Fourth straight win for Johnson stretches lead

Autoracing Betting Lines

11/11/2007 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 Nextel Cup race, the ninth of 10 events which make up the "Chase for the Nextel Cup." Peaking at just the right time Johnson won his fourth consecutive race to open up an 86-point edge over Jeff Gordon.

The No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet crossed the finish line 0.870 ahead of runner-up Greg Biffle.

The victory was Johnson's 10th of the season, first at PIR and 33rd of his "Cup" career.

"I'm lucky to be in cars that are capable of winning races," said Johnson. "I'm just as shocked as everyone watching and couldn't be more proud of this race team.

"Those guys are on an unbelievable roll...and we're just coming up short at a crucial time," said Gordon after his 10th-place finish.

It was all Carl Edwards early on as the pole winner pace the field through the first portion of the race. Meanwhile, the "race-within-a-race" between Gordon and Johnson was staying tight as expected. Both were sitting in the top-five and eyeing each other carefully.

Edwards continued to show the way despite taking just two tires at the first pit stop.

Also of note was the No.5 Chevrolet of Kyle Busch. The lame duck Hendrick Motorsports driver was trying to accomplish a feat which had never been done in all of NASCAR's long history. Busch won the Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday and the Busch race on Saturday and a win on Sunday would be a series first. No driver has ever won all three NASCAR races in a single weekend. Busch started the race 38th on the 43-car grid, but by lap 75 was up to 13th.

A caution flag on lap 85 slowed the race and sent all the leaders down pit lane. Edwards, who took just right-side tires the first time, took all four this time and returned to the track in second place behind Martin Truex Jr. Johnson and Gordon came out third and fourth, respectively.

Then on lap 106 Edwards suddenly announced that he was down a cylinder. The No.99 team pulled down pit lane, but his chance at the win was over. The team looked at the plug wires, hoping one had fallen off, but that wasn't the case. Edwards pulled his Roush Fenway Racing Ford behind the wall, his day over.

"That was a race-winning car there, I was just cruising around having fun," said Edwards.

With Edwards on the sideline, Johnson inherited second place behind Truex Jr.

Lap 118 saw Dale Earnhardt Jr. slam the inside wall pretty hard in turn two ending his day. It appeared he just got too loose coming out of the turn and lost it.

Gordon used the caution flag to pit while leaders Truex Jr. and Johnson stayed out on the race track. Gordon came out 15th right in the middle of the action. A dangerous move if something happened around him. Johnson chose the safer route staying near the lead and hopefully keeping any trouble in his rearview mirror.

Up front it was still Truex Jr. and Johnson, but Kyle Busch cracked the top- five by lap 130 and was looking for the sweep.

Former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve and Kasey Kahne got together to bring out a caution flag on lap 137 and the leaders pitted. Now Gordon, one of those out of sequence with the leaders was five spots ahead of Johnson in fourth place.

Truex Jr. and Johnson were still fast and weaving their way through the top-10 and back towards the top. They were seventh and eighth when Kahne and Tony Raines had a problem to slow the action with the seventh caution of the day.

Gordon could get no higher than third as they reached the mid-point of the race, while Johnson was still coming. The No.48 Chevy was up to fifth and Truex Jr. was seventh.

Gordon was still working hard and finally got around David Stremme for second behind Matt Kenseth.

Could he get around Kenseth to lead a lap (and earn the five-point bonus) before he got caught by Johnson and Truex Jr.?

On lap 171 Johnson caught Gordon. They fought side-by-side for a couple of laps, but Johnson's tires were newer and it was inevitable that Johnson would make the pass.

After the pass of Gordon, Johnson was about three and-a-half second behind Kenseth. But he wasn't making any headway as the field passed the 187-lap mark.

However, when Kenseth pitted for fuel on lap 188, Johnson inherited the lead and five points. By lap 190 Truex Jr. also got around Gordon for second place. Disappointed that he could not lead a lap, Gordon pitted on lap 199 going down a lap to the leaders.

The No.24 team held their collective breath waiting for Johnson to pit and get back on the lead lap. Finally on lap 219 Johnson pitted and Gordon survived.

On lap 233 Dave Blaney spun to bring out caution flag No.8. It set up a final pit stop for everyone. Ryan Newman took just fuel to grab the lead while Johnson and Gordon took four tires each, coming out sixth and eighth, respectively.

Right after the restart, Kenseth swept around Newman and so did Tony Stewart, who's No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet had suddenly come to life.

Gordon had a little problem with Harvick with 52 laps remaining and Gordon's left-front fender began to rub on the tire. But there was no way he was going to stop with the championship on the line.

A debris caution flag with 43 laps to go, gave Gordon a chance to save his day. A number of teams came in and Gordon came out still 12th with a chance to catch his teammate.

Truex Jr. was the new leader with Johnny Sauter (neither driver stopped), Kenseth, Stewart and Johnson making up the top-five with 40 laps to go.

But it was not to be today for Gordon. Johnson began a late-race march towards the front while Gordon couldn't move up the charts. Johnson and Kenseth renewed their battle from last week with Johnson winning again taking second place on lap 283.

Now it was leader Truex Jr. on old tires trying to hold off Johnson on fresh rubber. There were 25 laps to go. The two leaders were side-by-side with 24 laps to go, but Johnson's better tires prevailed.

Kenseth, also on newer tires got past Truex Jr. as did Biffle but did he have anything for Johnson?

Twenty laps remained and the margin was 0.799 seconds between Johnson and Kenseth. The gap was getting larger not smaller. Biffle got around Kenseth and was suddenly the fastest car on the track, but time was running out. He would need a caution flag to have a chance to race for the win.

"I felt like we got something at the end and maybe we would have won this thing if we had found it at the beginning," said Biffle.

There was none, however, and Johnson won for the fourth consecutive time stretching his championship lead over Gordon to a gigantic 86 points.

Kenseth, Stewart and Newman completed the top-five. Busch came up short in his attempt to sweep the weekend finishing eighth.

The final race of the 2007 Nextel Cup season is scheduled for next Sunday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"We just have to go down there and be smart and see how it shakes out," said Johnson.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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