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: Southern 500
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I’m probably crazy, but Paul Menard was fast in both practice sessions and is coming off an Xfinity win, so why not?
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: Denny Hamlin.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Kyle Busch.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: Kyle Busch.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor: Hmm. Jeff Gordon.
Matt McLaughlin, Senior Writer: Seem to recall Brad Keselowski was dominant in low-downforce race at Kentucky before self-inflicted problems, so we’ll go with him.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Kevin Harvick.
Sean Fesko, Contributing Writer: Kyle Busch.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor: Jimmie Johnson.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: All right. Time for Harvick to get a win for once, and not another second.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributing Writer: Matt Kenseth.
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor: Happy Harvick.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Gordon.
Results: Irwin Tools Night Race
Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
Danny Peters | Denny Hamlin | 3rd | 3 |
Joseph Wolkin | Clint Bowyer | 5th | 3 |
Jerry Jordan | Clint Bowyer | 5th | 3 |
Matt Stallknecht | Brad Keselowski | 6th | 1 |
Zach Catanzareti | Carl Edwards | 7th | 1 |
Amy Henderson | Kyle Busch | 8th | 1 |
Matt McLaughlin | Kyle Busch | 8th | 1 |
Sean Fesko | Kyle Busch | 8th | 1 |
Mike Neff | Kyle Busch | 8th | 1 |
Jeff Wolfe | Kyle Busch | 8th | 1 |
Aaron Bearden | Kyle Busch | 8th | 1 |
Mark Howell | Kurt Busch | 14th | 0 |
Tony Lumbis | Kurt Busch | 14th | 0 |
Toni Montgomery | Jeff Gordon | 20th | 0 |
Greg Davis | Jeff Gordon | 20th | 0 |
Phil Allaway | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 21st | -1 |
Vito Pugliese | Kyle Larson | 41st | -3 |
Clayton Caldwell | Matt Kenseth | 42nd | -3 |
Standings
Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
Matt Stallknecht | 48 | — | 24 | 7 | 12 | 17 |
Mike Neff | 45 | -3 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 15 |
Jeff Wolfe | 45 | -3 | 22 | 5 | 13 | 18 |
Huston Ladner | 33 | -15 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 15 |
Aaron Bearden | 33 | -15 | 23 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
Matt McLaughlin | 28 | -20 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 13 |
Mark Howell | 25 | -23 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 12 |
Amy Henderson | 23 | -25 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
Vito Pugliese | 20 | -28 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
Danny Peters | 20 | -28 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 11 |
Brett Winningham | 19 | -29 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
Sean Fesko | 18 | -30 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
Tom Bowles | 17 | -31 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
Joseph Wolkin | 16 | -32 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
Zach Catanzareti | 14 | -34 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
Tony Lumbis | 13 | -35 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
Toni Montgomery | 11 | -37 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
Phil Allaway | 6 | -42 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Jeff Meyer | 5 | -43 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
S.D. Grady | 4 | -44 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Clayton Caldwell | 3 | -45 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
David Ifeguni | 3 | -45 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Jerry Jordan | 2 | -46 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Greg Davis | 2 | -46 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
Dan Greene | -1 | -49 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
As requested, since I missed the deadline for picks this week. Please give me Kurt Busch for the win tonight at Darlington