Race Weekend Central

2015 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega

Welcome to our eighth 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!

 Prediction Scoring
+5 – Win
+3 – Top 5
+1 – Top 10
0 – 11th-20th
-1 – 21st-30th
-2 – 31st-40th
-3 – 41st-43rd

This week’s predictions: CampingWorld.com 500

Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: My totally scientific pick method involved our NHRA editor picking a number from 1-30 and going by happy hour speeds. Got Austin Dillon. That’s a totally legit way to pick, right?
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: My pick is Matt Kenseth.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor:
Eh, give me Kenseth.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor:
Jeff Gordon.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer:
Kevin Harvick.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributor:
Picking with my eyes closed I actually got a reasonable guy in Kurt Busch.
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor:
I’ve gone with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in every restrictor-plate race this season. He hasn’t done any worse than third in those races. If it ain’t broke… 
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor:
No idea why… Carl Edwards.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer:
Joey Logano.
Jerry Jordan, Contributor:
Landon Cassill because at Talladega, you never know.
Mike Neff, Short Track Coordinator:
JUNIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clayton Caldwell, Contributor:
No. 40.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor:
Junior, in dominating fashion.
Sean Fesko, Contributor: After throwing a dart at the entry list, I choose…. Danica Patrick.
Vito Pugliese: Brad Keselowski again for the win.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager:
Keselowski.
Greg Davis, Senior Writer:
Earnhardt Jr. for the season sweep and punching his ticket into the next round of the Chase.

Results: Hollywood Casino 400

Writer Pick Finishing Position Points
Zach Catanzareti Denny Hamlin 2nd 3
Jerry Jordan Kyle Busch 5th 3
Sean Fesko Kurt Busch 6th 1
Joseph Wolkin Ryan Blaney 7th 1
Huston Ladner Brad Keselowski 9th 1
Toni Montgomery Brad Keselowski 9th 1
Vito Pugliese Brad Keselowski 9th 1
Amy Henderson Jeff Gordon 10th 1
Mark Howell Matt Kenseth 14th 0
Clayton Caldwell Matt Kenseth 14th 0
Matt McLaughlin Matt Kenseth 14th 0
Mike Neff Matt Kenseth 14th 0
Danny Peters Matt Kenseth 14th 0
Matt Stallknecht Martin Truex Jr. 15th 0
Jeff Wolfe Kevin Harvick 16th 0
Aaron Bearden Kevin Harvick 16th 0

Standings

 Writer Points Behind Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10
Matt Stallknecht 62 31 9 16 22
Jeff Wolfe 44 -18 29 5 15 20
Aaron Bearden 43 -19 30 3 14 21
Mike Neff 43 -19 28 6 12 16
Huston Ladner 39 -23 28 2 11 20
Matt McLaughlin 31 -31­ 30 3 10 15
Zach Catanzareti 26 -36 27 0 9 16
Amy Henderson 25 -37 31 4 8 16
Vito Pugliese 24 -38 25 2 10 15
Mark Howell 22 -40 31 1 8 14
Danny Peters 22 -40 27 2 9 14
Brett Winningham 19 -43 14 2 5 7
Toni Montgomery 19 -43 31 3 9 15
Sean Fesko 19 -43 26 1 2 15
Tom Bowles 15 -47 19 3 5 10
Tony Lumbis 15 -47 29 1 6 13
Joseph Wolkin 11 -51 30 2 7 12
Jerry Jordan 8 -54 15 0 4 7
Phil Allaway 8 -54 13 1 2 5
Jeff Meyer 5 -57 17 2 2 6
S.D. Grady 4 -58 6 0 2 4
David Ifeguni 3 -59 1 0 1 1
Greg Davis 2 -60 26 1 4 11
Clayton Caldwell 0 -62 14 2 3 4
Dan Greene -1 -63 1 0 0 0

 

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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4 Comments
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Bill B

This seems like an effort in futility. Why bother? Sean has the right idea though with the dartboard.

Chris

I’m going with either the pace car or one of the safety vehicles as they stand just as much a chance of anyone else winning this train wreck.

Carl D.

Johnson passes Junior on the next to last lap. Johnson blocks, Earnhardt gets him loose, Logano passes them both for the win. An angry Johnson confronts Junior after the race. Harvick pushes Junior into Johnson. A fight breaks out. Talladega erupts into chaos. Brian France declares Johnson’s car is illegal due to an unapproved dccal. Earnhardt is declared the winner.

kb

they do pinch these guys for the decal….too funny and pathetic.

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