There are no stats I know of describing who drives well in fog but that’s what the weather is like in Loudon as I write this. My brain is also foggy as I try to pick which matchups on Sportsbook.com could be as ripe as the cherries I bought at the market yesterday. I think picking a winner is easier today- Jimmy Johnson is at 4-1 and Tony Stewart is at 5-1 and flipping a coin will probably give you the winner between those two. Then again Jeff Gordon (8-1) has three wins at this track to go with his twelve top-5 finishes. Now the fog has become pea soup. Let’s see what we can do with the matchups I have selected based on my pure mediocrity of going 2-2 the last three weeks.

Clint Bowyer (-145) vs Kasey Kahne (+115)

KK is hot. He won in wine country last week and I like that he has four top-10s here compared to Clint’s one although Clint doesn’t have as many starts on this flat oval. I’m picking Kahne to finish up on Bowyer.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-135) vs Jamie McMurray (+105)

Plagued by mechanical breakdowns, poor setups, a change in crew chief and just plain old bad luck Junior’s year has been a disaster. You would never know this car was with the Hendrick stable. McMurray is just one notch ahead of Junior in the standings at 19^th and his year has not been exactly five-star either. Neither driver will be in the running for the top ten today but I predict Jamie will finish ahead of Earnhardt.

Denny Hamlin (-115) vs Mark Martin (-115)

The fifty-year old Martin is on his way to Comeback Driver of The Year with three wins under his belt. The chances are he hasn’t stopped there but today is not the day. Mark has never won at New Hampshire. Hamlin’s one win plus a FA of 7.2 is enough for me to pick him ahead of Martin.

David Reutimann (+115) vs Martin Truex Jr. (-145)

Reutimann is having a great year for someone so new to a full-time ride at NASCAR. He is in 14^th spot in the standings and has a win with four top 10s. Truex is back in 22^nd with three top 10s so far this season. But Truex is in home country and has been fast in practice. I am picking the fan favorite to finish ahead of Reutimann.

Last week, 2-2; season, 25-25.   

There may be lots of talk at Sonoma this weekend using descriptive words such as bold, fruity, oaky, and a hint of burnt rubber mixed with apples. That would be upper class winos opening a bottle of this and that from the best the vines have to offer in this area of California better known for its wine than stock car racing. The hint of burnt rubber may be a bit of a stretch but one never knows when you pull that awful synthetic cork out of a bottle containing a new batch.

The talk will turn to road racing later today for the 21^st edition of the race from Infineon Raceway. Cows munching on hay will raise their heads in wonder at the thunderous sounds of 3800-lb. beasts roaring by.

Maybe some of them will know that this Jeff Gordon’s domain. Not only did he grow up nearby he has won this race five times. That’s why I won’t bet against him in my matchup picks as listed on Sportsbook.com.

Tony Stewart -145 vs Jeff Gordon +115

Tony is an expert at road racing as shown by his two wins at Infineon. He also leads in points. These facts would normally be a no-brainer in choosing to beat just about anybody but in this case he’s up against the best. Bad back or not, Jeffie will finish ahead of Tony.

Kyle Busch -155 vs Juan Pablo Montoya +125

Montoya’s background is F1 so it’s no surprise his first and only win in NASCAR to date came at this track two years ago. Right turns and chicanes are familiar territory for JP but his opponent in this matchup has quickly learned the ropes from Max Papis, an expert at this kind of racing. He paid attention because he won last year’s race starting from the 30^th spot.  Montoya has looked vary fast in practice so I pick him to finish ahead of Kyle.

Carl Edwards +110 vs Kurt Busch -140

Neither driver has won on a road course and I don’t think that will change today. Carl has been hot in the practice sessions and I think he will have a top 10 finish. I am picking him over Kurt.

Boris Said +105 vs Ron Fellows -135

Road races always call for ringers- the part-time guys who do a lot of this kind of racing. Past races show them to be in contention but unless they are in a car owned by a top team they usually run into mechanical problems. Fellows had the second-fastest car in Happy Hour so I will take that as a good sign and pick him over Boris.

Last week, 2-2; season, 23-23.

