Drivers and fans hope that the rains hold off for the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. as Jeff Gordon will try to extend a tenuous 44-point lead over Tony Stewart in the Sprint Cup standings with 12 races left before the Chase.

Gamblers who follow trends should keep in mind that 12 different drivers have won the Autism Speaks 400 in the last 12 races at the Monster Mile while the only driver to have won this race twice since 1996 is Jeff Gordon.

Who will win the 2009 Autism Speaks 400?

Dover is an incredibly important race for drivers on the bubble. Consider that last year 10 out of 12 drivers who were in the Top 12 after Dover made the Chase. This is important for the likes of David Reutimann, in 13th place and six points from 12th as well as Juan Pablo Montoya in 14th place and 31 points from 12th. At 77 points out of the 12th spot for the Chase, Kasey Kahne knows how important a good finish at Dover could be for his chances to make NASCAR's postseason. Of the three aforementioned drivers, Kahne is the only driver who has won at Dover and he'll look to make a strong showing on Sunday.

There was more bad news from the Dale Jr. camp this week. Despite driving for NASCAR powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, who has three of their four drivers in the Chase, Earnhardt, Jr. has been set at 40/1 to win this week. You might love Junior as a fan but that is no reason to bet on No. 88 at Dover. Crew chief (and cousin) Tony Eury, Jr. was fired on Thursday and will be replaced for the race by team manager Brian Whitesell. Whatever happens, it can't be worse than Junior's 40th place at Lowe's last weekend; but it's called the Monster not the Miracle Mile.

One driver I really like this week and is screaming out to me is Carl Edwards. Edwards enters Dover in 11th place in the standings but he is far from a comfortable lock to make the Chase at this point in the season. In 10 Sprint Cup starts at Dover Edwards has two Top-5s and five Top-10s and at 7.7 has the best average finish of all active drivers. And he is a driver who fits the profile I told you about earlier; he's never won the spring race at Dover. Edwards won the fall race in 2007 and has finished no worse than third in his last five races at Dover.

Pick! Carl Edwards, No. 99, (7/1)

2009 Autism Speaks 400 - Lucky Dog Long Odds Special

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Martin Truex Jr. has already won the Autism Speaks in 2007. In six starts at Dover he has recorded three Top-10s and has an average finish of 11.33 against a starting position of 20.11. Last year the No. 1 Chevrolet finished sixth. Truex Jr. has also has notched two wins at Dover in the Nationwide series. It's one of his most comfortable tracks and he always expects to do well in Delaware.

Pick! Martin Truex, Jr., No.1, (25/1)

2009 Autism Speaks 400- Odds for Top 3 Finish

There are quite a few candidates that look good to finish in the Top 3 at Dover. Unfortunately, only three can come in for this bet to cash. Last week my pick to win the Coca Cola 600 had seemingly the fastest car on the track but finished sixth when NASCAR stopped the race due to rain. This week I like the defending race champion to represent once again (provided that the rain holds off). In 2008 Kyle had the honor of being the only driver to come first and last at the same track: Dover. Joe Gibbs Racing's Busch either does really well or not so good as he has four other Top-5 finishes at Dover but no other Top-10s. Despite this, Kyle leads all drivers this season with three Sprint Cup victories and if he doesn't win he should finish in the Top 3.

One other point; you'll notice the field is set at 10/1 to finish in the Top 3. I think, however, this is a slight over-reaction to the rain shortened Coca Cola 600 and the unlikely winner David Reutimann with Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon rounding out the Top 3 last week. It has certainly been an unpredictable year, which might also count for the relatively short odds. Simply put, this is a sucker bet. At the Monster Mile I recommend laying off the field despite getting a great price.

Pick! Kyle Busch, No. 18, (3/2)

Sprint Cup Series - Autism Speaks 400 Top 3 Finish
May 31, 2009 Dover International Speedway, DE

A.J. Allmendinger 30/1
Bobby Labonte 30/1
Brian Vickers 12/1
Carl Edwards 2/1
Casey Mears 30/1
Clint Bowyer 15/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12/1
David Ragan 15/1
David Reutimann 18/1
David Stremme 30/1
Denny Hamlin 7/2
Elliott Sadler 30/1
Greg Biffle 2/1
Jamie McMurray 10/1
Jeff Burton 9/1
Jeff Gordon 2/1
Jimmie Johnson 9/5
Joey Logano 15/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 22/1
Kasey Kahne 15/2
Kurt Busch 9/2
Kyle Busch 3/2
Mark Martin 7/2
Martin Truex Jr. 15/2
Matt Kenseth 3/1
Michael Waltrip 30/1
Paul Menard 30/1
Reed Sorenson 30/1
Ryan Newman 15/2
Sam Hornish Jr. 30/1
Scott Speed 30/1
Tony Stewart 7/2
Field (Any Other Driver) 10/1

Sprint Cup Series - Odds to win the Autism Speaks 400
May 31, 2009 Dover International Speedway, DE

A.J. Allmendinger 100/1
Bobby Labonte 100/1
Brian Vickers 40/1
Carl Edwards 7/1
Casey Mears 100/1
Clint Bowyer 50/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 40/1
David Ragan 50/1
David Reutimann 60/1
David Stremme 100/1
Denny Hamlin 12/1
Elliott Sadler 100/1
Greg Biffle 7/1
Jamie McMurray 35/1
Jeff Burton 30/1
Jeff Gordon 8/1
Jimmie Johnson 6/1
Joey Logano 50/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 75/1
Kasey Kahne 25/1
Kevin Harvick 40/1
Kurt Busch 15/1
Kyle Busch 5/1
Mark Martin 12/1
Martin Truex Jr. 25/1
Matt Kenseth 10/1
Michael Waltrip 100/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Reed Sorenson 100/1
Ryan Newman 25/1
Sam Hornish Jr. 100/1
Scott Speed 100/1
Tony Stewart 12/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 35/1

*Odds courtesy of Bodog