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—Chicago
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
Trevor Bayne
Casey Mears
Danica Patrick
Austin Dillon
Regan Smith
This week’s predictions: Federated Auto Parts 400
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I’ll take Brad Keselowski this week. JJ has a better average at Chicago but can’t close the deal. Kes will close it and slam the door.
Dan Greene, Webmaster: Denny Hamlin for the repeat win.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: I’ll take Kyle Larson. He had a chance for the win here back in his rookie year. Now that they have the confidence that they can seal the deal, I think they will do so this weekend.
Mike Neff, Short Track Editor: Please put me down for the 2015 Sprint Cup Champion to kick off his title defense in style. No. 18 – Kyle Busch.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: I’m picking the on-track class of Hendrick Motorsports – Chase Elliott.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: My pick for Chicagoland is Joey Logano. He got to drive a Model T in Michigan this past week; he’ll be thrilled to get behind the wheel of a newer Ford that’s just a tad faster.
Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I’ll take Martin Truex, Jr. please. He’s had the fastest car pretty much all year. Time for them to roll off some victories.
Dustin Albino, Contributor: Kyle Busch.
John Douglas, Contributor: I’m going with Truex. I think his team is in the best position to go out, knock off a quick win, and work on Round 2 performance with the other two Round 1 races.
Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: Denny Hamlin.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Pencil me in for Matt Kenseth.
Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer: Since McMurray has had some gutsy comments lately, I’ll bite and choose him.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: No. 4, please.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Have Knaus and JJ been laying in the weeds? Time to find out. Jimmie Johnson.
Bryan Gable, Staff Writer: I’ll take Kevin Harvick.
Corey Brewer, Contributor: Brad Keselowski.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor: I’m going with Matt Kenseth.
Federated Auto Parts 400
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Clayton Caldwell | Denny Hamlin | 1st | 5 |
| Vito Pugliese | Denny Hamlin | 1st | 5 |
| Jeff Wolfe | Kyle Larson | 2nd | 3 |
| Tony Lumbis | Kevin Harvick | 5th | 3 |
| Danny Peters | Kevin Harvick | 5th | 3 |
| Amy Henderson | Kyle Busch | 9th | 1 |
| Huston Ladner | Joey Logano | 10th | 1 |
| Sean Fesko | Austin Dillon* | 13th | 0 |
| Zach Catanzareti | Austin Dillon* | 13th | 0 |
| Dustin Albino | Chase Elliott | 19th | 0 |
| Dan Greene | Chris Buescher* | 24th | -1 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Chris Buescher* | 24th | -1 |
| Jeff Meyer | Carl Edwards | 32nd | -2 |
| Corey Brewer | Carl Edwards | 32nd | -2 |
| Mark Howell | Tony Stewart | 33rd | -2 |
| Aaron Bearden | Matt Kenseth | 38th | -3 |
| Michael Finley | Matt Kenseth | 38th | -3 |
Standings
| Â Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Tony Lumbis | 44 | — | 25 | 3 | 11 | 15 |
| Clayton Caldwell | 37 | -7 | 25 | 3 | 8 | 15 |
| Bryan Gable | 33 | -11 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 16 |
| Dustin Albino | 32 | -12 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 14 |
| Jeff Meyer | 31 | -13 | 24 | 1 | 10 | 13 |
| Danny Peters | 30 | -14 | 22 | 3 | 9 | 15 |
| Vito Pugliese | 30 | -14 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 28 | -16 | 26 | 3 | 10 | 14 |
| Dan Greene | 26 | -18 | 26 | 1 | 7 | 14 |
| Huston Ladner | 18 | -26 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Sean Fesko | 16 | -28 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Jason Schultz | 16 | -28 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Amy Henderson | 14 | -30 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Zach Catanzareti | 14 | -30 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Aaron Bearden | 11 | -33 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| Mark Howell | 11 | -33 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Corey Brewer | 11 | -33 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| John Douglas | 6 | -38 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Phil Allaway | 5 | -39 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Jerry Jordan | 4 | -40 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Mike Neff | 4 | -40 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Tom Bowles | 3 | -41 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 2 | -42 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Summer Bedgood | 1 | -43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Stallknecht | -1 | -45 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Kevin Rutherford | -2 | -46 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Davis | -3 | -47 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Michael Finley | -8 | -52 | 6 | 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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Gibbs drivers will finish 1-2-3-4-5. First cars out of the race will be the 2 (courtesy of contact from the 20), then the 22 (also courtesy of contact from the 20).
Kasey Kahne spoils the chase party