posted May 7, 2008 at 14:59 EST in NASCAR Free Picks

Everybody hates Mr. Kyle Busch right now. I don’t understand why. The guy isn’t a jerk on the level of a lot of other athletes. Yes, I just called Kyle an athlete. I mean, for online sportsbook betting fans interested in betting NASCAR, Busch is almost a dream come true. He’s always in the thick of it, at every track, every week, and never, ever gives up.

It’s the passion, I suppose, that NASCAR fans have for Dale Earnhardt Jr that causes them to hate Kyle so much. The move that Busch, I call it a move because I didn’t see it as a foul, made during last Saturday night’s race when he prevented Earnhardt Jr. from crashing into him - - yes, prevented - - was just good race driving.

Dale Jr. admitted that he came down on Busch. Busch did what he had to do to protect his position. Maybe, if Dale Jr. were a better driver he’d be able to win a race. Don’t blame Dale Jr.’s short-coming on Kyle Busch. NBA fans don’t blame the opposing teams for the fact that Shaq can’t hit his free throws. Hit your free throws Shaq. And learn how to drive better Dale Jr. That’s all there is to it.

Let’s get to the rankings!

NASCAR Power Rankings - - Great Eight

1. Kyle Busch - - BetUS odds 9 to 2 - - He’s driving better than any other racer on the circuit right now. If he keeps this up, then forget it. The kid will be the 2 to 1 favorite before the real races for the Cup start. If you have any desire of making an online wager on the Sprint Cup Champion this year, then you have to get money on this guy right now. The Toyota cars should just get faster and Joe Gibbs won’t let Gibbs Racing fall apart.

2. Jimmie Johnson - - BetUS odds 6 to 1 - - Online NASCAR odds of 6 to 1 are just juicy enough for me to bite this week. He also had a terrible day at Richmond, but that’s okay because Jimmie and his crew do things the right way - - they take these early races in stride and then tweak the car enough for Jimmie to go on a crazy run at the end of the year. His odds will drop.

3. Carl Edwards - - BetUS odds 6 to 1 - - Edwards has fallen off from his torrid pace earlier this season, but that’s alright. He just signed a serious long term deal with Roush Racing. They’re committed to him and he’s committed to them. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Okay, maybe not. But it does mean that his NASCAR online sportsbook odds to win the Cup are very playable.

4. Jeff Gordon - - BetUS odds 8 to 1 - - Now that Kyle is the most hated man in all of NASCAR, can Gordo turn it on and start winning some races? I hope so. I like Jeff. I like his crew. I like his team. He needs to get angry. Just starts throwing things in the garage and having tantrums, Jeff. Get fired up. Kyle made you look like a fool two races ago. The real Jeff Gordon wouldn’t have stood for that.

5. Denny Hamlin - - BetUS odds 7 to 1 - - Hamlin is driving better than Smoke but he’s the second-stringer now that Kyle has taken over as top dog on the Gibbs Racing team. Still, Hamlin will always put in a good run which means he could break through towards the end of the year.

6. Kevin Harvick - - BetUS odds 18 to 1 - - Great online betting odds on one of the best drivers in NASCAR. But I have to admit that I’m getting tired of saying that. He needs to start winning races instead of just teasing us BetUS online gamblers.

7. Tony Stewart - - BetUS odds 6 to 1 - - Smoke needs to give it up. Instead of packing in the pounds, he needs to just step away and start his own team already. The guy got injured a few weeks ago and since then has sort of just floundered on the track. I don’t know if this guy is trying to become the next Michael Waltrip or what. I can’t wager on him because he’s a mess.

8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - - BetUS odds 9 to 2 - - Whoever is making BetUS online wagers on Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the Sprint Cup - -- keep doing it please! The guy’s odds are ridiculous. How can anybody have such a man-crush on this dude? I mean, seriously! That’s what it has become - - a man-crush. I won’t touch this guy in any online wager right now.

For Past NASCAR Power Rankings Click Here!

If you love motor sports, you’ll love to bet on NASCAR. In the BetUS.com online sportsbook, we have the latest NASCAR odds, futures and props for every race of the season. Join BetUS.com today and you’ll soon love how online sports betting makes each lap exciting.