posted July 4, 2008 at 15:07 EST in NASCAR Free Picks

Kurt Busch celebrated in the rain last week, but NASCAR betting fans turn their focus back to his brother Kyle Busch this weekend, as the Sprint Cup Series returns to Daytona for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola.

NASCAR’s raceday was cut short by rain last week, but the wet weather came at just the right time for Kurt Busch as the 284th lap of last week’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 ended up being the final lap. Kurt Busch was leading when the race was called, which gave him his first victory of the season.

Would Busch have held onto the lead for 17 more laps if the rain had held off? Judging by Busch’s poor results up to that point in the season, the answer is likely no, which accounts in part for his lowly +1800 odds to win again at Daytona this weekend.

Leading the NASCAR odds as usual is the other Busch – points leader Kyle Busch at +500. Busch has never won a race at Daytona in his short career, but a lack of previous success hasn’t hurt him one bit while he racked up his series-leading six wins this season.

If you do make your NASCAR picks based on past history, you’ve likely already flagged Jeff Gordon for this weekend. Gordon has won six times at Daytona in his career, which includes three wins apiece at both the Daytona 500 and the 400. Gordon last conquered Daytona in 2005 when he won the 500, while his last win in the 400 came a year earlier in 2004. Gordon has yet to add another win to his impressive career total this season, which is factored into his +700 odds this weekend.

When NASCAR kicked off the new season at Daytona way back in February, it was Ryan Newman who claimed the checkered flag in the 500. Newman hasn’t won a race since and he’s recorded only one more Top 5 finish. That’s why Newman is a +2000 dog to complete the sweep of both Daytona races this week.

Also appearing high up on the NASCAR odds this week is the defending champion of the 400, Jamie McMurray. Last year McMurray was surprise winner of the then-named Pepsi 400, as he just clipped Kyle Busch at the finish line. Since that win McMurray hasn’t done much of note, with zero Top 5 finishes and only three Top 10 finishes. McMurray is listed at +3000 odds to repeat his victory this weekend.

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