Busch. listed at 6-to-1 odds to win, impressed with his average speeds during the 80-minute session. He had the best 10-consecutive lap average, as well as the best five-lap average. With five 25-lap segments followed by a 10-lap dash in tonight’s race, there isn’t a lot of time and the importance of average speeds is diminished. But the cream should rise to the top and Busch looks to be the driver to beat in the finals. He is using a chassis that will turn its first laps of 2015, one that teammate Danica Patrick used a few times during 2013. Danica, who won the fan vote to race Saturday, probably wishes she could have her old chassis back.

While Harvick had the third-fastest lap (188.258 mph) and Busch was fourth (188.121), Busch was the leader of the session for about 70 minutes. But some late runs put Kyle Busch on top with the fastest lap (188.884), followed by last year’s All-Star Race winner Jamie McMurray (188.396). All those cars will be good, but Kyle Busch is downgraded from his normal rating because this is his first action since he broke his leg in the Daytona Xfinity Series race. 

Busch figures to be using this race as somewhat of a live practice session, as he prepares to make his Sprint Cup season debut next week in the Coca-Cola 600 on the same track.  He also has other things on his mind – his wife Samantha is expected to have a baby on Monday. 

Jimmie Johnson had the 14th-fastest lap (185.829) among the 17 drivers who participated, but his All-Star record four wins suggest his practice times don’t matter much, not to mention he’s won three of the four races on 1.5-mile tracks this season. He’s using his Las Vegas chassis that finished 41st but ran well early. Harvick is using his runner-up chassis from Fontana that led 34 laps.

Start position will play a role in the race just like it did last night when Greg Biffle earned his way into the All-Star Race by winning the first 20-lap segment of the Sprint Showdown. He got out front, and it was light’s out.  Clint Bowyer made a bold early move in the second segment and led 17 laps en route to claiming the second segment. 

In the All-Star Race, you want to have a bet ticket on a driver who will be in the front row to start the final 10-lap dash. Kurt Busch with either Kevin Harvick or Jimmie Johnson look to be those guys.  And maybe even Jamie McMurray again, who won at 40-to-1 odds last season, but is 25-to-1 this time around.

Micah Roberts’ top-10 driver ratings, 2015 Sprint All-Star Race (non-point, 110-laps)Charlotte Motor Speedway,  Saturday, May 16 - 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1                        

  • Results from the past three races this season held on 1.5-mile tracks. Charlotte’s high-banked layout is most similar to Texas among the three.

All statistical information provided is specific for the All-Star Race unless noted otherwise.  Odds courtesy Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

Micah Roberts, a former race and sports book director in Las Vegas, has been setting NASCAR odds since 1995. For more analysis, visit The Linemakers NASCAR section com and follow @MicahRoberts7 on Twitter.