Lenox Industrial Tools 301 - Picking the Winner

Race-day:  6/28/2009

Race-time:  1:30 pm est.

After hitting up the Sonoma road course, NASCAR drivers return to a more traditional two turn track when they step into their cars this Sunday for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

Surprisingly, Jimmie Johnson did well enough to finish in the top 5 at Sonoma even though he’s never been known as a very good road course driver.  Jimmie will be looking for his 3rd victory of the year in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301. 

But Jimmie isn’t the only driver that bettors should be paying attention to.

Let’s take a look at some of the contenders to get the checkered flag for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

1. Jimmie Johnson +500 - -  Jimmie has two victories at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  More importantly, he finished 4th in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.  If Jimmie is performing on a track that he doesn’t like that well, what’s he going to do on a track he really likes?  I see Jimmie winning this.

2. Jeff Gordon +800 - - Gordon has three victories at New Hampshire and, like Jimmie, he was pretty good last week at Sonoma when he finished 9th.  If Jimmie falters, then his Hendrick Motorsports teammate should be there to pick it up.

3. Tony Stewart +800 - - By finishing second in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, Stewart kept his top spot in the Sprint Cup Standings.  He too has won more than one race at New Hampshire and once again is going to be a difficult guy to bet against.

4. Kurt Busch +1500 - - Busch has 3 victories at New Hampshire including winning the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in 2008.  His younger brother, Kyle, may still be getting the press but Busch is performing better overall so far in 2009 than his sibling.

5. Greg Biffle +1200 - - Biffle won the other Sprint Cup race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2008.  It was his only victory at New Hampshire for his career, but he could make it two years in a row.

6. Denny Hamlin +800 - - Denny only has one victory at New Hampshire, but his run at Sonoma last week was very good and Hamlin just looks like he’s ready to step it up.  He’s got a big shot in this.

Best Long Shot

Juan Pablo Montoya +4000 - - Two top ten finishes in a row indicates that Montoya and his crew are finally starting to produce the way that many NASCAR fans expected when he made the jump from Formula 1.  At the odds, he might be worth a shot