Race 10 out of 36
at California Speedway - 2.00 mile D shaped oval - 250 laps for 500 miles
This Week's Schedule: (All times Eastern)
Friday, April 26th
2:20PM - 4:20PM Practice
6:05PM - Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
Saturday, April 27th
11:30AM - 12:15PM First Winston Cup Practice - 45 Minutes
2:15PM - 3:00PM Happy Hour Practice - 45 Minutes
Sunday, April 28st
3:00PM Start of the NAPA Auto Parts 500
Back to a relatively new track this week, with the 6th annual race at California Speedway. I will be fortunate enough to attend this weekend's festivities, therefore I'm hoping to not just have the winner below in "Drivers To Watch", but the winner on an actual wagering ticket. That would be nice.
The early drivers to watch:
2 R. Wallace -
Rusty is still sitting up there close to the top spot in the standings somehow. He's the defending champion of this race and a Penske driver. He will look to give his owner the 3rd straight win for him at the track he built.
6 M. Martin -
He was up there running well last week before getting caught up in the debris. Hasn't had great finishes here since his win there in 1998, but his current form suggests he will be near the front this weekend.
8 D. Earnhardt, Jr. -
Something we already know.....Jr. will be fast. Finished 3rd last year and recently completed a test at Michigan preparing for this race. 2 in a row is a possibility.
12 R. Newman -
Wow! Can someone on this team build an engine that can last the race? Brutal luck. However, this team has had AWESOME runs here with Mayfield behind the wheel. If the engine holds up, he can very easily get his first win.
17 M. Kenseth -
Another great run last week before the wreck. He's my top driver this week and will be wagered on to win this race. It will be an ugly day if this car sits doesn't end up in the top 5.
18 B. Labonte -
Another casualty of the "big one" last week, although he wasn't that impressive. Has a 2nd and a 3rd here in the last 3 years, and should be in the top 10 with any luck.
19 J. Mayfield -
It's obvious that if Mayfield could run California and Pocono over and over again, he would contend for the title. Different team, different car this year, so we'll have to see how the practices go. But the odds for him winning again are very attractive.
20 T. Stewart -
Just when Tony is ready to attack the top 3 in the standings, he manages a bad finish. He won't have a bad finish this week. Top 5 at the least.
24 J. Gordon -
Just like last week with the 8 car, this is the car I will need to beat. Finishes of 2, 11, 1, 4, 1 in the previous 5 races here make that perfectly obvious.
28 R. Rudd -
Still gaining that momentum. 2 good finishes here the last two years as well. Keep an eye out for him.
40 S. Marlin -
Sneaked into a top 5 with the 98 car being penalized. He will not have to sneak into anything this week, as he is my #2 contender. Amazing how my #1 and #2 guys are #2 and #1 in the standings.
41 J. Spencer -
One of my longshot drivers I will be watching. I just think the 40 team can help them here, and Spencer has had good runs here in the past.
48 J. Johnson -
Either him or Newman will win a race in the next 4 I believe....current form suggests this team.
88 D. Jarrett -
Nice run for this team last week. Unless I can get 15-1 or better, I won't include him, but he can definately put a nice run together.
97 K. Busch -
If this kid could have gotten ANY HELP whatsover.......well, he would have finished 2nd at least. Great run last week. Basically, it's all about this simple equation. Gas Mileage+California=Roush.
99 J. Burton -
Another Roush driver to look at this week. Good runs here in the past and very steady so far this year.
At this point, I'm really looking at the Jack Roush drivers this week. They all have very nice odds and will all be a factor IMO. Also looking at the 12 (30-1 or better), 40 (10-1 or better) and the 20 (8-1 or better ). Depending on how the 19 runs in practices, I may include him also. 24 is simply going to have to be happy with his top 5.
I will most likely gamble with gualifying this week, hoping these guys don't start near the front. 6 and 12 are the only ones for me to consider before Q. 20 also has q'd well here, so it depends on what I can find.
Any input and opinions?
