The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads into its third race this weekend as the drivers prepare to tackle the 1.5 mile D-shaped oval in Las Vegas, Nevada. The race is set to start at 4:30 pm ET at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it will be televised live on FOX. Perhaps no racer is more anxious for the Shelby 427 to get underway than the beleaguered Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr Odds to Win the Shelby 427 at Sportsbook.c
om are currently listed at +2500 on the moneyline.
Little E has had a tough start to the new season and he is no doubt looking to get things on the straight and narrow this weekend in Vegas. Earnhardt finished 27th at Daytona, a track he usually performs well at, and was blamed for a 10 car wreck that took place on lap 124 of the rain shortened event. He, or his car rather, performed even worse last weekend in Fontana when he came in 39th after completing just 205 of the 250 lap Auto Club 500.
The Kannapolis, North Carolina native now needs a stellar finish at Las Vegas to get himself into the point standings picture. He currently sits a distant 35th in the ranking with 123 points.
Las Vegas has not exactly been a hot spot for Junior though, as he has just three top 10 finishes at the track in nine races there. Even with his second place showing last season, in which he led 17 laps, his average finish at the speedway is a mediocre 18.7.
Earnhardt, who drives the number 88 AMP Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, has now raced in 329 Cup races and recorded 18 wins. He also has 86 top five runnings and 137 top 10 placements. His last victory came in June of 2008 when he took the top spot at Michigan.
Junior will start Sunday's race from the 31st position after qualifying at 29.389 seconds.
Sportsbook.com's Dale Earnhardt Jr Odds to Win the Shelby 427:
To Win +2500 (Moneyline)
Top Three Finish +750 (Moneyline)
