Race Weekend Central

2016 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the Duck Commander 500

Welcome to our ninth year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week!

Think you can out-prognosticate our staff?  Leave your picks in the comments and see how they stack up!
How we roll:

Each driver can be picked only twice each week.  We can’t pick the same driver two weeks in a row.  And if anyone is daring enough to pick from a pool of higher-risk drivers…well, he or she reaps some serious bonus points!

Prediction Scoring
+5 – Win
+3 – 2nd-5th
+1 – 6th-10th
0 – 11th-20th
-1 – 21st-30th
-2 – 31st-36th
-3 – 37th-40th

High-Risk Drivers—Texas I:
Michael McDowell
Cole Whitt
Regan Smith
Michael Annett
Matt DiBenedetto
Danica Patrick
Landon Cassill

This week’s predictions: Duck Commander 500

Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: Going with the totally obvious here: Jimmie Johnson.  Boring I know, but he’s treated me well this year.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Make it Kyle Busch.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Jamie McMurray for the win, please.
Jeff Meyer, Semi-retired Contributor:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor: Keelan’s Dad. 
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager:
Matt Kenseth.
Dan Greene, Webmaster: Martin Truex, Jr.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributor: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor:
After he came so close in November, Brad Keselowski is determined.
Jason Schultz, Contributor: Carl Edwards.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: No. 48.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor:
Joey Logano.
Phil Allaway, Newsletter Editor:
I’m going with Denny Hamlin. I think he’s a good choice.  Maybe he’ll get me two in a row.
Dustin Albino, Contributor: Brad Keselowski.
Clayton Caldwell, Contributor:
Joey Logano.
Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: Matt Kenseth.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: Brian Vickers.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Martin Truex, Jr.
Bryan Gable, Contributor: Kevin Harvick

STP 500

Writer Pick Finishing Position Points
Phil Allaway Kyle Busch 1st 5
Tony Lumbis Brad Keselowski 5th 3
Jeff Meyer Carl Edwards 6th 1
Mark Howell Jimmie Johnson 9th 1
Aaron Bearden Jimmie Johnson 9th 1
Clayton Caldwell Ryan Newman 10th 1
Jason Schultz Joey Logano 11th 0
Dan Greene Kurt Busch 13th 0
Michael Finley Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 14th 0
Joseph Wolkin Matt Kenseth 15th 0
Huston Ladner Matt Kenseth 15th 0
Vito Pugliese Kevin Harvick 17th 0
Sean Fesko Kevin Harvick 17th 0
Dustin Albino Jamie McMurray 23rd -1
Zach Catanzareti Jamie McMurray 23rd -1
Jeff Wolfe Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 32nd -2
Amy Henderson Denny Hamlin 39th -3
Danny Peters Denny Hamlin 39th -3

 

Standings

 Writer Points Behind Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10
Sean Fesko 13 6 1 4 4
Dustin Albino 10 -4 5 2 2 3
Jeff Meyer 9 -4 6 0 3 4
Bryan Gable 8 -5 5 0 2 4
Amy Henderson 7 -6 6 3 3 3
Jeff Wolfe 7 -6 6 1 2 3
Jason Schultz 6 -7 5 0 3 3
Danny Peters 5 -8 6 1 2 3
Tony Lumbis 4 -9 6 0 1 2
Jerry Jordan 4 -9 2 0 1 2
Huston Ladner 4 -9 6 0 1 2
Mike Neff 4 -9 3 0 2 2
Dan Greene 4 -9 6 0 1 4
Tom Bowles 3 -10 2 0 1 1
Aaron Bearden 3 -10 6 0 1 2
Matt Stallknecht 2 -11 4 0 0 3
Phil Allaway 2 -11 5 1 1 1
Vito Pugliese 1 -12 6 0 0 3
Summer Bedgood 1 -12 1 0 0 1
Clayton Caldwell 1 -12 6 0 0 2
Mark Howell -1 -14 6 0 1 3
Kevin Rutherford -2 -15 3 0 0 0
Zach Catanzareti -3 -16 6 0 0 1
Joseph Wolkin -5 -18 6 0 0 1

 

About the author

The Frontstretch Staff is made up of a group of talented men and women spread out all over the United States and Canada. Residing in 15 states throughout the country, plus Ontario, and widely ranging in age, the staff showcases a wide variety of diverse opinions that will keep you coming back for more week in and week out.

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JohnDoe

I’m going with the other Busch: #41

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