Odds makers at online sports book TopBet.com lists five time Sprint Cup points champion  Jimmie Johnson as the race favorite at +400 NASCAR Odds while defending Sprint Cup champ Tony Stewart is getting +600.  Harvick is installed with third best winning odds at +800 while Greg Biffle backers are getting +1000 odds along with Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin.

Several top drivers experienced problems qualifying such as Kenseth (18), Gordon (20), Edwards (21), Stewart (23) and Kyle Busch (25).

Greg Biffle is the current Sprint Cup points leader with 273 followed by Kenseth (254), Dale Earnhardt Jr., (254), Martin Truex Jr., (253),  and Harvick (249).

Odds makers at most off shore sports shops list Tony Stewart, at +450 NASCAR Odds, as favorite to win the 2012 Sprint Cup Championship. Jimmie Johnson backers are getting +550 while Edwards and Biffle backers are getting +750. At +800 are Harvick and Kyle Busch while Earnhardt and Gordon are getting +1000.

STP 400 Kansas – Odds to Win

Jimmie Johnson     +400
Tony Stewart     +600
Kevin Harvick     +800
Greg Biffle     +1,000
Matt Kenseth     +1,000
Jeff Gordon     +1,000
Carl Edwards     +1,000
Denny Hamlin     +1,000
Brad Keselowski +1,500
Kasey Kahne     +1,200
D Earnhardt Jr  +1,200
Martin Truex Jr +2,500
Clint Bowyer     +2,500
Mark Martin     +2,500
Ryan Newman     +3,500
AJ Allmendinger +2,500
Kurt Busch     +5,000
Jeff Burton     +6,000
Paul Menard     +7,500
Joey Logano     +10,000
Juan P Montoya  +10,000
Jamie McMurray     +10,000
Marcos Ambrose     +10,000
Regan Smith     +30,000
Bobby Labonte     +30,000
Aric Almirola     +30,000
David Ragan     +30,000
David Gilliland +30,000
Field              +5,000

In current points standings, 42 year old Vancouver, Wash., native Greg Biffle of Roush Fenway Racing, is leading the pack with 195 points. Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick is second in the standings seven points off the pace of Stewart with 188 and followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., of the Hendrick Team in third. Stewart, odds makers favorite is -18 points back of Biffle in the fourth position with 177. Martin Truex Jr., rounds out the top-five points earners with 175.

Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth, also of Rousch Fenway Racing, is currently sixth in the standings, -22 points back with 173. Denny Hamlin, driver of the Joe Gibbs racing Toyota is in seventh with 171 followed by Clint Boyer with 157 and Johnson in ninth with 156. Ryan Newman is 10th with 155, Paul Menard is 11th with 148 and Edwards is 12th in the standings with 146.

If I were to make a NASCAR Odds futures wager on the 2012 Sprint Cup at this point, my pick would come from these top five of Stewart, Busch, Johnson, Edwards and Harvick. For Matt Kenseth to win he must be more consistent with top finishes. Last years battle between Stewart and Edwards was a classic and I look for much of the same in 2012 between Stewart and any of the top drivers.

Odds to win the 2012 Sprint Cup Championship (provided by sports book (Bovada.lv)

Tony Stewart 4/1
Kyle Busch 5/1
Jimmie Johnson 6/1
Carl Edwards 13/2
Kevin Harvick 7/1
Eale Earnhardt Jr. 9/1
Matt Kenseth 10/1
Brad Keselowski 12/1
Denny Hamlin 12/1
Jeff Gordon 12/1
Greg Biggle 14/1
Kasey Kahne 20/1
Clint Bowyer 40/1
Ryan Newman 40/1
Jeff Burton 60/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 80/1

With Daytona now history, teams will be looking forward to settling into the Sprint Cup Series points battle, currently led by Daytona winner Kenseth. However, Kenseth is not the favorite for Phoenix, according to oddsmakers at TopBet.com. That honor goes to Jimmie Johnson, coming into the race getting +400 odds followed by Tony Stewart getting +700. Gordon is expected to be in the mix getting +800 followed by Kasey Kahne (+1000) and Kenseth (+1,200).

