NASCAR Betting - Johnson and Busch Favored at Watkins Glen

NASCAR moves to the road course at Watkins Glen this weekend and everything depends upon qualifying. Nine of the last 26 NASCAR betting winners at Watkins Glen have started from the pole. That bodes well for Jimmie Johnson since he is on the pole for Sunday’s race. It is the 20th career pole for Johnson in NASCAR betting odds but his first since November of last year at Phoenix.

Johnson 11/2 is one of the main favorites in NASCAR betting odds along with Kurt Busch 17/2 who is starting second. ESPN provides television coverage of this week’s race on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm EST. NASCAR odds also favor Denny Hamlin 11/1 who won last week’s race as Hamlin starts from the third spot. Marcos Ambrose 7/2 was one of the favorites before qualifying and that has not changed since he is starting fourth. Ambrose has a lot of experience at road courses and is an excellent choice in NASCAR betting to win the race.

Starting fifth is David Stremme and he is a longshot in NASCAR odds. The drivers behind him have a better shot. Ryan Newman 35/1 starts sixth, Greg Biffle 50/1 starts seventh, Kyle Busch 7/1 starts eighth, Boris Said starts ninth, and Juan Pablo Montoya 6/1 is starting tenth.

We know that the pole has produced 9 of the last 26 winners in this race but other close starting spots have a shot as well. The second starting position has seen two winners while the third spot has produced three winners. 17 of the last 26 winners at Watkins Glen have started from the top five spots.

History would normally support drivers like Jeff Gordon 14/1 and Tony Stewart 9/2 but their starting spots might make them unplayable in NASCAR betting odds.

Stewart is starting 13th so at least he has a shot but Gordon starts 31st which means he really has no chance.

Keep in mind that you can also bet drivers to finish in the Top 3 in NASCAR odds. Those NASCAR betting options are also available on this week’s race.

Drivers to avoid this week in NASCAR betting are Dale Earnhardt Jr. 75/1 who starts 32nd, Carl Edwards 25/1 who starts 33rd and Matt Kenseth 100/1 who starts 42nd.

At a road course like Watkins Glen you just can’t make up ground from way in the back like you can on circular courses.