Welcome to our ninth 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!
How we roll:
Each driver can be picked only twice each week. We can’t pick the same driver two weeks in a row. And if anyone is daring enough to pick from a pool of higher-risk drivers…well, he or she reaps some serious bonus points!
Prediction Scoring
+5 – Win
+3 – 2nd-5th
+1 – 6th-10th
0 – 11th-20th
-1 – 21st-30th
-2 – 31st-36th
-3 – 37th-40th
*High-risk bonus: Win: +3; 2nd-5th: +2; 6th-10th: +1
High-Risk Drivers—Darlington
Chris Buescher
Landon Cassill
AJ Allmendinger
Casey Mears
Reed Sorenson
Paul Menard
David Ragan
This week’s predictions:Â Bojangles Southern 500
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I’ll take Denny Hamlin this week, just in case he can’t find enough bad luck on  his own.
 Dan Greene, Webmaster: I’ll Head for the Mountains of Busch… Beer with Kevin Harvick.
Mike Neff, Short Track Editor: I’ll take Chase Elliott to finally seal the deal after his second runner-up run of his career last week.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: Truex notches another one of NASCAR’s big ones for 2016. This team has been a little quiet of late and is due to find the front again.
Jeff Meyer, Sorta-kinda Retired: Give me Harvick!
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: I’ll go with the No. 14 just because of the paint scheme.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Â This is the week when Kyle Larson scores Cup win number two.
Bryan Gable, Contributor: I seem to recall the Tide Ride getting a memorable Darlington win with Ricky Craven. Perhaps Matt Kenseth will get another. I’ll take him.
Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I’ll take Matt Kenseth in the ‘Ole Tide Ride, please!
Dustin Albino, Contributor: Bobby Labonte in the 22. Or Logano.Â
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor: Kad Breselowski…I mean, well, you know.
Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: Cousin Carl repeats!
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: I’ll go with Chase Elliott.
Greg Davis, Senior Writer: I’ll take Clint Bowyer in an upset win for the ages!
Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer: Mr. C. Buescher.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: I will take the No. 11 too.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: The Grey Ghost / Jeff Gordon / DEJr / 88.
John Douglas, Contributor: I can’t help but think Kyle Larson is about to go on a huge tear no one sees coming after his win last week. They say the first win is the hardest to get. Well last week was very bad news for the rest of the field if the saying holds true.
Corey Brewer, Contributor: Give me Joey Logano.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor: I’ll take Dale Jarrett in the No. 18 car. (Make that Kyle Busch)
 Pure Michigan 400
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Sean Fesko | Kyle Larson | 1st | 5 |
| Dustin Albino | Kyle Larason | 1st | 5 |
| Vito Puglise | Chase Elliott | 2nd | 3 |
| Clayton Caldwell | Brad Keselowski | 3rd | 3 |
| Corey Brewer | Brad Keselowski | 3rd | 3 |
| Tony Lumbis | Ryan Blaney* | 4th | 5 |
| Zach Catanzareti | Ryan Blaney* | 4th | 5 |
| Jeff Meyer | Kevin Harvick | 5th | 3 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Jimmie Johnson | 6th | 1 |
| Jeff Wolfe | Carl Edwards | 7th | 1 |
| Bryan Gable | Joey Logano | 10th | 1 |
| Danny Peters | Joey Logano | 10th | 1 |
| Amy Henderson | Matt Kenseth | 13th | 0 |
| Huston Ladner | Kyle Busch | 19th | 0 |
| Dan Greene | Martin Truex, Jr. | 20th | 0 |
| Aaron Bearden | Martin Truex, Jr. | 20th | 0 |
Standings
| Â Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Tony Lumbis | 36 | — | 23 | 2 | 9 | 13 |
| Bryan Gable | 32 | -4 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| Clayton Caldwell | 31 | -5 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| Jeff Meyer | 30 | -6 | 22 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
| Dustin Albino | 29 | -7 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 27 | -9 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 13 |
| Dan Greene | 24 | -12 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 13 |
| Danny Peters | 24 | -12 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Vito Pugliese | 24 | -12 | 24 | 2 | 7 | 14 |
| Huston Ladner | 17 | -19 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Sean Fesko | 16 | -20 | 23 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Jason Schultz | 16 | -20 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Zach Catanzareti | 14 | -22 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Aaron Bearden | 13 | -23 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Mark Howell | 10 | -26 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Amy Henderson | 10 | -26 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Corey Brewer | 10 | -26 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Phil Allaway | 5 | -31 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Jerry Jordan | 4 | -32 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Mike Neff | 3 | -33 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Tom Bowles | 3 | -33 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| John Douglas | 3 | -33 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 3 | -33 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Summer Bedgood | 1 | -35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Stallknecht | -1 | -37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Greg Davis | -2 | -38 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kevin Rutherford | -2 | -38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Finley | -5 | -41 | 5 | 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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Another first time winner – that #3 car