While online betting players are going over their NASCAR Atlanta odds for this week’s Sprint Cup race, the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, it’s also a good time to look ahead to March 22^nd. Anytime NASCAR goes to Bristol Motor Speedway, it’s a big event, and this month’s race should be no exception. Bristol fits the banking of a superspeedway into a tiny half-mile track, and drivers have likened it to “flying jets in a toilet bowl”.

The Food City 500 won’t lack for excitement, either in the sportsbook or on the track. Kurt Busch has two top-tens in the first three races of the year, and he’s won this event four times, which is second only to the late Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace, who both have five wins. However, it’s either feast or famine with the No.2 driver here. Outside of his four wins, he’s never finished in the top ten.

Jeff Gordon, the current points leader, is also a fan of this race as he won four straight between 1995 and 1999. With six top-tens in 10 spring races, combined with the way the No.24 is running right now, you can bet that Gordon will challenge for the lead at some point.

Kevin Harvick appears to have Bristol figured out, as the No.29 driver has six top-fives and a win in eight spring races at Bristol. His 6.6 finishing average is the best among active drivers, barely edging out Greg Biffle’s 7.0. Harvick’s aggressive style is well-suited for Bristol, so look for him near the top of the NASCAR betting favorites. Biffle can also run well here, as he’s proven with five top-tens in six spring races.

Kyle Busch has also made his mark on the Bristol spring race, with a win and a solid 13.5 finishing average in four races. We all know Busch has no problem bumping drivers out of his way, as he did to Clint Bowyer last week on his way to a victory at his home track of Las Vegas, so the banging of Bristol is right up his alley. NASCAR betting fans will show Busch plenty of love on March 22^nd.

Some darkhorses to watch out for are Jeff Burton, who won here last year, and Denny Hamlin. Burton has his 2008 victory, but only two-top tens and more worryingly, three DNFs in 10 trips to Bristol in the spring. However, you always have to consider the defending champion. Hamlin has only one top-ten in three spring races, but a solid 11.3 finishing average means he’s knocking on the door there, so NASCAR betting players have to take a look at the No.11 driver.