Jimmie Johnson looks for his third win in a row this weekend when the Sprint Cup Series rolls into Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Kobalt Tools 500. Johnson, the reigning four-time Sprint Cup champion has picked up right where he left off last season.
Last week Johnson took the checkered flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Shelby American. Throw in Johnson’s win a week earlier in the Auto Club 500 and Johnson’s opened the season with back-to-back wins.
After such a hot start Johnson is easily the favorite this weekend on the Kobalt Tools 500 odds menu at Sportsbook at 9/2. Johnson has won three times at Atlanta before, including twice in 2007 when he swept both wins on the track.
ADVERTISEMENT: WAGER ON NASCAR ACTION - WHO WILL WIN, DRIVER VS DRIVER AND MORE AT Sportsbook TODAY.
Johnson is also the heavy favorite to win the Sprint Cup once again (2/1 at Sportsbook), but he’s not the current leader in the Chase standings. Johnson started the season with a disappointing 35th place finish at Daytona and as a result he currently sits fifth in the drivers standings.
The current leader in the drivers standings is Kevin Harvick. Harvick hasn’t won a race yet this season, but he’s been the most consistent driver so far with three Top 10 finishes, which includes back-to-back second place finishes behind Johnson the last two weeks. Harvick has one career win at Atlanta and is a 10/1 underdog to return to victory lane on Sunday.
The active leader in victories at Atlanta is Jeff Gordon with four. Gordon may have the most wins at Atlanta, but he hasn’t won there in quite awhile. His last win at Atlanta was in 2003, while his other three victories came in 1999, 1998 and 1995. At Sportsbook, Gordon is an 8/1 underdog to win again at Atlanta this weekend.
The defending champion of the Kobalt Tools 500 is Kurt Busch. He recorded his second career win at Atlanta last season. He also won in 2002, but is a long shot at Sportsbook to add a third victory to his resume. The latest NASCAR odds at Sportsbook list have Busch down as a 14/1 underdog.
