The 2009 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup will wrap up this afternoon at the 1.5 mile oval that is Homestead-Miami Speedway in Miami, Florida. The 267 lap Ford 400 is set to begin at 3:15pm ET and will be broadcast live on ABC. Online bookmaker Sportsbook.com has defending champion and current points leader Jimmie Johnson listed as the favorite to win the race at +350 on the moneyline in their NASCAR Ford 400 Betting Odds. The three time Sprint Cup winner will start season finale from the pole.
Jimmie Johnson took almost all of the drama out of today's race with a dominating performance at the Checker O'Reilly 
Auto Parts 500 last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson led 238 of the 312 laps ran, garnering 195 points and a virtual strangle hold on the points lead. Despite a solid fourth place run by Mark Martin, Johnson carries a 108 point lead over his veteran teammate into today's Ford 400.
Johnson only needs to finish 25th or better this afternoon in order to assure a fourth straight championship. However, the California native is not approaching the finale as though he has the trophy in the bag. The pilot of the Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's Chevy had the following to say after last week's run at Phoenix:
"I'm not one to let my mind wander and think about the possibilities — I've always know I've got to go out and race the race, get it done. With that in mind, I'm not thinking about a party. When I go home tonight, I'm going to be [mentally] driving laps."
The 34 year old may be even more focused at Homestead, which has been anything but his best track. Granted, Johnson has not done poorly at the facility, but he has not dominated it either. In eight career races at the Miami track, Johnson has two top five finishes and five top 10 results. He has never won there (his best finish being a second place run in 2004) and he has one DNF at the track.
Mark Martin, who has four top five finishes in nine career races at Homestead, looks to be on his way to another second place finish in the points standings. The 50 year old, who has a 61 point lead over third place Jeff Gordon, has come up just short on the leaderboard four other times in his career (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002).
"I definitely have been beat by the best — Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt" Martin said. "It wouldn't embarrass me if it was Jimmie Johnson as well."
Sportsbook.com NASCAR Ford 400 Betting Odds: Jimmie Johnson
To Win +350
Top Three +100
Sportsbook.com Ford 400 Betting Odds:
Jimmie Johnson +350
Mark Martin +450
Tony Stewart +700
Greg Biffle +1000
Kurt Busch +1200
Jeff Gordon +1200
Juan Pablo Montoya +1200
Kyle Busch +1200
Dale Earnhardt Jr. +2000
Denny Hamlin +2000
Get a 50% Deposit Bonus and $25 Free Bet at Sportsbook.com, simply use promo code WIN100 and start winning today!