GLTA
at California Speedway - 2.00 mile D shaped oval - 250 laps for 500 miles
This Week's Schedule: (All times Eastern)
Friday, April 26th
2:20PM - 4:20PM Practice
6:05PM - Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
Saturday, April 27th
11:30AM - 12:15PM First Winston Cup Practice - 45 Minutes
2:15PM - 3:00PM Happy Hour Practice - 45 Minutes
Sunday, April 28st
3:00PM Start of the NAPA Auto Parts 500
Back to a relatively new track this week, with the 6th annual race at California Speedway. I will be fortunate enough to attend this weekend's festivities, therefore I'm hoping to not just have the winner below in "Drivers To Watch", but the winner on an actual wagering ticket. That would be nice.
The early drivers to watch:
2 R. Wallace -
Rusty is still sitting up there close to the top spot in the standings somehow. He's the defending champion of this race and a Penske driver. He will look to give his owner the 3rd straight win for him at the track he built.
6 M. Martin -
He was up there running well last week before getting caught up in the debris. Hasn't had great finishes here since his win there in 1998, but his current form suggests he will be near the front this weekend.
8 D. Earnhardt, Jr. -
Something we already know.....Jr. will be fast. Finished 3rd last year and recently completed a test at Michigan preparing for this race. 2 in a row is a possibility.
12 R. Newman -
Wow! Can someone on this team build an engine that can last the race? Brutal luck. However, this team has had AWESOME runs here with Mayfield behind the wheel. If the engine holds up, he can very easily get his first win.
17 M. Kenseth -
Another great run last week before the wreck. He's my top driver this week and will be wagered on to win this race. It will be an ugly day if this car sits doesn't end up in the top 5.
18 B. Labonte -
Another casualty of the "big one" last week, although he wasn't that impressive. Has a 2nd and a 3rd here in the last 3 years, and should be in the top 10 with any luck.
19 J. Mayfield -
It's obvious that if Mayfield could run California and Pocono over and over again, he would contend for the title. Different team, different car this year, so we'll have to see how the practices go. But the odds for him winning again are very attractive.
20 T. Stewart -
Just when Tony is ready to attack the top 3 in the standings, he manages a bad finish. He won't have a bad finish this week. Top 5 at the least.
24 J. Gordon -
Just like last week with the 8 car, this is the car I will need to beat. Finishes of 2, 11, 1, 4, 1 in the previous 5 races here make that perfectly obvious.
28 R. Rudd -
Still gaining that momentum. 2 good finishes here the last two years as well. Keep an eye out for him.
40 S. Marlin -
Sneaked into a top 5 with the 98 car being penalized. He will not have to sneak into anything this week, as he is my #2 contender. Amazing how my #1 and #2 guys are #2 and #1 in the standings.
41 J. Spencer -
One of my longshot drivers I will be watching. I just think the 40 team can help them here, and Spencer has had good runs here in the past.
48 J. Johnson -
Either him or Newman will win a race in the next 4 I believe....current form suggests this team.
88 D. Jarrett -
Nice run for this team last week. Unless I can get 15-1 or better, I won't include him, but he can definately put a nice run together.
97 K. Busch -
If this kid could have gotten ANY HELP whatsover.......well, he would have finished 2nd at least. Great run last week. Basically, it's all about this simple equation. Gas Mileage+California=Roush.
99 J. Burton -
Another Roush driver to look at this week. Good runs here in the past and very steady so far this year.
At this point, I'm really looking at the Jack Roush drivers this week. They all have very nice odds and will all be a factor IMO. Also looking at the 12 (30-1 or better), 40 (10-1 or better) and the 20 (8-1 or better ). Depending on how the 19 runs in practices, I may include him also. 24 is simply going to have to be happy with his top 5.
I will most likely gamble with gualifying this week, hoping these guys don't start near the front. 6 and 12 are the only ones for me to consider before Q. 20 also has q'd well here, so it depends on what I can find.
Any input and opinions?
GLTA