GL

Kyle ‘Wild Man’ Busch continues to cause outrage among the NASCAR Nation. Not only did he smash the specially created beautiful Gibson guitar which goes to the winner he managed to take another verbal whack at Dale Earnhardt Jr. who wasn’t even in the Nationwide race. Actually he trashed Earnhardt’s fans, which is the same thing. It all goes back to Busch being dumped from Hendrick in order to make space for Dale Jr. Since then Krazy Kyle has won 11 Sprint Cup races while Jr. has only one win. That win came here at MIS last year. So far Junior has ignored Kyle’s shots at him because he’s been too busy trying to get a car that will not have the mechanical issues which have plagued almost all of his races. If Junior wins today he will probably make a subtle remark aimed at NASCAR’s Darth Vader. It would be great to see it happen for two reasons; first because he needs a change in his luck and second the talented but brash brat needs his ass whipped. Verbally, of course.

Here are my matchups picks from Sportsbook.com:

Jimmy Johnson +105 vs Carl Edwards -135

Jimmy was hotter than Lady Gaga in practice. Carl was very fast too. Roush Fenway cars have dominated at Michigan recently but I am going against the grain with this one. Jimmie is so consistent week after week that I am not going to bet against him. Take the 48 car.

Jeff Burton -135 vs David Reutimann +105

Burton is the kind of guy who isn’t in the spotlight but is always in the Race for the Chase. That’s why I usually feel comfortable picking him in my matchups. However he has lost for me lately and Reutimann is showing signs of passing Burton in the standings. I think Reutimann will finish ahead of Burton today.

Matt Kenseth -160 vs Jeff Gordon +130

Who would be crazy enough to pick Kenseth over Jeffie? Me, that’s who. At least for this race. They both have 2 wins plus lots of top 10s at Michigan but Kenseth has been in the top five in four of the last five races here. I think he will have another top five today based on his practice times so I am picking the 17 car.

Kasey Kahne -160 vs Dale Earnhardt Jr. +130

The chemistry is flowing in the 88 camp since Lance McGrew (what a great name- sounds like a gunfighter from the Old West) became Earnhardt’s crew chief a few weeks ago to the point where they are talking about winning today. Earnhardt is more focused than he has been for a while and Kasey just isn’t putting it all together the way he did a few seasons ago when he won six times. Pick Junior.

Last week, 2-2; season, 23-23.

Red heart-shaped bathtubs are not the reason for 43 NASCAR drivers to gather in the Poconos this afternoon. They’re here to tackle the 2.5-mile triangle known as Pocono Raceway.

If you want to pick a winner go for someone among the top four starters because 37 of 62 races here have been won from those spots. Thirteen pole sitters have won followed by nine from outside the pole, eight from third and seven from the fourth.

Points leader Tony Stewart was placed at the pole after qualifying was rained out but don’t pick Smoke- he crashed in practice and will start at the back of the field where nobody has ever won at Pocono. In fact the worst starting spot to produce a winner was 29^th won by Carl Edwards.

There are some tricky matchups listed on Sportsbook.com but I’m going to be conservative today considering I was only 1-3 in the Coca Cola 600.

Odds courtesy of Sportsbook.com. 

Jeff Gordon (-120) vs Tony Stewart (-110)

The only way Tony can beat Jeffie is if Gordon’s car gets knocked out and Stewart doesn’t. It’s such a cherry pick I feel guilty. But I have no shame so I say pick Jeff.

Ryan Newman (-150) vs Matt Kenseth (+120)

Newman is enjoying a comeback season after some frustrating years. His teammate and owner Tony Stewart has had a lot to do with it and Newman is showing his gratitude with his climb to fifth in the points standings. Of course Matt is no slouch this year either, sitting eighth. But Ryan’ practice speeds are way up there so I say pick Newman.

Denny Hamlin (-180) vs Tony Stewart (+150)

Hamlin has also been very speedy in practice but it wouldn’t matter if he took a slow boat to China because I don’t see Tony moving up that many spots on this track. I’m picking the low hanging fruit when I say Hamlin will finish ahead of Stewart.

Kevin Harvick (-125) vs Juan Pablo Montoya (-105)

Harvick is having a bad year while Montoya is only three spots away from being in the Chase. Consistency wins the day here today as JP will win this matchup.

Two weeks ago, 1-3; season, 21-21.