Bodine takes winning momentum into Michigan
Autoracing Betting Lines
06/08/2010 - Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck. Date: Saturday, June 12. Race: VFW 200. Site: Michigan International Speedway. Track: two-mile oval. Start time: 2:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 100. Miles: 200. 2009 winner: Colin Braun. Television: SPEED. Radio: Motor Racing Network(MRN) /SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.
Todd Bodine padded his points lead to 65 over Aric Almirola after winning last Friday's race at Texas. Bodine led 97 of 167 laps, but had to hold off Johnny Sauter and Ron Hornaday Jr. in a two-lap overtime finish to capture his record-extending sixth victory there. He also ended a 24-race winless streak in the Camping World Truck Series.
"To come out of [Texas] with a win for the stretch, it's awesome, but it's just one win, it's one track and we have to go to Michigan [this] week and beat them up there," Bodine said.
Michigan is the final race before the series' last big break of the season. The next event after Michigan is on July 11 at Iowa. The series will then begin a 10-week stretch.
There will be a guaranteed new race winner at Michigan. No previous winners are on the entry list. Former series champions Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Bodine, along with Kyle Busch, who returns to trucks after taking a week off, have never driven into victory lane at Michigan. All four of those drivers have combined for 109 victories in the series.
A Ford has won five of the previous 10 truck races at Michigan, but the automobile manufacturer has been winless so far this season. The last victory for Ford actually came one year ago at Michigan.
Jack Roush leads all team owners with five victories at Michigan, including wins in the last three races with drivers Travis Kvapil, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun. Roush has no truck entries so far this year.
Michigan has featured quick races and close finishes since the series started competing there in 1999.
Brendan Gaughan's 2003 win at Michigan remains the fastest truck event ever run. Gaughan averaged 154.044 m.p.h. and cruised to an 11.477 margin of victory in a race that wrapped up in one hour, 17 minutes and 54 seconds.
Two years ago, Darnell won there in thrilling fashion. He nipped Johnny Benson by 0.005 seconds, making it the second closest finish in series history.
Thirty-five teams are on the preliminary entry list for the VFW 200.
Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup. Date: Sunday, June 13. Race: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400. Site: Michigan International Speedway. Track: two-mile oval. Start time: 1:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 200. Miles: 400. 2009 winne
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Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All three of NASCAR's national touring series
are in action this weekend, with the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck
Series at Michigan International Speedway and the Nationwide Series at
Kentucky Speedway. Form
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1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 1,549,9412. Ryan Howard, Phillies, 761,8523. Prince Fielder, Brewers, 416,3604. Joey Votto, Reds, 373,5955. Troy Glaus, Braves, 342,344Second Base1. Chase Utley, Phillies, 1,573,2482. Martin Prado, Braves, 595,2503. Dan
Sparta, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Nationwide. Date: Saturday, June 12. Race: Meijer 300. Site: Kentucky Speedway. Track: 1.5-mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 200. Miles: 300. 2009 winner: Joey Logano. Television: ESPN. Ra
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New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers agreed to terms with
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The 24-year-old Byers, a second-round draft pick of the Rangers in 2004,
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Sherrill hit the DL on May 25 with tightness in the middle of his back. He was
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Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington's Stephen Strasburg certainly
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Big 12 Conference betting odds
Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State
Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.
Work left to do:
Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.
Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough.
Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.