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: Toyota Owners’ 400
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I’ll take hometown boy Denny Hamlin.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Going out on a limb here and saying… Kevin Harvick.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Hamlin will again prove that JGR’s short-track program is the real deal. He’s my pick for Richmond.
Joseph Wolkin, Senior Writer: I’m going with Jamie McMurray.
Sean Fesko, Contributing Writer: Let’s take McMurray this week. He’s been strong on the flat tracks in 2015.
Jeff Meyer, Senior Writer: Carl Edwards again.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: Edwards shows the same short-track strength he had at Bristol and this time, closes the deal.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributing Writer: Harvick returns to Richmond victory lane.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor: I will go with Junior. I don’t want to jinx him, but hey, Kurt Busch muddled through the curse of me, so…
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Jimmie Johnson.
Mike Neff, Short Track Coordinator: Kyle Larson won at Millbridge Speedway Wednesday night. I think he rides that momentum to a win at Richmond.
Matt McLaughlin, Senior Writer: Busch makes like Aerosmith and gets Back in the Saddle again. Insert your own air guitar solo here.
Brett Winningham, Contributing Writer: Johnson.
Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer: I’m going to go with my boy Brad Keselowski.
Food City 500
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Tom Bowles | Matt Kenseth | 1st | 5 |
| Huston Ladner | Matt Kenseth | 1st | 5 |
| S.D. Grady | Jeff Gordon | 3rd | 3 |
| Brett Winningham | Jeff Gordon | 3rd | 3 |
| Sean Fesko | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 4th | 3 |
| Toni Montgomery | Kurt Busch | 15th | 0 |
| Mike Neff | Kurt Busch | 15th | 0 |
| Mark Howell | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 16th | 0 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Carl Edwards | 24th | -1 |
| Greg Davis | Carl Edwards | 24th | -1 |
| Vito Pugliese | Carl Edwards | 24th | -1 |
| Jeff Meyer | Carl Edwards | 24th | -1 |
| Matt Stallknecht | Brad Keselowski | 35th | -2 |
| Tony Lumbis | Brad Keselowski | 35th | -2 |
| Matt McLaughlin | Brad Keselowski | 35th | -2 |
| Danny Peters | Brad Keselowski | 35th | -2 |
| Amy Henderson | Kasey Kahne | 37th | -2 |
| Jeff Wolfe | Kevin Harvick | 38th | -2 |
| Zach Catanzareti | Joey Logano | 40th | -2 |
Standings
| Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Matt Stallknecht | 21 | — | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Mike Neff | 16 | -5 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 15 | -6 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Sean Fesko | 13 | -8 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Huston Ladner | 12 | -9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Danny Peters | 11 | -10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Tom Bowles | 11 | -10 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Brett Winningham | 8 | -13 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Jeff Meyer | 6 | -15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Vito Pugliese | 6 | -15 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Matt McLaughlin | 6 | -15 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Amy Henderson | 4 | -17 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| S.D. Grady | 4 | -17 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 3 | -18 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| David Ifeguni | 3 | -18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Phil Allaway | 2 | -19 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mark Howell | 2 | -19 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Toni Montgomery | 1 | -20 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Zach Catanzaretti | 1 | -20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Tony Lumbis | -1 | -22 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Greg Davis | -2 | -23 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Aaron Bearden | -2 | -23 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Clayton Caldwell | -3 | -24 | 4 | 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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