The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series got underway last weekend with the Daytona 500, but the race, despite being the biggest on the circuit, had little impact on the latest 2011 Sprint Cup Championship Odds. With 35 races still on the docket, five time defending Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, who placed 27th last Sunday, is favored to win his sixth championship at +350 moneyline odds.
Jimmie Johnson may not be a fan 
favorite, but he would certainly garner a few more followers if there were more people taking advantage of the +350 odds currently associated with the defending champ.
Johnson, who won his fifth consecutive title last year with 6622 points, may be the safest bet in all of sports given his track record. There is no reason to believe, especially considering the consistency of the Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's team for which Johnson drives, that the California native will not be in the thick of this year's title chase.
Johnson, like last season, should have plenty of stiff competition from drivers like Carl Edwards (+600), Denny Hamlin (+600), Kevin Harvick (+900), and Jeff Gordon (+800), but a $350 return for every $100 wagered makes a flyer on the 35 year old more than appealing.
Other top contenders, aside from those mentioned above, include brothers Kurt (+1500) and Kyle Busch (+800), Greg Biffle (+1200), and two time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart (+1200).
2011 Sprint Cup Championship Odds:
Jimmie Johnson +350
Carl Edwards +600
Denny Hamlin +600
Kyle Busch +800
Jeff Gordon +800
Kevin Harvick +900
Greg Biffle +1200
Tony Stewart +1200
Kurt Busch +1500
Clint Bowyer +1800
Matt Kenseth +1800
Jeff Burton +2000
Mark Martin +2000
Juan Pablo Montoya +3000
Dale Earnhardt Jr. +4000
Joey Logano +4000
Kasey Kahne +5000
Jamie McMurray +5000
Ryan Newman +5000
Brian Vickers +6000
David Reutimann +6000
AJ Allmendinger +10000
Martin Truex Jr. +10000
Paul Menard +10000
David Ragan +10000
Field (Any Other Driver) +10000
Marcos Ambrose +20000
Brad Keselowski +20000
