Micah Roberts’ Sprint Cup driver ratings
Geico 500, 10 a.m. Sunday (KVVU-5)
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama
Rating, Driver Odds Practice 1 Practice 2 Qualified Daytona 500*
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4-1 32nd 7th 3rd 36th
Series leading 960 laps led and six wins, including last spring — using same chassis (Amelia).
2. Denny Hamlin 12-1 24th 15th 8th 1st
2014 spring winner dominated Daytona speedweeks, winning both Sprint Unlimited and 500.
3. Jimmie Johnson 15-2 39th DNP 5th 16th
Two-time winner, runner-up last spring led 168 of 578 laps in past three Talladega starts.
4. Matt Kenseth 12-1 21st 18th 4th 14th
The 2012 fall winner is still looking for his first top 5 of 2016 — this spot ideal for him.
5. Kevin Harvick 10-1 6th DNP 29th 4th
2010 winner, 15.3 average finish using chassis from past two Daytona races (fourth in each).
6. Carl Edwards 12-1 23rd DNP 9th 5th
No wins in 46 career plate races but has finished fifth in past two. Riding two-race win streak.
7. Martin Truex Jr. 15-1 22nd 22nd 12th 2nd
Career-best fifth, twice, including 2015 (seventh in fall). Lost Daytona 500 by 0.01 seconds.
8. Joey Logano 12-1 8th 1st 22nd 6th
Won first two plate races of career in 2015, including fall Talladega race. Junior won other two.
9. Kyle Busch 12-1 15th DNP 17th 3rd
Won two plates races in 2008 but none since 21.8 average finish in 21 Talladega starts.
10. Brad Keselowski 12-1 31st 11th 7th 20th
Three-time winner using three different manufacturers. Yes, he likes this track.
* Results from Feb. 21 Daytona 500, the only race run this season using a restrictor-plate package like is used at Talladega.
Odds courtesy of the William Hill sports books. Micah Roberts, a former Las Vegas sports book director, has been setting NASCAR odds since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MicahRoberts7.
