Dale Earnhardt Jr. may be the most popular driver competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series but he hasn't been a winning bet for gamblers who've been looking for him to cross the finish line first in recent races.

Although Earnhardt -- listed as a 4-1 favorite to win Sunday's Aaron 499 at Talledega (Ala.) Superspeedway -- has competed well this season, he's still looking for his first victory driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

In eight starts, Earnhardt has three finishes in the top five but with no wins this season. In fact, Earnhardt has not won a NASCAR Cup race since May 2006.

But oddsmakers figure that this will be the week that Earnhardt will end his victory drought because of Hendrick's past success at Talledega and Earnhardt's winning history driving on the 2.66-mile tri-oval.

Hendrick drivers have won six of the last eight events held at Talledega and Earnhardt won four consecutive races on the track from 2001 to 2003. Of Earnhardt's 17 career wins, five were at Talledega.

Currently, Earnhardt sits in third place in the Sprint Cup standings, 86 points behind leader Jeff Burton. But the odds on Burton winning this weekend's Aaron 499 are 25-1, according to Sportsbook.com.

There are nine drivers with odds listed between Earnhardt and Burton.

Jeff Gordon, who has won three of the last four events at Talledega, is listed at 5-1, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart at 6-1, and Kyle Busch at 7-1. Denny Hamlin comes in next at 12-1, followed by Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer at 20-1.

NASCAR add: In updated odds on this season's Sprint Cup championship, bodoglife.com has pegged Johnson as the favorite at 9-2, followed by Earnhardt and Edwards at 5-1. Kyle Busch is next at 11-2 with Stewart at 7-1 and Gordon at 15-2.

Pro hockey

For NHL bettors who believe in Dallas and goaltender Marty Turco, a $100 bet on the Stars would pay $140 if they defeat the San Jose Sharks and advance to the conference finals.

The Stars, who defeated the defending Stanley Cup-champion Ducks in six games in the first round, are listed as underdogs against the Sharks, who are at -170, according to Sportsbetting.com.

Soccer

The Houston Dynamo, the defending Major League Soccer champions, are listed with 6-1 odds of winning the 2008 title, according to Sportsbook.com.

DC United is listed as the favorite at 5-2, followed by the New England Revolution at 7-2, and Chivas USA at 5-1. The Galaxy is listed at 7-1.



lonnie.white@latimes.com