posted August 3, 2007 at 15:08 EST in NASCAR Betting Trends

Denny Hamlin’s name comes up fairly often in NASCAR betting. This week, Hamlin’s name is at the very top of the odds list for Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. This is the triangular track where Hamlin nailed down both of his two victories in 2006 – his first full year on the Nextel Cup circuit.

Hamlin isn’t doing too badly for himself as a sophomore. He sits in second place in the drivers standings, albeit with just one victory to his name in 2007. That didn’t come at the Pocono 500 in June, where he finished sixth, but at last month’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire. Consistency is everything on the Cup circuit; Hamlin has finished in the Top 3 on six occasions and he’s even money to do it again this Sunday, compared to +450 to take the checkered flag.

Hamlin’s stiffest competition on the NASCAR odds list is Jeff Gordon, the runaway points leader and the man who won the Pocono 500. Although Gordon hadn’t won there in nearly a decade, Pocono is one of his most successful venues: 14 Top-5 results in 29 appearances, including four victories. Gordon is just a shade behind Hamlin at +500 to win Sunday and +120 to reach the Top 3.

Both Hamlin and Gordon have the stuff NASCAR handicappers are looking for this week. Both drive Chevrolets, the dominant manufacturer this season, and both have enjoyed recent success at Pocono. When it comes to winning, though, Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports team has the clear advantage. Gordon has four Cup victories in 2007, while teammate and defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson (+750 to win this Sunday) has another four. Johnson pulled off the Pocono double in 2004, but is suffering through an extended midseason slump.

Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing team is playing catch-up. The hottest driver on the circuit right now is Tony Stewart (+650), who is no stranger to success during the summer months. Stewart won the last two races on the Cup circuit, at Chicagoland and at the Brickyard, but was docked 25 points after using profanity at Indy during the post-race interview. The two-time Cup champion has done well at Pocono, posting an average finish of 12.8; however, Stewart has just one victory there, and that was in 2003.

Other drivers of note this Sunday include Ryan Newman (+950), Kyle Busch (+1200), Matt Kenseth (+1200) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (+1200). Race time is 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN.

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