Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson are co-favorites at the sportsbook to win the NASCAR race at Loudon on Sunday. Hamlin has been red-hot but it was Johnson who won last week’s race. Both drivers are 4-1 at the Internet sportsbook to win this week’s race in New Hampshire.
Sportsbook odds list four drivers with single-digit odds this week. Hamlin and Johnson are 4-1 and they are followed by Jeff Gordon at 6-1 and Kyle Busch at 7-1. The defending champion of this race is Joey Logano while the pole winner last year was Tony Stewart. Gordon finished second in last year’s race while Kurt Busch was third. Kurt Busch has had a lot of success at Loudon as he won in 2004 and in 2008. The 2007 winner was Hamlin while the 2006 winner was Kyle Busch. Tony Stewart won it in 2005 while Johnson won it in 2003. It is easy to see who the contenders are this week.
The race at New Hampshire is the first of the “Race to the Chase.” There are 10 races left before the official chase begins. Kevin Harvick leads the point’s race but the focus is on the 12th spot since that is the last one that makes the chase. Carl Edwards is 12th in the points and he is just 57 ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. who is 13th.
Last year the winner at Loudon was Joey Logano who benefited from the race being shortened due to rain. It was the first win of Logano’s career. Two years ago it was Kurt Busch winning the race under caution. The pole sitter at New Hampshire doesn’t win the race very often. 10 of the last 17 winners have started outside the top 10 in the starting grid. In the summer race at Loudon, the pole sitter has never won.
Denny Hamlin is definitely a driver to watch this weekend. His 7.5 finishing average is the best among the drivers and he has never finished outside the top 15 in eight career starts. Johnson has a 9.5 finishing average and he has finished ninth or better in his last six starts.
If you are looking for a longshot then Jeff Burton might be worth considering. He is a four-time winner at the track and he is listed with odds of 12-1.