Oddsmakers like Johnson
Compared to Jimmie Johnson’s previous two NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons, 2008 has been somewhat of a downer, but oddsmakers still like his chances entering this weekend’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
In 16 starts this season, Johnson has won only one race with four top-five finishes. A far cry from 2006-07 when over a two-season span, Johnson recorded 15 victories and 33 top-five finishes en route to consecutive Sprint Cup titles.
On Sunday, Johnson will try to regain his winning form at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, where he’ll start with the same 7-1 odds as Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards, according to Bodoglife.com.
Only Cup leader Kyle Busch, who is listed at 5-1, has better odds.
Last year, Johnson trailed Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon throughout the regular season in points but his six victories boosted him into first place for the start of the 10-race Chase for the championship.
This year, with 10 weeks of regular-season racing remaining on the NASCAR schedule, Johnson needs to start winning races if he’s to win his third consecutive Cup title. He is in fifth place in the Cup standings, 326 points behind Busch.
In Bodoglife.com’s updated odds for the Cup championship, Busch is the favorite with 5-2 odds, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is listed at 9-2.
Johnson and Edwards come in next at 6-1, ahead of Gordon, Hamlin and Tony Stewart, who are listed with 10-1 odds.
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