NASCAR Speeds In To Darlington

Even with the emphasis on NHL betting, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race continues this weekend when new points leader Kevin Harvick and company start their engines at the Darlington Raceway. Harvick overtook four-time defending SCS champion Jimmie Johnson in the points race with a third place finish in last weekend’s race at Richmond. The 29-car led just one lap but managed to secure 170 points, enough to move 10 up on the 48-car after Johnson finished tenth in the race. Johnson started in third, but had his share of troubles throughout the run, extending his winless streak to five after winning three of the first five of the season. It may be coincidental, but Johnson’s run of futility had coincided with  NASCAR’s decision to switch the rear wing, and replace it with the traditional spoiler. 

Kyle Busch will look for his second sports book win on the season at Darlington after continuing his domination at Richmond. Busch led an incredible 226 laps on his way to his first trip to Victory Lane in 2010, earning 195 points to rise all the way in to third place in the SCS standings. Busch has now placed in the top-ten in the four consecutive races, and five of the last six, in an impressive season in which he has already earned two top-five’s, and after last week one of the most dominating performances of the year. That has Joe Gibbs, who has signed the 25-year old for several years to come, even happier than this week’s birthday boy.

All NASCAR betting eyes were on Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon heading in to last weekend’s first night race of the season, after Gordon called out Johnson following their collision at Talladega the week before. Gordon told reporters that he was tired of allowing Johnson to do what he wanted on the track, and said that he was fed up. The two held a conference with Rick Hendrick about the incident in the days after it happened however, and it appears as though cooler heads have prevailed since there was no incident last weekend, and the two have both acknowledged that it was a solitary incident that has since been resolved, with both drivers moving on while supporting one another. Gordon showed how concentrated he was on success, leading 144 laps to place second at Richmond after starting fourth.  

Another driver that has shifted his focus from feuds and Stanley Cup odds, on to success in the series is Carl Edwards, who earned 160 points by finishing in the top-five, clawing all the way up from 28th at the start. Expected to compete near the top of the standings this year, the number-99 car moved up to eleventh in the standings, and can crack the top-ten with a strong showing at Darlington. Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle both took a step back in the SCS standings by finishing 13 and 22 at Richmond. Both racers appeared to struggle with handling in the race, with neither leading the pack over a lap.