No, most of it is timing and simple luck. If you hit the right time of the day (when there are a lot of users present but not a ton of news) and get the first

No, most of it is timing and simple luck. If you hit the right time of the day (when there are a lot of users present but not a ton of news) and get the first few votes in a good time (which is mostly luck), you'll make the front page.