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: Duck Commander 500
Tom Bowles, Editor-In-Chief: I have this weird feeling Jeff Gordon‘s going to take it. So I’ll go with him.
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I think I’ll go with Jimmie Johnson. He’ll be looking for a boost after a terrible Martinsville showing.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Going out on a limb… Kevin Harvick.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: Matt Kenseth.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: I’ll go with Carl Edwards.
Joseph Wolkin, Senior Writer: I think it’s the weekend Gordon breaks out for the first win of his final season.
Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer: I’ll take Brad “Follow me on Twitter at” @keselowski.
Greg Davis, Senior Writer: I’ll take the 2009 winner of this race, Gordon.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Harvick.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: I’m going with Keselowski.
Sean Fesko, Contributing Writer: Joey Logano repeats at Texas this week.
Jeff Meyer, Senior Writer: Edwards please.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager:Â Kenseth.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributing Writer: I say Kurt Busch gets the win.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor: You want to see the wheels fall off of Harvick? Yeah. I’m picking him.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Kasey Kahne? Eh, sure, why not?
Mike Neff, Short Track Coordinator: May I have Harvick please?
Matt McLaughlin, Senior Writer: Harvick again.
S.D. Grady, Senior Writer: Logano – he’s on a hot streak.
Phil Allaway, Senior Editor: I’m picking Clint Bowyer for this weekend. He’s going to get the new sponsor boost.
STP 500
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Matt Stallknecht | Denny Hamlin | 1st | 5 |
| Mark Howell | Joey Logano | 3rd | 3 |
| Jeff Wolfe | Kevin Harvick | 8th | 1 |
| Greg Davis | Jeff Gordon | 9th | 1 |
| Vito Pugliese | Jeff Gordon | 9th | 1 |
| S.D. Grady | Jeff Gordon | 9th | 1 |
| Clayton Caldwell | Jeff Gordon | 9th | 1 |
| Amy Henderson | Kurt Busch | 14th | 0 |
| Matt McLaughlin | Kurt Busch | 14th | 0 |
| Jeff Meyer | Carl Edwards | 17th | 0 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Jimmie Johnson | 35th | -2 |
| Aaron Bearden | Jimmie Johnson | 35th | -2 |
| Toni Montgomery | Jimmie Johnson | 35th | -2 |
| Huston Ladner | Jimmie Johnson | 35th | -2 |
| Brett Winningham | Jimmie Johnson | 35th | -2 |
| Tony Lumbis | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 36th | -2 |
| Danny Peters | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 36th | -2 |
| Mike Neff | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 36th | -2 |
Standings
| Â Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Matt Stallknecht | 24 | — | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 14 | -10 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Mike Neff | 13 | -11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Danny Peters | 10 | -14 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Jeff Meyer | 6 | -18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Huston Ladner | 6 | -18 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Sean Fesko | 6 | -18 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Tom Bowles | 5 | -19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Brett Winningham | 5 | -19 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Matt McLaughlin | 5 | -19 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Vito Pugliese | 4 | -20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 3 | -21 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Zach Catanzaretti | 3 | -21 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Phil Allaway | 3 | -21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| David Ifeguni | 3 | -21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tony Lumbis | 2 | -22 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Amy Henderson | 1 | -23 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Mark Howell | 1 | -23 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Toni Montgomery | -2 | -26 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| S.D. Grady | -2 | -26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Greg Davis | -2 | -26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Clayton Caldwell | -3 | -27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Aaron Bearden | -5 | -27 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 |