2016 Sprint Unlimited odds posted in Las Vegas

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 6-to-1 favorite in Sprint Unlimited.

We're less than a month from our first NASCAR action of 2016 and while every Las Vegas sports book has odds posted to win the Sprint Cup and Daytona 500, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook was the first to post odds on the Sprint Unlimited (Feb. 13, 8:15 p.m. ET) — a 75-lap, non-points race at Daytona International Speedway run one week prior to the Daytona 500.

There will be a 25 driver field with all the big names participating and perhaps the best thing about this race is that most of the also-rans have to sit it out, which keeps them out of the contenders' way. To be eligible for the race, a driver must have won a pole last season, been a past Sprint Unlimited winner, won a past Daytona 500 pole, participated in last seasons Chase, or have the most driver points until 25 drivers have filled the lineup. It's basically everyone within the top 25.

Two of the eligible participants are most likely out. Jeff Gordon retired at the end of 2015 and David Gililand doesn't have a ride yet. The next two drivers in line to fill up the lineup, who currently have rides, would be Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.

Read More (Sprint Unlimited odds).........TheLinemakers.com

By the Numbers: 2016 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

Matt Kenseth won the Sprint Unlimited last season.

By the Numbers: The Sprint Unlimited
.013 - Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history
.058 - Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history
.08 - Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history
1 - Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in the Sprint Unlimited races they won
2.75 - Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts
5 - Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006)
6 - Number of Sprint Unlimited wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader
7 - Number of fewest starters in the field for the Sprint Unlimited (1981)
10 - Number of races led, the most since race began in 1979 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.)
11 - Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin)
14 - Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979
20 - Number of wins by Chevrolet in the Sprint Unlimited, leads all manufacturers
21 - Most consecutive starts in the Sprint Unlimited by Jeff Gordon (1994-2014).
27 - Kevin Harvick's starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event's history
28 - Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979
44 - Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event
47 - Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Sprint Unlimited was the 2013 event won by Kyle Busch.
197.802 mph - The fastest average speed of the race for the Sprint Unlimited was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.

The Sprint Unlimited Tidbits
- The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009 (25 are eligible for this year's event).
- The drivers with the most Sprint Unlimited appearances:
o Mark Martin (24) o Bill Elliott (23) o Jeff Gordon (21) o Ken Schrader (19) o Rusty Wallace (19) - Jeff Gordon has appeared in the most consecutive Sprint Unlimited races, competing in 21 consecutive events from 1994-2014.
- There have been nine multiple winners in the Sprint Unlimited:
o Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
o Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
o Kevin Harvick won in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
o Tony Stewart won in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
o Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008) and Denny Hamlin (2006 and 2014).
o Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back Sprint Unlimited races. No driver has won three consecutive Sprint Unlimited events.
- Buddy Baker (1979, the first race for the event), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Sprint Unlimited in which they competed.
- Only five times in the 32-year history of the race has the winner gone on to win the Daytona 500:
o Bobby Allison (1982)
o Bill Elliott (1987)
o Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)
o Jeff Gordon (1997)
- There have been four winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987), Ken Schrader (1989) and Denny Hamlin (2014).
- Two drivers have swept the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2014: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987).

The Sprint Unlimited Tidbits II
- One driver has swept the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-2014: Bobby Allison (1982).
- Seven drivers have won the Sprint Unlimited (1979-2014) and the championship in the same season. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times (four times):
Tony Stewart (2002)
Jeff Gordon (1997)
Dale Earnhardt (1993, 1991, 1986, 1982)
- Four drivers have won consecutive Sprint Unlimited races (1979-2014). None went on to win that year's Daytona 500.
Kevin Harvick (2009-10)
Tony Stewart (2000-01)
Ken Schrader (1990-91)
Neil Bonnett (1983-84)
- The format for The Sprint Unlimited has changed 13 times since its inception into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1979.
- Danica Patrick is the only female driver to have competed in the Sprint Unlimited (1979 - 2014) - she started 12th and finished 16th last season.

