Allmendinger claims first Sprint Cup pole at Phoenix

Autoracing Betting Lines

04/09/2010 - Avondale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Allmendinger will start on the pole for the first time in his Sprint Cup Series career after winning Friday's qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Allmendinger, a former open-wheel competitor, turned in a blazing lap of 134.675 m.p.h. for his first pole in 87 starts. He also put the Richard Petty- owned No.43 car on the pole for the first time since John Andretti did it for Petty in November 1999 at Phoenix.

"To get a pole, it might be minor, but it's a small victory for us," Allmendinger said. "We've always struggled in qualifying, but to get our first pole and kind of get that monkey off our back, we get to see the green flag drop and go to the front."

Allmendinger's best Sprint Cup finish so far is third, which came in the 2009 Daytona 500.

Scott Speed will join Allmendinger on the front row after turning a lap of 134.373 m.p.h. Speed matched his best qualifying effort, with his first outside pole coming in November 2008 at Homestead.

"We knew looking at the data after practice that our car was pretty good," Speed said. "As a team, we did a good job this week, because [Phoenix] is one of those places where we only get two practices all weekend. We really have to maximize those as much as we can."

Sam Hornish Jr. qualified a career-best third, while Marcos Ambrose and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top-five.

Joey Logano took the sixth starting spot, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards, who's making his 200th career Cup start, and Jeff Gordon.

Four-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson qualified 16th. Johnson has won four of the last five races at Phoenix. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin won here one year ago. Martin was 23rd in qualifying.

Denny Hamlin will start 26th. Hamlin returned to the track for the first time since he underwent surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee nine days ago. He expects to start the 375-lap race, but might hand over his car to relief driver Casey Mears in the early going.

"My goal is to know what I am going to do before lap 100," Hamlin said. "If I go past lap 100, there's no reason to decide and abort. I just need to tough it out at that point. We got to do it early, and I will know early what I've got. There's so much different stuff that were going to do tomorrow morning to help this thing. I don't know how much better I will feel tomorrow, but I know as of today, there's no way I can do it."

Hamlin and Mears shared driving in the No.11 Toyota during both practices on Friday. Hamlin topped the charts in the first practice with a lap of 131.120 m.p.h. He was 23rd quickest in the final session.

The 29-year-old Hamlin plans to have his stitches removed and his knee drained on Saturday morning.

David Stremme, Aric Almirola, Mike Bliss and Brandon Ash failed to qualify.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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