MICAH ROBERTS’ SPRINT CUP DRIVER RATINGS

MICAH ROBERTS’ SPRINT CUP DRIVER RATINGS

Budweiser Shootout

Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.

5 p.m. PST today, Fox (5)

Rating Driver Odds Practice 1 Practice 2 Starting spot 2011 Shootout

1. Kevin Harvick 8/1 12th DNP 22nd 7th
Shootout winner in 2009 and ’10; using winning car from 2010 Daytona Firecracker.

2. Tony Stewart 12/1 9th DNP 15th 11th
Three-time Shootout winner, last coming in 2007, and 16 wins overall at Daytona.

3. Jamie McMurray 15/1 4th 1st 4th 2nd
Shootout runner-up in 2009 and ’11, third in ’10; using chassis from ’10 and ’11.

4.Jeff Gordon 10/1 21st DNP 14th 6th
Two-time Shootout winner (1994, ’97); finished sixth or better in last four starts.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 10/1 24th 12th 8th 19th
Two-time Shootout winner (2003, ’08); no finish better than 11th in last three starts.

6. Clint Bowyer 25/1 10th DNP 17th 9th
Best finish of ninth last year; had fastest time in one of preseason test sessions.

7. Jeff Burton 20/1 2nd DNP 12th 8th
Best finish of fifth in 2001; using chassis from Harvick that ran in three ’11 plate races.

8. Kurt Busch 20/1 15th DNP 6th 1st
Won Shootout last season (new team this year); fastest overall in preseason testing.

9. Juan Montoya 30/1 23rd 2nd 25th 20th
Was 10th in 2010, tandem racing with McMurray; using ’11 sixth-place Daytona 500 car.

10. Kasey Kahne 12/1 17th 4th 19th 24th
Runner-up in 2010; teamed with Gordon in preseason testing and worked well.

Note: Budweiser Shootout is a 75-lap nonpoints race consisting of drivers who finished in the top 25 in points last season, won a past Budweiser shootout or a past points-paying Daytona race.

Odds courtesy of the LVH Superbook.

Micah Roberts, a former sports book director, has been setting NASCAR lines in Las Vegas since 1995. For more of Roberts’ insights and post-practice analysis on the race, go to VegasInsider.com, TheLinemakers.com or follow him on Twitter: @MicahRoberts7.