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:
Tom Bowles, Editor-In-Chief: My heart says Jeff Gordon. My “you know he’s waking up someday” meter says Tony Stewart. But my head – and the reality this car is light years better than anyone, no matter the track these days – says Kevin Harvick.
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: If he can stop peeing in the Luck Fairy’s Cheerios for a few days, I like Clint Bowyer and his 9.2 average finish for this one.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Going with Burt Kusch… err… make that Kurt Busch.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: AJ Allmendinger.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: This is the week when Gordon turns his frown upside down! I’m going with the No. 24 to win.
Joseph Wolkin, Senior Writer: I’m going with Casey Mears.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: This week I’m going to jinx… or, uh, pick Jamie McMurray.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor: Martin Truex Jr.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Harvick.
Matt McLaughlin, Senior Writer: Gordon. Cue up the Boss, because I’m counting on a miracle to come through.
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor: I’m going to say that Kyle Busch scores the victory and fuels the “can he make the Chase” debate.
Greg Davis, Senior Writer: Going with Truex Jr. this week!
Sean Fesko, Contributing Writer: The ‘Dinger has two chances to make the Chase. He does it this week.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Kurt Busch.
Mike Neff, Short Track Coordinator: I’ll take Kurt Busch, thank you very much.
Jerry Jordan, Contributing Writer: Sadly, I am not attending the race this week but I am picking Stewart for the win. Yeah, I know, it’s a long shot.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: I’m going to go with Carl Edwards.
Phil Allaway, Senior Editor: I’m going with Kyle Busch. He’s a past winner at Sonoma and should be strong, provided that no one puts him in the tires.
Clayton Caldwell, Contributing Writer: No. 24.
Brett Winningham, Contributing Writer: Brad Keselowski.
Jeff Meyer, Senior Writer: I got Edwards … of (road) course!
Results: Quicken Loans 400
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Vito Pugliese | Kurt Busch | 1st | 5 |
| Matt Stallknecht | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2nd | 3 |
| Aaron Bearden | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2nd | 3 |
| Greg Davis | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2nd | 3 |
| Huston Ladner | Matt Kenseth | 4th | 3 |
| Tony Lumbis | Joey Logano | 5th | 3 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Paul Menard | 8th | 1 |
| Tom Bowles | Kyle Larson | 17th | 0 |
| Toni Montgomery | Jimmie Johnson | 19th | 0 |
| Matt McLaughlin | Jimmie Johnson | 19th | 0 |
| Jerry Jordan | Jeff Gordon | 21st | -1 |
| Amy Henderson | Kevin Harvick | 29th | -1 |
| Jeff Wolfe | Kevin Harvick | 29th | -1 |
| Mark Howell | Kevin Harvick | 29th | -1 |
| Sean Fesko | Kevin Harvick | 29th | -1 |
| Mike Neff | Kevin Harvick | 29th | -1 |
| Danny Peters | Kevin Harvick | 29th | -1 |
Standings
| Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Matt Stallknecht | 37 | — | 15 | 6 | 8 | 11 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 33 | -4 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| Mike Neff | 31 | -6 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| Huston Ladner | 21 | -16 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Sean Fesko | 20 | -17 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| Brett Winningham | 20 | -17 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Tom Bowles | 18 | -19 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Matt McLaughlin | 18 | -19 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Vito Pugliese | 17 | -20 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Aaron Bearden | 15 | -22 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 15 | -22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Amy Henderson | 13 | -24 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Danny Peters | 13 | -24 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Zach Catanzareti | 11 | -26 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Jeff Meyer | 9 | -28 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Mark Howell | 8 | -29 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Tony Lumbis | 7 | -30 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Clayton Caldwell | 6 | -31 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| S.D. Grady | 4 | -33 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Phil Allaway | 4 | -33 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| David Ifeguni | 3 | -34 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Toni Montgomery | 3 | -34 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Greg Davis | 3 | -34 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Jerry Jordan | -1 | -36 | 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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