Gordon falters in standings, but he’s a Phoenix favorite

It would be safe to say that Jeff Gordon is off to a disappointing start to the NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Gordon, regarded as a preseason favorite to win this year’s Sprint Cup championship, has had three DNFs (did not finish) in seven starts this season and a week ago, he finished last in a 43-car field at Texas Motor Speedway.

But Gordon is still a proven force in NASCAR and that’s why Las Vegas oddsmakers have ranked him among the top favorites for tonight’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Gordon, who finished behind teammate Jimmie Johnson in the race for top driver last year, is listed at 6-1, at bodoglife.com. Carl Edwards, who has won three races already this season, and Johnson are the co-favorites at 11-2, while Kyle Busch joins Gordon at 6-1, followed by Tony Stewart at 8-1, Denny Hamlin at 9-1, Matt Kenseth at 11-1, and Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 12-1.

One source behind Gordon’s strong odds is his track record competing in Arizona.

Gordon, who along with Mark Martin are the only drivers with eight top-five finishes at Phoenix, won last year’s race and has three third-place finishes in 18 appearances on the track.

Gordon needs to turn things around to move up in the Sprint Cup standings. Jeff Burton leads teammate Kevin Harvick by 59 points for the overall lead, while Gordon sits 91 points out of the top 12.

Although the odds to win this year’s Sprint Cup championship have changed since the start of the season, Gordon still attracts good numbers.

At Sportsbetting.com, Gordon is listed at 6-1 along with Johnson, behind Stewart and Earnhardt (9-2) and Edwards (5-1). Burton is listed at 15-1.

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NFL draft

Here’s an example of the thoroughness of today’s sports betting boards. With the NFL draft taking place later this month, action has been heating up.

For weeks, the numbers have been fairly even on which player would be drafted No. 1 overall, with Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long, Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan leading the way.

But once it was reported that the Miami Dolphins -- who have the first pick -- started contract talk with Michigan’s Long, the sports betting boards were quickly adjusted.

Odds are no longer available for bets involving the No. 1 overall pick at Sportsbetting.com, and now the over/under draft position for Virginia’s Long is at 2.5 with Ryan and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden at 3.5.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com