Micah Roberts’ NASCAR Sprint Cup driver ratings

By MICAH ROBERTS SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

Feb 22, 2015; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during driver introductions before the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Atlanta Motor Speedway

10:15 a.m. today; Fox (5)

Rating Driver Odds Test* Practice 1 Qualified Practice 2

1. Kevin Harvick 6/1 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st**

Only win came as rookie in 2001; using chassis that led 748 laps in 2014 and won twice.

2. Denny Hamlin 10/1 6th 5th 4th 4th

2012 winner with 16.8-place average finish; fastest 10-consecutive lap average in final practice.

3. Kyle Larson 15/1 2nd 1st 6th 11th

Eighth place last season as rookie; both Ganassi cars tested extremely well Thursday .

4. Carl Edwards 10/1 9th 13th 5th 5th

Three-time winner, fifth in 2014; Gibbs cars look dramatically better on 1.5-mile tracks than in 2014.

5. Jeff Gordon 6/1 1st 14th 35th 13th

Five-time winner and site of first career Cup start in 1992; 9.9 average finish in past 20 starts.

6. Jimmie Johnson 7/1 11th 17th 37th 7th

Three-time winner with nine other top-five finishes in 23 starts; using winning 2014 Texas chassis.

7. Kasey Kahne 12/1 5th 12th 10th 2nd

Three-time winner, including last season; looser car in new rules package advantage for him.

8. Matt Kenseth 8/1 5th 9th 36th 16th

No wins, but does have nine top-five finishes and a 12.3 average finish; runner-up in 2014.

9. Joey Logano 8/1 17th 4th 1st 12th

Runner-up in 2013, 14th or worse in seven other starts; won twice on 1.5-mile tracks in 2014.

10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12/1 8th 21st 9th 14th

2004 winner with 12.3 average finish in 27 career starts; using new chassis this week.

* Best finish between two test sessions at Atlanta on Thursday. All teams given a chance to run under the new rules package that includes 125 less horsepower than 2014 and a rear spoiler 2 inches shorter (less downforce).

** Harvick had fastest speed during final practice, but changed engine and will start race from rear.

Odds courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas

Micah Roberts, a former race and sports book director, has been setting NASCAR odds since 1995. For more post-practice analysis, visit the Linemakers on SportingNews.com or follow MicahRoberts7 on Twitter.