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When the green flag drops on Sunday to start the 50th running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, at Daytona International Speedway, the cars of the Hendrick Motorsports team are already established as the “odds-on” cars to beat according to oddsmakers. Online sportsbook SBGglobal.com has the top-three Hendrick drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and pole sitter Jimmy Johnson, installed as heavy favorites. 

Gordon and Earnhardt are co-favorites with +450 odds ($100 winning bet pays $450) while Johnson is third favorite but only slightly with a +500 odds chance. Odds on Tony Stewart’s chances (+800) are also very good however; odds drop off significantly from fifth place (Kurt Busch +1200) on back. 

“Only five days to go and I can’t wait,” said auto racing handicapper Reno Gold from the very noisy speedway garage area Sunday night. “The Hendrick drivers are on fire right now but you know how Daytona usually goes. It’s a very unpredictable race. That’s why I like the value of a Kurt Bush at +1200 odds, last years winner Kevin Harvick at +1500 or even Mark Martin at +2500. We should have a better feel after the qualifying races are run.” 

Johnson, last years points champion, is excited about the way things are shaping up with the Hendrick team and the in-house rivalry already budding among his teammates. 

"I think we've really used the rivalry between the cars in a positive way," Johnson said. "When we're outrun by one of our teammates, we know what they have versus what we have. So we're able to bring our car to that spot and try to beat them. And then they now and the progression starts.” 

Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart will begin the season on a six-race probation for their on track skirmish during practice for Sunday’s Budweiser Shootout. NASCAR officials did not consider the incident serious giving reason for the mild slap on the wrist punishment. The incident and punishment will not affect the race odds on either driver.

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