Columnist Jeff Haney: Daytona, motor sports betting hit big time

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001 | 11:43 a.m.

Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Wednesday. Reach him at 259-4041 or haney@lasvegassun.com

Micah Roberts, sports book director at Santa Fe Station, has long enjoyed a reputation as perhaps the best motor sports oddsmaker in Las Vegas.

A few years ago, that was like being the world's tallest midget.

Not anymore.

Wagering on auto racing has outgrown its former status as a minor novelty item and has become a staple on Las Vegas betting boards, complete with driver-vs.-driver matchups, futures odds on all major racing series, and a Super Bowl-style selection of propostions.

As if more proof was needed, Roberts said this year he got the ultimate confirmation motor sports wagering has gone prime time: More than ever, "wise guys," or professional gamblers, are showing a keen interest in betting on auto races.

And that's OK with Roberts.

"Bring 'em on," he said.

Roberts, who sets motor sports odds for all Station Casinos properties, said individual bets as high as $2,000 are not uncommon on driver matchups for Sunday's Daytona 500 or on season-long propositions.

It's not only wise guys betting motor sports, though. Everyone from die-hard racing fans to casual sports bettors seems to be taking an interest.

"As more places put numbers up, it's going to attract more and more people," Roberts said. "People who like to bet will try a sport that at first is new and foreign to them, and what happens is they become more astute at it. And that's what I see happening."

Dale Jarrett is listed as a 7-2 favorite at Stations to win the Daytona 500, followed by Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Sr., each 9-2.

One of the most popular wagers on the board, however, is a matchup featuring Earnhardt Sr. vs. any Dodge. Earnhardt Sr. is a minus 120 favorite; any Dodge is even money.

"I've taken a ton of money on that one, and I haven't had to change the line because it's been great two-way action," Roberts said. "The Dodge bettors figure they're getting 10 cars to just one car, and anything can happen, as great as (Earnhardt) is."

Another Daytona prop attracting attention from bettors is the over/under on the number of different lap leaders. The number is set at 8 1/2, but the over has been bet from minus 130 to minus 190.

"People have been hammering the over," Roberts said. "The average over a 10-year span at Daytona is approximately seven or eight, but the cars have a similar aero (package) as they had at Talladega (at the Winston 500 last October) when they had 21 lap leaders.

"Talladega is straighter, longer, overall a faster track -- but still, they're betting it like they've already seen the race."

Also among the dozen Daytona props: Chevy and Pontiac (minus 180) vs. Ford and Dodge (plus 160); and the over/under on number of cautions (under 5 1/2 minus 120, over 5 1/2 even money).

In wagering to win the "Great American Race," Roberts said he has written the most tickets on Earnhardt Sr. and Earnhardt Jr. (25-1), followed closely by Rusty Wallace (12-1). Although he's popular among race fans, Wallace has not performed well at Daytona in his career, Roberts noted.

"How drivers perform on individual tracks holds true to form more than anything else in sports," Roberts said. The performance of pitchers or hitters in particular ballparks, or of racehorses over various tracks, for example, is not nearly as "formful," he said. "Now (favored) Dale Jarrett, he has been an unbelievable driver on this track."

Take note, wise guys and long shot players alike.

Macho Uno had opened a 25-1 co-favorite in the Derby futures book at Bally's and related Park Place casinos. The current Derby favorite at 6-1 is Point Given, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up.

At the Regent, Iowa State dropped from 30-1 to 20-1 and North Carolina dropped from 7-1 to 5-1, while Tennessee and Maryland were each adjusted from 15-1 to 20-1. ...

Ken White of Nevada Sports Executives leads the $10,000 Stardust invitational handicapping tournament with an 18-7 record after five weeks. Each of the 10 contestants submits five selections on Friday from Saturday's slate of games. Handouts detailing all picks are available at 6 p.m. Friday in the Stardust race and sports book.