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.Â
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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I’m going with the other Busch: #41