Complete NASCAR Odds for Subway Fresh Fit 500

Jimmie Johnson +400,
Tony Stewart +700,
Jeff Gordon +800,
Carl Edwards +700
Kyle Busch +700
Kevin Harvick +1000
Kasey Kahne +1000
Denny Hamlin +1000
Matt Kenseth +1200
Brad Keselowski +1500
Greg Biffle +1800
Ryan Newman +2000
Dale Earnhardt Jr. +2500
Martin Truex Jr. +3000
Clint Bowyer +3000
AJ Almendinger +3000
Mark Martin +4000
Jeff Burton +4000
Joey Logano +5000
Kurt Busch +5000
Juan Pablo Montoya +5000
Jamie McMurray +5000
Paul Menard +6000
Marcos Ambrose +7500
Regan Smith +10,000
David Ragan +50,000
Bobby Labonte +50,000
Field +6000

Joining Stewart on the favorites list is Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., getting +850. Carl Edwards starts from the pole position but is lined lower at +1000 ($100 wager to win $1,000. Three time winner Jeff Gordon is also lined at +1000.

Edwards, Matt Kenseth (+1800) and Greg Biffle (+2200), teammates with Roush Fenway Racing, earned the top three positions in qualifying. Edwards and Biffle qualified in time trials earlier this week while Kenseth won the No. 3 spot by winning the second of two qualifying races on Thursday. Lining up beside Kenseth on the outside of Row-2 will be Stewart who won the first qualifying race.

Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports has four cars in the race and three of them, Earnhardt, Johnson, Gordon and Kasey Kahne will be starting in the top eight.

Starting positions for all 43 drivers.

Row 1 – No. 99 Carl Edwards, Fastenal Ford, No. 15 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
Row 2 – No. 14 Tony Stewart, Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, No. 4 Matt Kenseth, Best Buy Ford
Row 3 – No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet, No. 78 Regan Smith, Furniture Row Chevrolet
Row 4 – No. 9 Marcos Ambrose, Stanley Ford, No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet
Row 5 – No. 31 Jeff Burton, Caterpillar Chevrolet, No. 33 Elliott Sadler, Gen Mills Chevrolet
Row 6 – No. 20 Joey Logano, Home Depot Toyota, No. 33 Michael McDowell, KLOVE/Curp Ford
Row 7 – No. 29 Kevin Harvick, Budweiser Chevrolet, No. 18 Kyle Busch, M&M’s Brown Toyota
Row 8 – No. 22 AJ Almendinger, Shell Pennzoil Dodge, No. 24 Jeff Gordon, Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
Row 9 – No. 7 Robby Gordon MAPE Dodge, No. 18 Ryan Newman, US Army Chevrolet
Row 10 – No. 1 Jamie McMurray, Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Kasey Kahne, Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
Row 11 – No. 6 Ricky Stenhourse Eco Boost Ford, No. 55 Mark Martin, Aaron’s Toyota
Row 12 – No. 2 Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite Dodge, Dave Blaney, Ollie’s Bargain Chevrolet
Row 13 – No. 34 David Ragan, Scorpion Truck Bedliners Ford, No. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Parts Toyota
Row 14 – No. 43 Eric Almirola, Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford, No. 51 Kurt Busch, Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
Row 15 – No. 10 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, No. 15 Clint Bowyer, 5-Hour Energy Toyota
Row 16 – No. 11 Denny Hamlin, FedEx Express Toyota, No. 47 Bobby LaBonte, Kroger Toyota
Row 17 – No. 38 David Gilliland, MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford, No. 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota
Row 18 – No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya, Target Chevrolet, No. 13, Casey Mears, GEICO Ford
Row 19 – No. 27 Paul Menard, Peak Chevrolet, No. 93, David Reutimann Burger King Toyota
Row 20 – No. 83 Landon Cassill, Burger King Toyota, No. 21 Trevor Bayne, Motorcraft Ford
Row 21 – No. 26 Tony Raines, Front Row Motorsports Ford, No. 30 David Stremme, Inception Toyota
Row 22 – No. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford

Tony Stewart , Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson follow getting +1000  with Edwards and Kevin Harvick backers getting +1,200.

