Which driver is most likely to win the 2008 Sprint Cup championship? It’s no surprise that Micah Roberts of Station Casinos favors Jimmie Johnson the favorite by a narrow margin over Jeff Gordon. Theirs was the story of 2007 in terms of the competition in NASCAR’s premier series. Roberts rates Johnson’s odds as 4-1 and Gordon’s as 9-2.
“The Hendrick teammates were equally consistent using the ‘Car of Tomorrow’ and the ‘Car of Yesterday’ last season,” said Roberts. “No other team was close from start to finish on the season. Because the Hendrick team appeared to have such an edge in the COT last season, and the fact they’ll be using the model for all 36 races this season, the question of the season will be, ‘Who can compete in the COT with Johnson and Gordon?’”
By moving to Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing gives that manufacture three championship contenders: Tony Stewart 10-1, Denny Hamlin 20-1 and Kyle Busch 22-1.
Roberts rates Matt Kenseth, the top Ford driver, at 8-1. Kurt Busch, the highest-rated Dodge driver, is at 15-1. Dale Earnhardt Jr., like Kenseth, is rated at 8-1, tying the two for third overall in the ranking of odds. Stewart is ranked fifth. Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards are, like Kurt Busch, rated at 15-1.
Guess the uncertainty of the Toyota switch has hurt Smoke’s odds… I’d take him at 10/1 before I took Jr at 8/1. Funny that Hamlin and Busch are twice as big of long shots as Stewart, even though Hamlin beat Tony this year and Kyle had a pretty good year too.
Watch out for old Smoke next season… if the same thing happens like it did in the truck series for Toyota… watch out!!! You cant tell me Toyota hasnt been perfecting the COT on their own time to share with its teams… especially Gibbs. I agree with you, Jeff.
Dale Jr. fails to finish 25% of the races in ’07 yet is rated 8-1 with Kenseth…he doesn’t even compare! Ridiculous…
[quote comment="31932"]Dale Jr. fails to finish 25% of the races in ’07 yet is rated 8-1 with Kenseth…he doesn’t even compare! Ridiculous…[/quote]
They are rating him on his ability not the bad equipment that he had at DEI.
Exactly! I agree with you Sam. DEI sucked last season…..its a good thing that Jr went over to Hendrick!
I agree with you as well Sam
88 in 2008
Jr had bad equipment,even though he raced his heart out
kinda hard to win with crappy cars, so long DEI
Hello HMS
Ok…honestly, If DEI had such “bad” equiptment, then why did Truex run so well and Jr run so poorly?. Also, to those who will say DEI gave Jr bad cars…No team would sabatoge their chances at winning.. Dale had a bad season, it happens to ALL drivers. Dale Jr is a decent driver, hes not Gordon or Johnson caliber and probably shouldn’t be rated 8-1 odds, but he will have a good season next year, but not a title
Sam has the ratings odds down perfect. We didn’t see the odds of all the other drivers. I think there might be a spoiler coming from the back of the field. lets go racing,boys ya Daytona 2008 and I can’t wait.
What are the odds that people will quit leaving TEI?
CHarter dont you find it odd that jr had what 7or8 engines go bad how many did truex have? maybe 1,and teresa didnt care if the 8 car made the chase as long as it finished in top 35 in points is all she cared about.
now I have another explanation for my 88 tattoo…hehehehe
Ok lee, well look at how many engines Paul Menard lost.. had to have been as much as Jr. Thier engines were having reliability issues altogether, everyone was losing motors.
Junior is just right in his rankings. Racing Hendrick Equipment will give him a edge this year.
His only draw back will be his crew chief or lack of a good one as the case may be.
His couz is a slow learner at best and will never be in the group of top 5 rated crewchiefs.
If I was Junior, I’d have taken Darian Grubb for my crew chief. He is brilliant. He won Daytona after Knaus was suspended in 2006.
gigolo george i think you are right!
I agree with the tony eury jr part,hendrick shouldnt have hired him I dont think hes that good and him and jr dont get along alot.
Thats my point DEI was only concerned about 1 car and that was truex…as far as menard goes hes just taking up space he wouldnt even be at dei if werent for his dad sponsoring the car.