The Sprint Unlimited Manufacturer Recap
Manufacturer, Victories, Last Victory - Driver Chevrolet, 20, 2013 - Kevin Harvick(a)
Ford, 7, 2004 - Dale Jarrett
Toyota, 3, 2015 - Matt Kenseth(a)
Buick, 2, 1982 - Bobby Allison
Oldsmobile, 2, 1980 - Dale Earnhardt
Pontiac, 2, 2002 - Tony Stewart(a)
Dodge, 1, 2011 - Kurt Busch(a)
(a) = active driver
* 2015 season 14 Chevrolets, six Toyotas and five Fords are entered into the Sprint Unlimited.

- NASCAR

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NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series adopts Chase format for 2016

Erik Jones won the truck series championship in 2015.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 19, 2016) – Using the overwhelming success of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format introduced in 2014 as a guidepost, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announced today the implementation of a playoff system in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

On the heels of a 2015 Chase that saw the highest season-finale viewership in nearly a decade, record-breaking page views on NASCAR.com and unparalleled volume on social media, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will each feature a seven-race Chase to decide its respective championships starting in 2016. The announcement was the first of a number of racing innovations presented by NASCAR on Tuesday.

"Fans, partners and the industry have embraced the new Chase format like nothing we’ve seen in the sport’s history," said France. "Winning never has been this important, and the excitement generated the past two seasons in the Sprint Cup Series has led to this implementation of the Chase format in all three national series. Competition in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will undoubtedly elevate to new heights and shine a spotlight on the rising stars of our sport."

The NASCAR XFINITY Series, where "Names Are Made," and the rugged NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will implement seven-race, three-round Chase formats with unique characteristics but very much in the same spirit of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. All three series will conclude the Chase with a Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to crown a champion. However, all three will begin at different tracks: Chicago (Sprint Cup Series), Kentucky (XFINITY Series) and New Hampshire (Camping World Truck Series)

Drivers still must declare a series in which they will earn points, and will only be eligible to compete for a championship in that series. The 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who qualified for the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be ineligible to compete in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHASE

The seven-race NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase will begin at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 24, and feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.

The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of the races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will be crowned the NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES CHASE

The seven-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase will begin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 24. It will feature eight drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A win in the first 16 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, provided that the driver is in the Top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race.

The first round, called the Round of 8, consists of the races at New Hampshire, Las Vegas, and Talladega. All drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 16 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 8, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-6) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 6 (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 6 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will win the championship.

All rules outlined above also apply to both series’ owner championship structure.

- NASCAR

Las Vegas posts 2016 Daytona 500 odds

Daytona 500 odds are posted at several Las Vegas sports books.

LAS VEGAS -- The 2016 Daytona 500 is only weeks away on Feb. 21 and a few Las Vegas sports books such as the Westgate SuperBook and MGM Resorts already have odds posted for NASCAR’s biggest race of the season, which means it’s time to start handicapping and get some action on the best odds offered before the price drops as the race nears.

As always with restrictor-plate tracks, you have to come in with the handicapping mindset that almost anything can happen. It’s the type of racing that gives up to 38 of 43 drivers a legitimate shot at winning. The cars are almost all equal and the draft really closes the advantage some of the power teams have at the 32 other races. Who thought Trevor Bayne could win the 2011 Daytona 500 at 100-to-1 odds? Not many, but it’s the perfect example of why you can discount too many drivers’ chances of winning.

Because so many drivers have a real shot at winning in the four plate races between Daytona and Talladega, you’re not going to get great odds on quality longshots, but at the same time, you’re going to get nice value on the favorites. At Atlanta, Martinsville or Charlotte, you can get Danica Patrick at around 300-to-1 odds, but in plate races she’s in the 60-to-1 range.

MORE: NASCAR bold predictions for 2016 | NASCAR's headliners in 2016

The only major change in the rules package as it applies to restrictor-plate tracks is a reduction of size in restrictor plates from 29/32 inches to 57/64 which will give the drivers almost 10 more horsepower. Everything else will be relatively the same last season which should give you a head start on who to key on.

Practices will mean very little to the equation after they’ve run, so there is nothing wrong with firing away on five or six drivers right now before the prices change. Here’s a look at a few quality candidates to win using the best price offered between the Westgate and MGM.

Read More Here.....TheLinemakers.com