NASCAR Samsung 500 from the Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR heads to the Texas Motor Speedway for the Samsung 500 this weekend. This is a track where Carl Edwards has a good shot at picking up his first victory of the season. Edwards has been blanked so far this season while Kyle Busch already has two Sprint Cup victories.

Edwards, who was called out as Roush Racing’s best chance for a Sprint Cup in 2009, was fantastic in 2008. 2009 has been a different story so far.

But there is a reason to back Edwards at Texas.

Let’s analyze the chances of some of the drivers to win the Samsung 500.

NASCAR: Samsung 500 To Win

1. Carl Edwards +500 - - This is the week that Carl Edwards breaks through with a Sprint Cup victory in 2009. Last year Edwards won both Sprint Cup races on this track and there’s no doubt that he and his crew have been pointing towards this race for some time. Edwards knows this track very well. He has three victories at Texas. I believe that it should continue this Sunday as Carl is not only due for a victory but finds himself in the comfortable confines of the Texas Motor Speedway.

2. Kyle Busch +400 - - Edwards won both Sprint Cup races at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2008 but Kyle Busch won both Nationwide Series races. Busch is the favorite in the Sportsbook to win the Samsung 500. Because he was so bad in Martinsville last Sunday, it makes sense that he and his crew would bounce back in Texas. I believe that Busch will be a definite player and deserves some consideration since he has had a lot of success in Texas.

3. Jimmie Johnson +700 - - Jimmie and his crew are very capable of putting back to back NASCAR victories together. The defending Sprint Cup champion won the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 last Sunday and now will drive on a track where he has had some success before. Johnson has only one victory at the Texas Motor Speedway but he’s finished in the top 5 and top 10 plenty of times. He’s worth a bet at the odds.

4. Jeff Gordon +700 - - 11 different drivers have won at the Texas Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon is not one of the 11. The Sprint Cup points leader will go into this race as a slight underdog because of his history in Texas. Could this be the race where Gordon breaks the Texas jinx? Maybe. But Jeff isn’t really looking to win every race. He’s only looking to keep himself at the top of the points standings.

5. Denny Hamlin +1500 - - Hamlin has never won in Texas but his 2nd place finish in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 last week is a sign that maybe he’s due to win this Sunday. The odds are very good on a Joe Gibbs’ driver that has gotten lost in the shuffle because of Kyle Busch’s success. He’s worth a look.

6. Tony Stewart +2000 - - The odds on Smoke make him a viable bet in this race. His 3rd place finish in the Goody’s Fast Relief last Sunday could be a sign that Stewart and his new team are ready to turn it on at the track. Stewart has won at the Texas Motor Speedway before. So, he knows what it takes.

Best Long Shots

Clint Bowyer +2000 - - Bowyer has been very good this season. His 5th place finish in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 last week comes on the heels of some other terrific outings. He could end up taking the checkered flag at nice odds.

Jeff Burton +2500 - - Burton has won twice at the Texas Motor Speedway and even though he hasn’t been that great so far this season, he will be driving on a track that he likes. At the odds of 25 to 1, Burton should be considered a live long shot.