Bookmaker odds favor Jimmie Johnson On Saturday in the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway. The online bookmaker lists Johnson at 3-1 this week with Mark Martin the second choice at 5-1. Bookmaker odds on NASCAR will be on the board every week for a while as the Sprint Cup series goes for 14 straight weeks without a break until mid-July. Johnson has dominated the early part of the season, winning three of the first six races. Greg Biffle is second in points followed by Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. The last four spots in the Top 12 are held by Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Paul Menard and Brian Vickers. The standings are very volatile at this point of the year and big names like Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne are not out of it.
Saturday’s race will be the 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup start for Carl Edwards and the 400th for Elliott Sadler. Hamlin had surgery on his knee last week but is going to give it a go in Phoenix. “All I can do now is work hard, follow the rehab program and see how fast I can get back,” Hamlin said. “I have a couple of days yet to see how my knee responds and that will help me make the right decision when I get to Phoenix this weekend.” Casey Mears is standing by if Hamlin has any trouble. Hamlin is 12-1 in NASCAR odds at the bookmaker.
Carl Edwards is a contender in bookmaker NASCAR odds. He is making his 200th career Cup start. “That is where I ran my first-ever pavement race in 2001. That was a big day for me, so to think almost 10 years have passed since I pulled my little trailer in with all my hopes and dreams, and set up my tent down in turn one to work on my USAC Silver Crown car.” Edwards said, “Almost all that stuff has come true, although we still need to win a Cup championship. But 200 starts and a bunch of wins is a good start. It will be fun to strap in the car on Saturday and think about all that.” Edwards has not been a driver to take vs. the odds at the Internet bookmaker he has not won in the last 42 races. His last Cup victory came at Homestead in 2008. Edwards is listed at 14-1 at the bookmaker to win this week’s race.