It appears oddsmakers were impressed by Busch’s performance in Sunday’s NASCAR Budweiser Shootout, an exhibition race among pole winners. The Budweiser Shootout serves as the launching of all the major Daytona events culminating with the Daytona 500 this Sunday. In a thrilling finish, Busch shot past Tony Stewart to take the checkered flag. The event could be a preview of what NASCAR fans can expect in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Neither, Busch, Stewart or Edwards has ever won the Daytona 500. Of the leaders, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson have won once. Often the Daytona winner is not one of the favorites as Trevor Bayne’s 2012 victory shows. The past five winners have never won a NASCAR championship, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray and Bayne.

NASCAR Odds – 2012 Daytona 500

Kevin Harvick +1200, Jimmie Johnson +1000
Carl Edwards  +1200, Jeff Gordon +1000
Tony Stewart  +1000, Kasey Kahne +1800
D.Earnhardt Jr +800,  Kyle Busch +800
Denny Hamlin  +2000, Brad Keselowski +2,200
Kurt Busch    +2000, Clint Bowyer +300
Jeff Burton   +3500, Matt Kenseth +2500
Greg Biffle   +2000, Joey Logano +3500
Paul Menard   +4000, AJ Allmendinger +3000
Jamie McMurray +1500, David Ragan +6000
Juan P Montoya +4000, Martin Truex Jr +3000
Ryan Newman   +3500, Mark Martin +5000
Regan Smith   +6500, Bobby Labonte +10,000
Ricky Stanhouse +6000, Marcos Ambrose +3000
Trevor Bayne   +5000, Michael Waltrip +10,000
Dave Blaney +12,500,  Danica Patrick +3000
David Gilliland +7500, Field +2500

We’ll be featuring horsebetting odds on Friday as we can get them for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Sprint, Marathon, and Fillies Turf, also on the Filly & Mare Sprint, Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies, Emirates Airlines Filly & Mare Turf and Ladies’ Classic.

The following day on November 6th, you can place your horse racing wagers on the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf, Sentinent Jet Sprint, Turf Sprint, Grey Goose Juvenile, TVG Mile, Dirt Mile, Emirates Airline Turf and last but not least the Breeder’s Cup Classic.

For Nov. 5 (Saturday) we will try to bring you up to the minute odds for the Breeders Cup events as we get them. Currently we have the odds lineup for the Lady's Classic and Saturday's Breeders Cup Classic. All odds courtesy of Bodog.eu sports and race book.

Odds for Friday's Lady's Cup Classic  Saturday Nov. 5

Post                               Trainer/Jockeye                         Odds

1  Miss Match                   Neil Drysdale/ Garrett Gomez       10-1
2  Pachattack                   Gerard Butler/ Rajiv Maragh         12-1
3  It's Tricky                    Kiaran McLaughlin/R. Dominguez   5-1
4  Satan's Quick Chick      Jeff Odintz/ Edgar Prado              30-1
5  Ask The Moon              Martin Wolfson/ J. Castellano        6-1
6  Royal Delta                  Bill Mott/Joze Lezcano                  5-2
7  Ultra Blend                  Art Sherman/David Flores              8-1
8  Plum Pretty                  Bob Baffert/R. Bejarano              *2-1
9  Medaglia d'Amour         Ben Cecil/ Pat Valenzuela            30-1
10 Super Espresso            Todd Peltcher/ John Velazquez     20-1

 Breeders Cup Classic (Nov 6)

Post                       Trainer/Jockeye                Odds

1  Prayer for Relief       Bob Baffert/Rafael Bejarano           30-1
2  Flat Out                  Charles Dickey/Alex Solis                 6-1
3  Drosselmeyer          Bill Mott/Jose Lezcano                    15-1
4  Ruler on Ice            Kelly Breen/Garrett Gomez              30-1
5  So You Think          Aiden O'Brien/Ryan Moore                5-1
6  Ice Box                  Nick Zito/Corey Nakatani                 30-1
7  Rattlesnake Bridge  K. McLaughlin/J Velazquez               30-1
8  Game On Dude      Bob Baffert/Chantal Sutherland         10-1
9  Stay Thirsty            Todd Pletcher/J Castellano               12-1
10 Havre de Grace       Larry Jones/Ramon Dominguez         3-1
11 Headache              Michael Maker/Paco Lopez               12-1
12 Uncle Mo                Todd Pletcher/J Velazquez               5-2
13 To Honor & Serve     Bill Mott/Jose Lezcano                   12-1  

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not won a race since June of 2008, but odds makers appear undeterred by his extended drought. And their projection of a possible Earnhardt Jr. victory may not be as ludicrous as one might imagine.

