Columnist Jeff Haney: Race fans betting on the Brickyard

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

Jeff Haney is a sports columnist for the Las Vegas Sun, you can reach him at 259-4041 or haney@lasvegassun.com

The Daytona 500 and the annual NASCAR Winston Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are still the two most popular motor sports events among local gamblers.

But this Saturday's Brickyard 400 (10 a.m., ABC Channel 13) is just off the pace and gaining fast.

In fact, Micah Roberts, sports book director at the Wild Wild West and one of the city's foremost auto racing experts, said heavy action on the Brickyard has been coming in since early last week -- more than 10 days before the race.

"I was surprised how much they were betting that early," Roberts said. "We're definitely going to set a record for wagering on the Brickyard."

Roberts ranks the Brickyard 400 a solid third among the most heavily bet auto races, behind only Daytona and the LVMS event.

Roberts believes the Brickyard has eclipsed the Indy 500 both in the hearts of gamblers and as the biggest race of the year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"We're talking about the most fabled track in the world, and then when you throw the stock cars out there, you have the most anticipated race there," Roberts said. "NASCAR is the king of racing, with the stock cars, the colors, the pageantry ... it's just a better spectator sport (than open-wheel racing).

"It really is America's new pastime."

The July 23 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, won by Rusty Wallace, may have spurred some extra interest in Brickyard wagering, Roberts said.

"Pocono is a similar track to Indianapolis, and people might have picked up something (by) watching that race they wanted to use to bet on the Brickyard," he said.

Defending Brickyard champ Dale Jarrett is a 7-2 favorite at the Wild Wild West, followed by Tony Stewart (4-1), Bobby Labonte (5-1), Dale Earnhardt Sr. (5-1), Jeff Gordon (5-1) and Wallace (6-1).

When making his own wagers on a race, Roberts said he spreads his action among four or five drivers. He considers Labonte, who's atop the Winston Cup points standings, a live 5-1 shot Saturday.

"He's been playing it cautious because he's the leader," Roberts said. "But now that Jarrett's on his throat right behind him (in the standings), we might see some of (Labonte's) aggressiveness again."

The matches generally start at 7 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday, and the season lasts until May.

"Last year we offered futures wagering on the Premier League," said Regent sports book supervisor Jeff Sherman. "We expect the lines on the individual games to generate a lot of interest."

"I investigate conventional wisdom, and try to discover what the best play is for certain situations," Peszynski said during an appearance last week at the Gambler's Book Shop (630 South 11th St.)

Among the topics included in the book are buying a half-point; how to find value betting teasers; futures and when to hedge futures plays; halftime wagering; second-half parlays; Super Bowl props to avoid; and tracking sports services.

Peszynski, a financial analyst from California, uses a combination of text and charts, and incorporates 10 years of NFL data in the book.

"It's a very different perspective," he said. "It's not about making picks; it's about taking your picks and making the most advantageous wagers."

In Week 2's Dolphins-Vikings game, the line has moved from Minnesota minus 5 1/2 to minus 3 1/2.

In Week 8, the Redskins remain a 3-point underdog at Jacksonville -- but bettors must lay 120 on Washington.

And in Week 12, the number has moved from 3 1/2 to the all-important 3 on favored St. Louis against visiting Washington.

The Fiesta also has lines posted on every NFL game in Week 1 (Sept. 3-4), in which the Ravens have gone from pick 'em to minus 2 1/2 against the Steelers.

The 'Skins are 2-1 to win the Super Bowl at the IP, and even money to win the NFC title.

Wagering by athletes will, however, be "discouraged" by the Australian Olympic Committee.

"You don't ban anything you can't enforce," committee president John Coates was quoted. "You say 'sign this,' and someone says 'that bloke (made) a bet a year ago.' "

Olympic betting is available at sports books in some parts of Australia, though not in the host state of New South Wales.