Micah Roberts’ Sprint Cup Driver Ratings

Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

Noon PST today, ESPN (30)

Rating Driver Odds Practice 1 Practice 2 Qualified Phoenix*

1. Carl Edwards 6/1 34th 2nd 9th 28th 2010 winner with average finish of 13th in 14 starts; using eighth-place Loudon chassis.

2. Tony Stewart 5/1 11th 36th 8th 7th 1999 winner with no Phoenix wins since; using winning Loudon car from September.

3. Kevin Harvick 12/1 23rd 10th 27th 4th Swept 2006 season, has 13.8 average finish in 17 starts; using winning Charlotte chassis.

4. Jeff Gordon 7/1 38th 13th 23rd 1st Two-time winner with average finish of 10th in 25 starts, including 10 top-five finishes.

5. Jimmie Johnson 8/1 33rd 12th 16th 3rd Four-time winner, finished fifth or better in 10 straight PIR races; using Loudon chassis.

6. Kyle Busch 8/1 40th 5th 34th 2nd 2005 winner with average finish of 12.9 in 13 starts; only one top-five since.

7. Matt Kenseth 12/1 2nd 38th 1st 12th 2002 winner, looked to have one of best cars in Friday’s practice; using Loudon chassis.

8. Ryan Newman 20/1 5th 30th 30th 5th 2010 winner, which started current run of three straight top-fives; great Friday practices.

9. Kasey Kahne 15/1 8th 31st 10th 6th Career-best fifth in first PIR Cup start in 2004; best 10 consecutive lap average in practice.

10. Paul Menard 60/1 4th 1st 11th 17th Had excellent Friday practice, making him solid contender; using Las Vegas chassis.

*Results from the first season’s Phoenix race on Feb. 27.

Odds courtesy of the Las Vegas Hilton Super Book.

Micah Roberts, a former sports book director, has been setting NASCAR lines in Las Vegas since 1995. For more of Roberts’ insights and post-practice analysis on the race, go to VegasInsider.com or follow MicahRoberts7 on Twitter.