Teams gearing up for preseason testing at Daytona
Autoracing Betting Lines
01/11/2012 - Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After a short one-and-a-half-month break, Sprint Cup Series teams are back on track this week with a three-day preseason test session at Daytona International Speedway.
From Thursday to Saturday, teams will familiarize themselves with NASCAR's new rules package for the February 26 season-opening Daytona 500. A number of revisions have been made to the Sprint Cup cars for Daytona, including a smaller capacity in both the radiators and overflow tank.
In addition, the radiator inlet will be moved up closer into the front center bumper area. The springs on the cars will be softer and the rear spoiler smaller. The restrictor plate has been modified to 1/64 inch larger than the plate size used for the 2011 Daytona 500.
"This is an opportunity we are providing to the competitors to implement and test the new Daytona rules package for 2012," Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said. "It's a chance for them to get comfortable with the cooling package, the smaller spoiler and to practice drafting for next month's Daytona 500."
NASCAR recently revised its restrictor-plate racing package after gathering data from test sessions at Talladega Superspeedway last October and then Daytona the following month. The sanctioning body is hoping to minimize and perhaps eliminate two-car tandems, which has become an unpopular style of racing at restrictor-plate tracks.
"This three-day test will allow the engine tuners for these teams to be able to work with their engine packages and see how they relate and react to the new cooling regulations," Pemberton added.
Due to the two-car pairings as well as a newly-paved surface at Daytona, last year's Daytona 500 featured a record 74 lead changes among 22 drivers. The 2011 spring race at Talladega produced a NASCAR-record tying 88 lead changes.
Teams will also have an opportunity to work on their preparations for the Daytona 500 as well as the Budweiser Shootout event and the twin qualifying races for the 500.
"With the rule changes especially with the grill opening, we have a lot of things we want to test and try to get prepared to win the Daytona 500," Michael Waltrip Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. said. "It's also important for me and [teammate] Clint [Bowyer] to get time together and draft. I believe we are going to have to switch a lot in the draft with the rule change, so we really need to be on the same page rather quickly and understand how each other thinks. It's a good time to get a feel for how he does things and the same for him as to how I do things."
Bowyer and Mark Martin have joined Michael Waltrip's team for the 2012 season. Both drivers will use this test session to help develop team chemistry.
"These tests aren't incredibly important from the car hardware side," Martin said. "It's more important for us as a new group working together to work through the areas like communication, flow, learning everyone's names, routines and things like that. That's really the critical part of the test."
Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports), Kurt Busch (Phoenix Racing), A.J. Allmendinger (Penske Racing), David Reutimann (Tommy Baldwin Racing) and Aric Almirola (Richard Petty Motorsports) are also those drivers with new rides this year.
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA bolstered its attack on Wednesday with the addition of midfielder/winger Miller Bolanos from LDU Quito in Ecuador. "Miller is an exciting young attacking player," said Chivas USA head c
<< Houston's Robinson announces retirement
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson
announced his retirement on Wednesday after 11 seasons in Major League Soccer.
Robinson also revealed that while his playing career is coming to a close, he
has
<< Giants' Pierre-Paul has right outlook
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Some may think New York Giants young defensive end Jason
Pierre-Paul is foolish for providing the top-seeded and defending Super Bowl
champion Green Bay Packers with some bulletin-board material by guaranteeing a
victory in t
<< Whelan inks new Stoke deal
Stoke-on-Trent, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan
has signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with the club that includes an
option for another year.
Whelan arrived at the Britannia Stadium in January 2008
<< Sivebaek secures move to Seattle
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle Sounders FC announced the signing of
Danish midfielder Christian Sivebaek on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not
disclosed.
Sivebaek moves to Seattle from Danish side Midtjylland, where he has
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Angels and first baseman Kendrys Morales have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract on Wednesday. The 28-year-old switch-hitter hasn't played since breaking his left ankle while jump
Kakuta secures Dijon loan >>
Dijon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea winger Gael Kakuta sealed a loan move
to Dijon until the end of the season, the French club announced on Wednesday.
Kakuta returns to his native France after short loan spells with Fulham and
Bolto
NFL Divisional Round Weekend >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two years ago, three of the four wild
card-round winners came up short failing to cover their games in the next
round. Last year, the four teams split with a 2-2 mark, both straight-up and
against
Khedira out with ankle injury for Real Madrid >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid confirmed on Wednesday that
midfielder Sami Khedira will miss an undetermined amount of time because of an
ankle injury.
Khedira twisted a ligament in his right ankle during Real's 1-0
Pens' Jeffrey returns from IR; Despres goes on >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins activated forward
Dustin Jeffrey from injured reserve on Wednesday and placed rookie defenseman
Simon Despres on it.
Jeffrey has appeared in just six games this season while comin
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
MySportsbook features easy-to-use online betting software that’s the most reliable in the industry. If you’re looking to bet underdogs, then this Sportsbook is the place - we have the best betting lines in the business. MySportsbook is your one-stop shop for all your betting needs - sports betting, poker, casino, and horse betting . MySportsbook offers every bet type with lightning fast settlement of wagers. Take advantage of free statistical analysis - including against-the-spread and straight-up trends - in MySportsbook’s game previews section. With MySportsbook there are unlimited free deposits and payouts - and no transaction fees!
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs.