Kahne takes Michigan pole, Roush back at track

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/13/2010 - Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kasey Kahne claimed the pole for the CARFAX 400 after posting the quickest lap in Friday's qualifying at Michigan International Speedway.

Kahne knocked Jimmie Johnson off the top position after he turned a lap of 187.183 m.p.h. around the two-mile oval for his second pole of the season and the 18th of his Sprint Cup Series career. Kahne started on the pole and won at Michigan in June 2006.

"I got through [turns] one and two really good, and I knew I was awesome getting into three," Kahne said. "I got there and had three lanes to choose from in three and four. I chose one [lane], and it didn't really work, but it still ended up on the pole."

Earlier this week, Kahne announced he will join Red Bull Racing in 2011 to drive one of their Sprint Cup cars. He will then move over to Hendrick Motorsports to drive Mark Martin's No.5 car the following year. Kahne currently is behind the wheel of the No.9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Johnson qualified 0.02 seconds behind Kahne to start on the front row for the fourth time at Michigan. The four-time defending series champion has yet to win at this track, as well as Chicagoland, Homestead and Watkins Glen.

"I'm very proud of the effort we made today," Johnson said. "I certainly would have liked to won the pole. It's been Homestead of last year since we have won a pole. We've been close a few times."

Clint Bowyer took the third spot, while Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya, last weekend's race winner at Watkins Glen, rounded out the top-five.

Roush Fenway Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth qualified sixth and seventh, respectively.

Team owner Jack Roush returned to the racetrack more than two weeks after he sustained serious injuries during a plane crash in Oshkosh, WI. Roush, who was released from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN earlier this week, arrived at Michigan wearing dark sunglasses. He ruptured his left eyeball and permanently has lost vision in that eye. He does expect to fly again.

"I feel very lucky," he said. "I had a damaged left cheek. I had a broken jaw, and I had a compression fracture in my back, and I've got a back brace for the compression fracture. I have hardware in my cheek. I still have packing in my nose, because they say its biodegradable, and it will come out on its own.

"I'm still uncomfortable with the fact that I can't breathe clearly through my nose. Everything will come back, and I was blessed to have great vision in two eyes, and now I've got great vision in one."

Roush resides 60 miles away from the two-mile track in Northville, MI.

Kevin Harvick, the current points leader, qualified eighth, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Paul Menard.

Harvick currently holds a 185-advantage over Jeff Gordon, who qualified a disappointing 36th. Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., wound up two spots behind in 38th.

Mike Bliss, J.J. Yeley, Scott Riggs and Casey Mears failed to qualify.

Sunday's 400-mile race at Michigan is scheduled to start shortly after 1:00 p.m. (et).

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.