Micah Roberts’ NASCAR Sprint Cup driver ratings
MICAH ROBERTS’ SPRINT CUP DRIVER RATINGS
Quaker State 400
At Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.
4:30 p.m. today, NBCSN (38); race starts at 4:46 p.m.
Rating DriverOddsPractice 1Las Vegas*Kansas*Kentucky 2014*
1. Brad Keselowski10/12nd7th7th1st
Two-time winner, including 2014, and also Xfinity winner; new aero package helps him
2. Joey Logano17/24th10th5th9th
Career-best fourth in 2013; three top-fives on 1.5-milers this year; Penske cars look good
3. Kevin Harvick5/115th1st2nd7th
Led 433 laps on 1.5-mile tracks this year; chassis was runner-up at All-Star race, Fontana
4. Jimmie Johnson11/26th41st1st10th
Best is third in 2011; one of four tracks where he’s never won; three wins on 1.5s in 2015
5. Kyle Busch10/19thDNPDNP2nd
Won inaugural race in 2011; only driver with three top-five finishes in the four events
6. Martin Truex Jr.12/15th2nd9th19th
Career-best seventh in 2013; likes bumpy layout; ninth or better on all five 1.5s this year
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.8/110th4th3rd5th
Career-best fourth in 2012; fourth or better on all 1.5s this year; likes car loose in turns
8. Denny Hamlin12/18th5th41st42nd
Career-best third in 2012; not his best track, but aero package changes should help him
9. Matt Kenseth10/117th9th6th4th
2013 winner, fourth in 2014; ties Kyle Busch for track-best 4.5 average finish in four starts
10. Kyle Larson22/11st8th15th40th
With aero changes and uncertainties, could win from pole for first Sprint Cup victory
Note: Starting grid set by order of finish from first practice. * Results from 2015 at Las Vegas and Kansas and last year at Kentucky. Kansas probably runs most similar to Kentucky among 1.5-mile tracks, but the past two Kentucky winners also won at Las Vegas in the same season. Odds courtesy of William Hill sports books
Micah Roberts, a former Las Vegas sports book director, has been setting NASCAR odds since 1994 and covers all sports with a betting spin. Follow him on Twitter: @MicahRoberts7.
