NASCAR: Lenox Industrial Tools 301

While NASCAR fans may not be big on flat track racing, bettors can profit as the best drivers and cars often end up at the front.

Luck and strategy don't play as important of a role, making it the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the available matchup and prop wagering options This makes picking your Sunday bets a little easier heading into this weekend's race New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

With that in mind, Jimmie Johnson, a well-known flat track ace, is the official favorite at a 6-1 price. Still, he has proven to be much better at Phoenix, a track similar to this one.

In fact, it is Denny Hamlin, at 7-1, who has the richest recent history at NHMS, with a win and five Top 10's in six starts since '06.

Other successful '09 drivers who have fared well at New Hampshire have been Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Kurt Busch. Gordon (8-1) has been quietly unassuming the past couple of months yet remains in second place in the standings. He has three career wins at this facility, along with an average finish of 11.6 in 28 starts and has led 1141 laps.

Stewart (also 8-1), the series leader, has already stacked up four second-place finishes this season to go along with his one victory. Stewart is running up front each week, no matter what the venue. He has finished in the Top 5 in half of his 20 career starts in Loudon.

Busch (10-1) is fourth in the standings, and the defending champ of this race. He has three career NHMS wins.

Greg Biffle is another driver to consider as well, and at 10-1, is the most recent winner at this track, opening up the '08 Chase by taking home the checkered flag. One other driver to keep in mind as an underdog is Mark Martin, at 15-1, as he dominated the race at Phoenix in April.

Three Childress Racing drivers will be among the guys that some experts will talk about as contenders, since they boast strong stats at New Hampshire, but none of them is enjoying a very good season in '09.

In other words, take the following numbers with a grain of salt. Jeff Burton leads the active drivers in wins here with four. Kevin Harvick leads the series in laps led over the last six years with 245. Just behind him in that category is Clint Bowyer, with 240.

The highest ranked driver of those three in the current standings: Burton in 15^th. Still, you have to like their chances better than the following group of drivers that have struggled in Loudon, and at flat tracks in general.

David Ragan has a career average finish of 25.5, David Reutimann 24.5, Jamie McMurray 23.6, and Juan Montoya 22.8. Of the four, only McMurray has scored a Top 10 previously, with three in 12 career starts.