The wait for NASCAR racing in 2015 is finally over. We will see season two of the new Chase era kick off, as 25 drivers prepare to give it their all in the Sprint Unlimited.
Unlike previous years when fans could enjoy some preseason Daytona racing in January and start making their predictions about which drivers will finish in the top three, the new NASCAR policy on testing has forced us to wait till February 14 before making wagers with friends or online.
NASCAR sports betting is all the rage
In fact, NASCAR punters and diehard fans will be eyeing closely the action during this weekend’s 75-lap race, especially since the new Chase has radically changed the playoff format and made it even more thrilling and unpredictable.
For daredevils keen on extra excitement and who want to make their NASCAR knowledge payoff, online sportsbooks offer three different bet types for each race. Fans can choose to wager on: which driver will win the race, which driver will place in the top three or that a particular driver finishes at a higher position than another.
People familiar with sports betting will have no trouble grasping the concepts of NASCAR betting, while fans who are new to the thrills of sports betting will be quickly understand how it works and make their viewing experience even more memorable!
Top 5 NASCAR drivers in 2015
It’s tough to say which driver will win the championship this season. Anything can happen after the green flag waves: a tire could rupture, something in the engine could malfunction or an underdog could upset all prognostications in a split-second.
Nevertheless, we went ahead and picked our top five NASCAR drivers who we think have the best shot at winning the title this year. Any one of these five drivers could be your ticket to a NASCAR fortune!
- Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick, who turns 40 this year, will enter the season as the defending champion and there are no indications that he can’t pull off a title win for the second consecutive time.
Harvick will be working with the same team from last season and crew chief Rodney Childers is again in his corner. If the two men collaborate as well as they did last year, they should find it easy to adapt to the new NASCAR rules and become the favorite team.
- Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski is probably still fuming after failing to make the last round of the Chase last year. This means he’s more determined than ever for success and if he can channel that aggressive energy into the race once he’s behind the wheel, there could be no stopping him.
Despite last season’s disappointment, Keselowski won a series-high six races which makes him a formidable opponent. His ability to deliver during the most crucial moments of the races could mean that a second title might be just within reach.
- Joey Logano
Last year, Joey Logano was poised to be the the driver most likely to battle Harvick for the championship title. Unfortunately, his hopes for the title were dashed after a poor performance at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a bungled pit stop which robbed him of his chances.
Logano is brimming with potential and this year might just be the one where he finally gets to lift the trophy. However, at just 24 years old, Logano is one of the youngest drivers and still has plenty left to mature compared to the other drivers, even though this will be his seventh Sprint Cup season.
- Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon will be donning his NASCAR racing suit for the last time this year and fans are rooting for him to end his legacy with a title win. The four-time champion scored the most points overall last year but didn’t advance to the championship round, even though he had the fastest car and could have easily won it all.
The new Chase format has ruined Gordon’s chances of winning several times; many fans therefore think it would be a fitting end to a brilliant career if he finally gets his fifth title. Gordon will be the sentimental favorite to win the championship in his final full season and if he gets the right breaks, he could do it.
- Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson enters the 2015 NASCAR championship after finishing his worst season ever.
Johnson clocked the fewest top-five finishes since he started his rookie season, getting eliminated in the second round of the Chase. Despite the dismal statistics, he managed to win four races and led over 1,300 laps, so if things start going for the better for him personally and his team adapts well to the big NASCAR rule changes, Johnson could easily be a serious contender for this season’s title.
Conclusion
Before the actual Sprint Unlimited next Saturday, we’ll have a chance to see the drivers practice for the event on Friday.
These two races will set the tone for the rest of the championship, starting from the Daytona 500 race on February 22, as well as provide a gold mine of information for NASCAR fans who want to put their knowledge of the sports to the ultimate test and possibly turn a tidy profit.