Earnhardt Jr., despite a season worst 41st place showing last weekend in the Toyota Save Mart 350, has experienced a revival this year. The Kannapolis, North Carolina native has three top five and eight top 10 finishes through 16 races, and he sits seventh in the driver standings with 508 points (-65).

Earnhardt Jr. also has a good history at Daytona, a track where his late father routinely dominated. In 23 career races at the legendary venue, Earnhardt Jr. has one pole, two wins, eight top five and 13 top 10 finishes. The 36 year old took 24th as this year's Daytona 500, though, in spite of a pole start.

Kevin Harvick, who is second in the Sprint Cup Standings with 528 points, has fared well at Daytona too. The Richard Childress' driver has two wins and five top five results in 20 career appearances at the track. 

Harvick, who currently leads all drivers with three wins on the season, finished a distance 42nd at the Daytona 500 back in February.

Other favorites in Saturday's race include Kyle Busch (+1000), Jimmie Johnson (+1200), Jeff Gordon (+1200), and current points leader, Carl Edwards (+1200).

NASCAR Coke Zero 400 Betting Odds:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. +800
Kevin Harvick +800
Kyle Busch +1000
Jimmie Johnson +1200
Jeff Gordon +1200
Carl Edwards +1200
Kurt Busch +1200
Jamie McMurray +1500
Tony Stewart +1500
Denny Hamlin +1500
Clint Bowyer +1500
Kasey Kahne +2500
Juan Pablo Montoya +2500
Jeff Burton +2500
Matt Kenseth +2500
David Ragan +3000
Greg Biffle +3000
Field (Any Other Driver) +3000
Mark Martin +3000
Martin Truex Jr. +3000
Ryan Newman +3000
Joey Logano +3000
Brian Vickers +3500
Brad Keselowski +3500
AJ Allmendinger +4000
Paul Menard +4000
Marcos Ambrose +4000
Regan Smith +4000
David Reutimann +4000
Trevor Bayne +5000

Last weekend's 5-hour ENERGY 500 did not do Carl Edwards any favors as the Roush driver turned his sixth place start into a 37th place finish. Edwards, who failed to lead a lap in the race, earned just seven points in the race.

Despite the poor showing, Edwards maintained his lead in the standings, but only by six points as Jimmie Johnson recorded his second top 10 finish (fourth) in as many weeks.

Edwards stands a good chance to rebound on Sunday, though, as his history at Michigan International Speedway is a good one. The Columbia, Missouri native has two wins and 11 top 10 finishes in 13 starts at the track.

Johnson, for all his success, has not been a standout performer in Napoleon, Michigan. The Rick Hendrick driver, who pilots the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, has never won at the track, where he has just two top five finishes in 18 career outings. 

Edwards may want to keep his eye on another Hendrick driver, four time Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon. Gordon, who recorded his second win of the season at Pocono last Sunday, has produced five poles and two wins in 36 races at Michigan. Gordon, a +1000 moneyline play in this weekend's race, also has 23 top 10 results at the facility.

Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Betting Odds:

Carl Edwards +500
Jimmie Johnson +700
Jeff Gordon +1000
Matt Kenseth +1000
Kyle Busch +1000
Kevin Harvick +1000
Dale Earnhardt Jr. +1000
Denny Hamlin +1000
Greg Biffle +1200
Tony Stewart +1200
Kurt Busch +1500
Kasey Kahne +2000
Clint Bowyer +2500
Brian Vickers +3000
David Ragan +3500
Ryan Newman +3500
Joey Logano +4000
Mark Martin +4000
Jeff Burton +5000
Martin Truex Jr. +5000
Juan Pablo Montoya +5000
Jamie McMurray +6000
Brad Keselowski +6000
Marcos Ambrose +7500
David Reutimann +7500
Paul Menard +7500
AJ Allmendinger +7500
Trevor Bayne +10000
Regan Smith +10000
Field (Any Other Driver) +10000

Animal Kingdom's chance at Belmont glory lasted only a few seconds as the Derby winner collided with Mucho Macho Man shortly after the start. The favored colt fell to the rear following the brief scrap and never fully recovered.

