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2015 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

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: Coke Zero 400

Tom Bowles, Editor-In-Chief: I’ll go with Jamie McMurray.
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor:
Restrictor-plate race, so might as well pick one out of a hat. Casey Mears did right by me in the Daytona 500, so I’ll go with him again this week.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer:
Going to go with Junior.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: Dale Earnhardt Jr. It’s pointless to pick against him right now on plate tracks.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: My Daytona pick is Jimmie Johnson.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor:
I’m going with David Ragan considering how strong he is at restrictor-plate tracks. Oh, and Michael Waltrip Racing kind of has a good history at the plate races, too.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager:
Tony Stewart finally breaks back into the win column.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor: Carl Edwards. Call it a little experiment.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor:
Ryan Newman.
Matt McLaughlin, Senior Writer: Jerry Garcia… er, nope that won’t work. Earnhardt. So when does the Chase start and everyone have their scores reset to zero? I’ve got a couple wins so I’m in, right? 
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor:
@DaleJr
Greg Davis, Senior Writer: I’ll take Earnhardt Jr. – that trip he took down to Florida in his hauler will pay off when it comes time for the race on Sunday. Daytona’s a special place for him
Jerry Jordan, Contributing Writer: Stewart is also my pick for this week. I think I will pick him until he wins.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer:
Denny Hamlin.
Phil Allaway, Senior Editor: I’m going with Stewart for the win.  He’s got a good record at Daytona, no matter how much he hates restrictor-plate racing.
Jeff Meyer, Senior Writer: Edwards o’ course!
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: McMurray.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributing Writer: David Gilliland. He always seems to do something at these plate tracks.

Results: Toyota/SaveMart 350

Writer Pick Finishing Position Points
Aaron Bearden Kyle Busch 1st 5
Phil Allaway Kyle Busch 1st 5
Jeff Wolfe Kurt Busch 2nd 3
Vito Pugliese Kurt Busch 2nd 3
Mike Neff Kurt Busch 2nd 3
Amy Henderson Clint Bowyer 3rd 3
Tom Bowles Kevin Harvick 4th 3
Huston Ladner Kevin Harvick 4th 3
Tony Lumbis Jamie McMurray 11th 0
Jerry Jordan Tony Stewart 12th 0
Mark Howell Jeff Gordon 16th 0
Matt McLaughlin Jeff Gordon 16th 0
Clayton Caldwell Jeff Gordon 16th 0
Brett Winningham Brad Keselowski 19th 0
Matt Stallknecht AJ Allmendinger 37th -2
Sean Fesko AJ Allmendinger 37th -2
Joseph Wolkin Casey Mears 38th -2
Danny Peters Carl Edwards 40th -2
Jeff Meyer Carl Edwards 40th -2
Toni Montgomery Martin Truex Jr. 42nd -3
Greg Davis Martin Truex Jr. 42nd -3

Standings

 Writer Points Behind Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10
Jeff Wolfe 36 15 4 10 13
Matt Stallknecht 35 -1 16 6 8 11
Mike Neff 34 -2 16 4 9 11
Huston Ladner 24 -12 15 2 7 10
Tom Bowles 21 -15 12 3 5 7
Vito Pugliese 20 -26 12 2 6 8
Brett Winningham 20 -16 13 2 5 7
Aaron Bearden 20 -16 15 2 7 10
Matt McLaughlin 18 -18 15 2 6 6
Sean Fesko 18 -18 14 1 6 9
Amy Henderson 16 -20 16 4 6 8
Joseph Wolkin 13 -23 16 2 5 7
Danny Peters 11 -25 14 2 5 7
Zach Catanzareti 11 -25 13 0 4 8
Phil Allaway 9 -27 7 1 2 3
Mark Howell 8 -28 16 0 3 7
Jeff Meyer 7 -29 15 2 2 5
Tony Lumbis 7 -29 16 0 3 7
Clayton Caldwell 6 -30 8 2 2 3
S.D. Grady 4 -32 6 0 2 4
David Ifeguni 3 -33 1 0 1 1
Toni Montgomery 0 -36 16 1 4 4
Greg Davis 0 -36 15 0 1 6
Jerry Jordan -1 -37 2 0 0 0

 

About the author

Frontstretch.com

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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