2011 Quaker State 400 – Post-Practice Predictions and Top 5 Drivers

2011 Quaker State 400 Post-Practice Predictions, Picks, Tips and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win Quaker State 400: The first Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway is shaping up to be one unforgettable night. Mother Nature wiped out all but one practice session and canceled qualifying completely. Now, drivers will have to take the green flag with little chance to get comfortable behind the wheel. The end result could be a surprise winner. Just about any driver has a chance to hit the perfect setup and go to Victory Lane Saturday night.

2011 Quaker State 400 – Post-Practice Top 5

Kurt Busch: He delivered a strong overall performance in the only practice session of the weekend, recording the third-fastest lap and the seventh-best 10-lap average speed. Busch has also led more laps than any other driver in the last 10 races at 1.5-mile tracks. He brings plenty of momentum into Saturday night’s race, and he could leave with his second win of 2011.

Tony Stewart: His ninth-fastest lap in Happy Hour was really just icing on the cake for Stewart. “Smoke” recorded the top 10-lap average speed in practice and had by far the best overall average speed of any driver in race trim. He could be the man to beat over the course of the night and leave Kentucky with his first win of the year.

Brad Keselowski: Keselowski showed as much balance as any driver in practice Friday. He posted the sixth-fastest lap of the afternoon, along with the second-best 10-lap average speed. With drivers getting very little practice time, Keselowski’s well-balanced No. 2 machine could merge as the car to beat.

Kyle Busch: While his 13th-best 10-lap average speed wasn’t amazing, Busch did post the fastest lap of any driver in Happy Hour. He was also the fastest driver in a special testing session held Thursday. Busch is starting on the pole Saturday, and if he can build big enough leads on short runs, it may not matter if his car falls off a bit on older tires.

David Ragan: Last weekend’s winner at Daytona could make it back-to-back victories this weekend. He put down the eighth-fastest lap in Happy Hour and recorded the fourth-best 10-lap average speed. Ragan has the added advantage of driving for Roush Fenway Racing – the organization that has dominated at the 1.5-mile tracks in 2011.

2011 Quaker State 400 – Post-Practice Top Sleeper

Regan Smith: After recording a respectable lap in Happy Hour, ranking 12th on the speed charts, Smith really showed his muscle on long runs. He compiled the third-best 10-lap average speed in the session. He has already pulled off a major upset in 2011 with his win at Darlington, and Smith appears to have a car capable of surprising once again this weekend at Kentucky.

View the most current vegas betting odds to win the 2011 Quaker State 400 for this Sunday, July 9th at Kentucky Speedway.