010 NASCAR season takes us to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Kobalt Tools 500 this Sunday, March 7th starting at 1:30 P.M. (EST). Four time Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag for the second week in a row with his win at Las Vegas. He is once again the odds-on-favorite to win this week, but there are a few drivers that might have something to say about that. The following is a preview of who to watch for in this week’s race along with their current odds to win.
Stewart in currently ranked 11th in the Sprint Cup standings, 120 points out of first. Last year he started this race from the 11th position and finished 8th completing all 330 laps. He won this race in 2002 after starting 9th. He has seven top 10 finishes and took second place in both 2007 and 2008 making him a tasty pick at 15-1.
Despite winning the last two races, Johnson is currently 5th in the standings because of his poor finish at Daytona. Last year he started this race from the 7th position and finished 9th. He won this race in 2007 after starting 3rd and has six top 10 finishes to his credit. Johnson has won at this track three times in his career making him a strong favorite to win again this year.
Through the first three races, Gordon is currently in 13th place, 133 points out of the lead. Last year he started 16th and barely missed taking the checkered flag, coming in second. He has won this race two times in his career; in 1995 when he started 8th and in 1999 when he started 3rd. With 12 top 10 finishes in this race he is always a safe bet to be in the mix down the stretch.
Burton comes into this race ranked 7th in the standings, 76 points back. Last year he started 15th and finished 14th one lap behind the leaders. He has three fourth place finishes in this race; way back in 1994 and 1999, and more recently in 2007. Overall he has finished in the top 10 in this race six times in his career.
Martin, the timeless one is off to another great start as he is currently in 3rd place in the standings. Last year he earned the poll in this race but finished a disappointing 31st, only completing 316 of the 330 laps. His best finish in this race was in 2006 when he finished second after starting 11th. He has won twice in his career at Atlanta Motor Speedway and has 11 top 10 finishes in this race.
Kevin Harvick 11-1
Harvick is the current point’s leader after three strong outings so far this year. Last year he started this race from the 10th position and improved to finish 4th. He has one career victory in the Kobalt Tools 500, back in 2001. He also has four top 10 finishes in this race making him an interesting pick at 11-1.
Biffle has been solid so far this year and is currently 6th, 63 points back. Last year he started from the 5th spot but ended up 34th after getting knocked out in a wreck on lap 262. His best finish in the race was in 2005 when he started 6th and finished third. He has three top 10 finishes in this race.
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