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: Federated Auto Parts 400
Tom Bowles, Editor-In-Chief: Denny Hamlin. Remember what happened the last time he tore his ACL…
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I think I’ll go with Clint Bowyer.
Matt Stallknecht, Senior Editor: I’ll go with Kyle Busch.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: I‘m picking Kevin Harvick to win at Richmond.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: I’m also buying into the ACL theory and saying Hamlin.
Toni Montgomery, Senior Editor: Oh hell, give me Logano.
Matt McLaughlin, Senior Writer: Gonna points race this weekend and go with Harvick since our standings get reduced back to zero next week anyhow, right? I’ve spent the summer experimenting with stuff like learning to spell “Keselowski” correctly and not snicker at players who choose Jeff Gordon so now I’m cleaning off my mantle for the Frontstretch Cup… which is hard since I’d don’t have a mantle… or a fireplace… or a living room.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Kurt for the Sweep.
Sean Fesko, Contributing Writer: Harvick.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor: Kyle Larson.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Harvick.
Zach Catanzareti, Contributing Writer: Brad Keselowski for me.
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor: Sliced Bread.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: JoLo.
Danny Peters: Hamlin. Just like the last time he busted his ACL.
Jerry Jordan, Contributing Writer: It was a toss-up for me between Danica Patrick and Timmy Hill, so I threw out those picks and decided to go with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Greg Davis, Senior Writer: Going with Tony Stewart in a huge upset win at Richmond. It won’t happen, but just imagine the storyline.
Results: Southern 500
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Matt McLaughlin | Brad Keselowski | 2nd | 3 |
| Matt Stallknecht | Denny Hamlin | 3rd | 3 |
| Aaron Bearden | Kevin Harvick | 5th | 3 |
| Jeff Wolfe | Kevin Harvick | 5th | 3 |
| Vito Pugliese | Kevin Harvick | 5th | 3 |
| Mike Neff | Kurt Busch | 6th | 1 |
| Mark Howell | Kyle Busch | 7th | 1 |
| Tony Lumbis: | Kyle Busch | 7th | 1 |
| Sean Fesko | Kyle Busch | 7th | 1 |
| Toni Montgomery | Jeff Gordon | 16th | 0 |
| Huston Ladner | Jeff Gordon | 16th | 0 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Jimmie Johnson | 19th | 0 |
| Zach Catanzareti | Matt Kenseth | 21st | -1 |
| Amy Henderson | Paul Menard | 26th | -1 |
Standings
| Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Matt Stallknecht | 51 | — | 25 | 7 | 13 | 18 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 48 | -3 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 19 |
| Mike Neff | 46 | -5 | 23 | 6 | 12 | 16 |
| Aaron Bearden | 36 | -15 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 17 |
| Huston Ladner | 33 | -18 | 23 | 2 | 9 | 15 |
| Matt McLaughlin | 31 | -20 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| Mark Howell | 26 | -25 | 25 | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| Vito Pugliese | 23 | -28 | 21 | 2 | 9 | 13 |
| Amy Henderson | 22 | -29 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Danny Peters | 20 | -31 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 11 |
| Brett Winningham | 19 | -32 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Sean Fesko | 19 | -32 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| Tom Bowles | 17 | -34 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 16 | -35 | 24 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
| Tony Lumbis | 14 | -37 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Zach Catanzareti | 13 | -38 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Toni Montgomery | 11 | -40 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| Phil Allaway | 6 | -45 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Jeff Meyer | 5 | -46 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| S.D. Grady | 4 | -47 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Clayton Caldwell | 3 | -48 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| David Ifeguni | 3 | -48 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jerry Jordan | 2 | -49 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Greg Davis | 2 | -49 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| Dan Greene | -1 | -52 | 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.