MICAH ROBERTS’ SPRINT CUP DRIVER RATINGS

Samsung Mobile 500

Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas

4 p.m. PDT today, Fox (5)

Rating Driver Odds Practice 1 Practice 2 Qualified Vegas 2011*

1. Carl Edwards 9/2 15th 3rd 2nd 1st Three-time Texas winner with no top-fives in nine other races; using new chassis.

2. Matt Kenseth 20/1 8th 16th 4th 11th Since winning in 2002, has track-best 7.7 average finish; debuting new car.

3. Tony Stewart 12/1 2nd 12th 26th 2nd 2006 winner using chassis that never finished outside of top 10 in four 2010 starts.

4. Jimmie Johnson 6/1 7th 38th 6th 16th 2007 winner with average finish of 10.1 in 15 starts; using runner-up Fontana car.

5. Clint Bowyer 25/1 9th 11th 3rd 15th 14.5 average finish in 10 starts with career-best of fourth in 2008; using new car.

6. Kevin Harvick 8/1 23rd 27th 29th 17th 12.4 average finish in 16 starts; using chassis that finished fourth twice at Pocono in 2010.

7. Greg Biffle 15/1 5th 30th 9th 28th 2005 winner who finished in top 10 in last five Texas starts; led 224 laps in fall Texas race.

8. Juan Pablo Montoya 30/1 3rd 14th 14th 3rd Fast average speeds in both practices; using third-place Las Vegas chassis.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 20/1 13th 13th 28th 8th 2000 winner for first Cup victory; third-fastest 10-consecutive-lap average in final practice.

10. Denny Hamlin 8/1 20th 7th 23rd 7th Swept both races last season; leads all active drivers with an 8.8 average finish at Texas.

* Results from the March 6, 2011, race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are relevant because similar setups are required for Texas.

NOTE: Only two scheduled practice sessions with qualifying held Friday night.

Odds courtesy of the Las Vegas Hilton Super Book.

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.