Animal Kingdom made his way to the middle of the pack by the end of the 1 1/2 miles grind, finishing sixth, but the horrible break rained disappointment on the horse's many backers.

Preakness winner Shackleford overcame a bad Post 12 draw, clearing the field early to set a moderate pace; however, as suspected, the colt lacked the stamina to hold on to the lead. With just under three furlongs left in the race, Shackleford fell behind the most unlikely of trios, Ruler On Ice, Stay Thirsty, and Brillaint Speed. Dale Romans' colt went on to finish fifth, holding off Animal Kingdom, once again, in the process.

Once clear of Shackleford, Ruler On Ice pushed ahead of the other two long-shot challengers to record his first win since breaking his maiden last October. The victory also marked the horse's first triumph in a graded stakes race.

According to trainer Kelly Breen, the Belmont served as a wake-up call for the late bloomer.

"This week, he had the best blood report he's had in the past few months, so I said, 'It's a go'," Breen said. "He didn't mature as fast as we wanted to. He's already a gelding so we can't castrate him again, so we put blinkers on. The first time out of the gate, Jose (jockey Jose Valdivia Jr.) was on him. He was still goofing off and didn't break great. Last week, he broke right and it's like sometimes, the bulb just goes on. It was a perfect storm of things going right, and that's how we got here."

2011 Belmont Stakes Results Payout: All totals reflect the return on a $2.00 wager

1. Ruler On Ice (Post 3) $51.50 (Win), $26.00 (Place), $13.60 (Show) Exacta 3-2 $928

2. Stay Thirsty (Post 2) $19.40 (Place), $10.80 (Show) Trifecta 3-2-5 $9,268

3. Brilliant Speed (Post 5) $7.90 (Show) Superfecta 3-2-5-6 $74,052

4. Nehro (Post 6)

5. Shackleford (Post 12)

6. Animal Kingdom (Post 9)

7. Mucho Macho Man (Post 10)

8. Santiva (Post 4)

9. Monzon (Post 7)

10. Master of Hounds (Post 1)

11. Prime Cut (Post

12. Isn't He Perfect (Post 11)

Animal Kingdom (Post 9), a 20 to 1 Derby longshot, stunned almost everyone with his inspired run at Churchill Downs. The colt not only exhibited late speed, getting by Shackleford, Mucho Macho Man, and Nehro, but it also showed plenty of stamina in the longest race of its career.

Animal Kingdom's performance under the Twin Spires made him a favorite at Pimlico two weekends ago. Many hoped the horse would go on to win the Preakness Stakes, giving it an opportunity to end a Triple Crown drought that dates back to 1978 (Affirmed). 

It was not to be, though, as Shackleford put together a near wire to wire victory in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom made a late bid, but the shorter Preakness (1 3/16 mile) prohibited the colt from overtaking Dale Romans' horse as it did at the Derby.

Nevertheless, Animal Kingdom can still make history today with a Belmont Stakes victory. Aside from the 11 Triple Crown winners, only 11 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The last to do it was Thunder Gulch in 1995.

Shackleford can also secure a special place in history if he can follow up his impressive Preakness win with a triumph this evening. The Foresty sired colt, despite being one of the favorites in today's race, looks like a longshot at this point, though. 

Shackleford, a speed horse, will start the race from the far outside in Gate 12, a slot that has never produced a Belmont winner. His only hope would appear to be clearing the field early and then setting a pace that allows him to reserve something for the stretch run.

Nehro (+400), a Mineshaft colt that has finished second in its last three races (Louisiana Derby – G2, Arkansas Derby – G1, Kentucky Derby – G1), is another top contender today. The Steve Ausmussen trained horse will break from Post 6, a gate that yielded 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid. 

Coverage of the Belmont Stakes will be provided by NBC Sports. The broadcast will begin at 5:00 PM ET; post time is scheduled for 6:35 PM ET.

2011 Belmont Odds:

Animal Kingdom +250

Nehro +400

Shackleford +600

Master of Hounds +600

Mucho Macho Man +700

Santiva +1000

Brilliant Speed +1000

Stay Thirsty +2000

Prime Cut +2000

Isn't He Perfect +2500

Ruler On Ice +2800

Monzon +3000