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—Charlotte II
Ryan Blaney
Paul Menard
Trevor Bayne
Casey Mears
Danica Patrick
Regan Smith
This week’s predictions: Bank of America 500
Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I’m going with Martin Truex, Jr.  He brought the same car he had for the Coke 600 and Chicago. Sorry, other 39 guys.
Dan Greene, Webmaster: Kevin Harvick.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: Carl Edwards has been quiet of late. That changes this weekend.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Jimmie Johnson – probably should have won last week. Hendrick engines looking stronger lately.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Joey Logano for the win.
Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I’ll take Ryan Blaney!
Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: Brad Keselowski.
Jeff Meyer, Retiree: Tony Stewart.
Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: Brad Keselowski.
Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer: Ryan Blaney.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: No. 22, please!
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Jimmie Johnson.
Dustin Albino, Contributor: Kevin Harvick.
Bryan Gable, Staff Writer: Denny Hamlin.
Aaron Bearden, Assistant Editor: Danistar, as my man Pressdog says. She qualified 13th and she’s high risk, so why not?
Corey Brewer, Contributor: Martin Truex, Jr.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor: Alex Bowman for the win.
AAA 400
| Writer | Pick | Finishing Position | Points |
| Jeff Wolfe | Martin Truex, Jr. | 1st | 5 |
| Dan Greene | Kyle Busch | 2nd | 3 |
| Huston Ladner | Kyle Busch | 2nd | 3 |
| Jeff Meyer | Chase Elliott | 3rd | 3 |
| Bryan Gable | Chase Elliott | 3rd` | 3 |
| Mark Howell | Brad Keselowski | 4th | 3 |
| Corey Brewer | Matt Kenseth | 5th | 3 |
| Vito Pugliese | Joey Logano | 6th | 1 |
| Amy Henderson | Jimmie Johnson | 7th | 1 |
| Clayton Caldwell | Jimmie Johnson | 7th | 1 |
| Zach Catanzareti | Jeff Gordon | 10th | 1 |
| Tony Lumbis | Kyle Larson | 25th | -1 |
| Joseph Wolkin | Kyle Larson | 25th | -1 |
| Danny Peters | Kevin Harvick | 37th | -3 |
| Sean Fesko | Kevin Harvick | 37th | -3 |
Standings
| Â Writer | Points | Behind | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| Clayton Caldwell | 48 | — | 28 | 5 | 10 | 18 |
| Tony Lumbis | 46 | -2 | 28 | 3 | 12 | 16 |
| Bryan Gable | 39 | -9 | 26 | 2 | 12 | 18 |
| Jeff Wolfe | 37 | -11 | 29 | 4 | 12 | 17 |
| Jeff Meyer | 37 | -11 | 26 | 1 | 12 | 15 |
| Dustin Albino | 36 | -12 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 16 |
| Dan Greene | 32 | -16 | 29 | 1 | 8 | 17 |
| Vito Pugliese | 32 | -16 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 18 |
| Danny Peters | 27 | -21 | 25 | 3 | 9 | 15 |
| Huston Ladner | 22 | -26 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Mark Howell | 20 | -28 | 25 | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| Corey Brewer | 20 | -28 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| Amy Henderson | 18 | -30 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 15 |
| Sean Fesko | 17 | -31 | 28 | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| Jason Schultz | 16 | -32 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Zach Catanzareti | 14 | -34 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Aaron Bearden | 11 | -37 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| John Douglas | 11 | -37 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Mike Neff | 8 | -40 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Phil Allaway | 5 | -43 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Jerry Jordan | 4 | -44 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Tom Bowles | 3 | -45 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joseph Wolkin | 2 | -46 | 29 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Summer Bedgood | 1 | -47 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Stallknecht | -1 | -49 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Kevin Rutherford | -2 | -50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Davis | -3 | -51 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Michael Finley | -8 | -56 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2016
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 high risk – Ryan Blaney in that #21 car
Shame on you Aaron. The last thing they need in North Carolina is more rain today. :)