Patrick not exactly feeling at home

Autoracing Betting Lines

07/06/2010 - Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Nationwide. Date: Friday, July 9. Race: Dollar General 300. Site: Chicagoland Speedway. Track: 1.5-mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 100. Miles: 250. 2009 winner: Denny Hamlin. Television: ESPN. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.

Danica Patrick once again will get plenty of attention in NASCAR this week. Not only is Patrick making her fifth Nationwide Series start, but she's also competing in her home state of Illinois.

Chicagoland Speedway is located almost 120 miles southeast of Patrick's hometown of Roscoe, IL.

This track is not an unfamiliar place for Patrick, who has competed in five IZOD IndyCar Series races here. Patrick's third and most recent IndyCar pole came at Chicagoland during her rookie season in 2005. She's finished no worse than 12th here.

Will previous track experience at Chicagoland help her on Friday night?

"It's always quite different in a stock car," Patrick said. " I don't think there's any way that being familiar with the track can hurt me. But it's really about me learning what it takes for me in a stock car to be happy on the track, to be comfortable, to get the most out of myself."

Patrick continues her learning curve in NASCAR, and it has been a challenge.

Two weeks ago at New Hampshire, Patrick competed in her first Nationwide race in four months. Patrick made contact with Morgan Shepherd and then hit the wall in the opening laps. She completed the race, but finished five laps behind in 30th place.

Patrick has struggled somewhat in IndyCar this year, as she currently sits 11th in points. Earlier this week, Patrick started 21st and finished 20th in the at Watkins Glen, NY. She finished second in June at Texas, which is her best run since her first victory in the series came two years ago in Japan.

The 300-mile Nationwide race at Chicagoland will feature 14 Sprint Cup regulars, including Joey Logano, the defending race winner, and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Kyle Busch, who has six Nationwide wins so far this season.

Last year at Chicagoland, Logano passed Busch for the lead just before a caution for debris came with 15 laps remaining. While Busch and the other leaders pitted for new tires, Logano's crew chief, Dave Rogers, elected to keep his driver on the track.

With older tires, Logano impressively held off Busch during the final eight laps for his third Nationwide win of the season. Logano and Busch combined for 174 laps led in the 200-lap event, with Logano leading the most with 96.

Forty-eight teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Dollar General 300.

Wsouthwest Autoracing Betting News


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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.