NASCAR Betting Insider - Picking the Winner of the Pep Boys 500

NASCAR: Pep Boys 500 To Win

Race-day: 9/6/2009

NASCAR returns this Sunday with a race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Pep Boys 500.

Last year, Carl Edwards took home the Pep Boys 500 in what was a fantastic year for the Roush Racing drivers. Edwards hasn’t won a race yet in 2009 and will be looking to get one in the win column when he hits the track on Sunday.

Let’s take a look at Edwards and some of the other drivers with a chance to win the Pep Boys 500.

NASCAR: Pep Boys 500 To Win

1. Kyle Busch +700 - - Busch won the Kobalt Tools on this track in 2008. He’s also coming off of a victory at Bristol, his fourth win of the year, and because he’s in 13 th place in the Sprint Cup Standings, he figures to really be aggressive in this race. Hopefully, that aggression won’t hurt him and he can bring home his 5 th victory of 2009.
2. Carl Edwards +700 - - Like Busch, the defending Pep Boys champion has been pretty good lately. He practically owns this track with 3 victories, 6 fifth place finishes, and 8 tenth place finishes at Atlanta. Edwards is looking for his first victory of 2009. It would come in Atlanta on Sunday.
3. Jimmie Johnson +500 - - Johnson has 3 victories at Atlanta like Edwards. The difference is that Johnson’s average finish of 9.1 in Atlanta is really, really good. Jimmie might take it easy and just try to get in the top ten in this race as the Chase is going to start very soon. Or, he might just decide to destroy the field.
4. Tony Stewart +1000 - - The Sprint Cup point’s leader finished 33 rd at Bristol. It was a terrible run for Smoke who no doubt will be looking for a top five finish if not a victory in this race. At the odds, he’s a good bet as he has had success at Atlanta and there’s no doubt that he took the week off to get his car in shape.
5. Jeff Gordon +700 - - Gordon has 4 victories at Atlanta, 14 top fives, and 22 top tens. That makes him a possible winner on Sunday even though he only has one victory in 2009. Gordon might play it safe and just for a top ten finish, but more than likely he’ll try to remind the rest of this field how good he really is. Then again, who knows how his back’s feeling.
6. Kurt Busch +1200 - - Kyle’s older brother’s lone victory in 2009 occurred on this track in the Kobalt Tools 500. Who’s to say he doesn’t come out and drive great again at a track where he’s had success? Overall, Busch has 2 victories at Atlanta. Another one is not out of the question.

Best Long Shot

Juan Pablo Montoya +2000 - - NASCAR has dropped the “Pablo”. So, I guess that I should start calling him Juan Montoya. Either way, I like his chances to finally break out this Sunday with a terrific race. If he can keep himself out of trouble and just drive, then he has a shot to win the Pep Boys 500. He has 11 top ten finishes and is ranked in the top twelve in the Sprint Cup Standings. Now, all he needs to do is win a race.