2016 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the Hellman’s 500

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 – 2^nd-5^th
+1 – 6^th-10th
0 – 11th-20th
-1 – 21st-30th
-2 – 31st-36th
-3 – 37^th-40^th
*High-risk bonus: Win: +3; 2^nd-5^th: +2; 6^th-10^th: +1

High-Risk Drivers—Talladega II
Matt DiBenedetto
Michael McDowell
Trevor Bayne
Casey Mears
Danica Patrick
AJ Allmendinger
Kasey Kahne

This week’s predictions: Hellman’s 500

Amy Henderson, Senior Editor:  You know what, give me Casey Mears.  I could use a few extra points and he’s a good plate racer.  Oh, and he’s got little bit to prove, and he’s probably pretty pissed off, so that could add some speed…
Dan Greene, Webmaster: I’ll take Smoke; he’s got as good a chance as anybody.
Tony Lumbis, Financial Manager: Keselowski needs the win to stay alive and this has been his playground of late so I’ll go with him.
Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: Brad Keselowski.
Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Chase Elliott for win number one.
Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: If there’s room for two, Amy, I’m joining the Casey Mears bandwagon this weekend.
Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: Clint Bowyer.
Jeff Meyer, Retiree: Kevin Harvick, please. 
Greg Davis, Senior Writer:  Smoke. Taking Stewart for the win in his last appearance at ‘Dega.
Danny Peters, Senior Writer: No. 11.
Huston Ladner, Senior Editor: Danica Patrick.
John Douglas, Contributor: I’ll go with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Just a hunch.
Bryan Gable, Staff Writer: Joey Logano.
Phil Allaway, Newsletter Editor: I like underdog picks here at Talladega.  I’m going with Landon Cassill.
Corey Brewer, Contributor: Chase Elliott.
Joseph Wolkin, Assistant Editor: Jeffrey Earnhardt because YOLO.

Hollywood Casino 400

Standings