Jeff Haney notes that it’s Earnhardt in the lead, headed toward Daytona

By Jeff Haney

Friday, Feb. 15, 2008 | 2 a.m.

After finishing 32nd in last year’s Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to go off as a 5-1 betting favorite Sunday in stock-car racing’s signature event.

Earnhardt, in a quest to win NASCAR’s season-long points championship, left Dale Earnhardt Inc. to join the Hendrick Motorsports team for this season.

Oddsmakers as well as NASCAR fans figured the team change would help Earnhardt rebound from a winless streak dating to the 2006 Crown Royal 400 at Richmond.

Earnhardt opened at 8-1 to win at Daytona, according to the early line at all Station Casinos properties in the Las Vegas area, before being bet down. He’s a 5-1 second choice to win the 2008 Sprint Cup championship, behind favored Jimmie Johnson and in a virtual dead heat with Jeff Gordon, both Hendrick teammates.

Installed as a 3-1 favorite in last week’s Bud Shootout, Earnhardt took first place, albeit with a strategic assist from Johnson in the race, essentially an exhibition that doesn’t count toward the points standings.

Bettors who project more of an every-man-for-himself mind-set Sunday could take a look at Johnson to win at 6-1, Gordon at 7-1 or Tony Stewart at 6-1.

A prop at Station sports books asks whether any Hendrick driver will win the Daytona 500, with the “No” at minus-270 (risk $2.70 to win $1) and the “Yes” at plus-210 (risk $1 to net $2.10). Yes, bettors have Gordon, Johnson, Earnhardt and Casey Mears, a 30-1 long shot, working for them.

Chevrolet, typically the dominant manufacturer in restrictor plate races, is minus-300 to win the Daytona 500, according to Station odds, against Ford, Dodge and Toyota combined. Chevy is also a heavy favorite in Station’s exacta wagering — a wager on the race’s top two finishers. Chevy-Chevy pays off at 8-5, followed by Chevy-Ford at 4-1 and either Chevy-Dodge or Chevy-Toyota at 8-1.

Las Vegas bettors have until the green flag drops Sunday at Daytona to register for the NASCAR “Last Man Standing” elimination contest at the sports books at Fiesta Rancho or Fiesta Henderson. The contest carries a $25 entry fee (buy three, get one free) with a $10,000 guaranteed winner-take-all prize. Each week, 10 head-to-head driver matchups are set, with winning entries advancing until one entrant remains.

Fight game

The betting line in Saturday’s Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena is similar to the line on the first fight last September — only the other guy is favored this time.

After opening around pick ’em in the first fight, Taylor was bet heavily in the days leading up to the bout and closed as high as minus-170 before losing his world middleweight title when Pavlik knocked him out in the seventh round.

Saturday’s line has been holding steady, with Pavlik a minus-170 favorite and Taylor listed at plus-150 in a fight to take place at a catch weight of 166 pounds.

The round proposition is over/under 10 1/2 rounds, with the under minus-175 — no surprise considering both men were knocked down in their first meeting.

In other props, Pavlik to win by knockout is minus-105; Pavlik by decision, plus-500; Taylor by knockout, plus-350; Taylor by decision, plus-425; and draw, 18-1.

NBA All-Stars

Expect the West to be favored by 7 points in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans with an over/under of about 260 points, although the game was off the betting board in some spots because of concerns about player availability.

The East’s Jason Kidd was listed as questionable because of a pending trade that could send him to the Dallas Mavericks of the Western Conference.

The West’s Kobe Bryant, the reigning All-Star MVP, is also questionable because of a dislocated right pinkie. The East’s Caron Butler and Kevin Garnett are also out with injuries.

In today’s Rookies vs. Sophomores game, the Sophs, coming off a 155-114 blowout victory a year ago, are favored by 10 points.

The Sophs are led by Portland guard Brandon Roy, last season’s rookie of the year. The Rookies’ key players include Toronto’s Jamario Moon and New Jersey’s Sean Williams, who figure to contribute to another fast-paced game.