2015 March Madness NASCAR Style: Sweet 16

NASCAR Behind the Wall Sweet Sixteen

By Richard Tix

This years March Madness NASCAR Style Annual Tourney started at Phoenix Int Raceway on the same day the NCAA Selection Sunday took place. Well, this year a #1 went down in round one after Dale Earnhardt Jr lost a right rear tire and ended up DNF. It was a tough break for Jr and his fans, but upsets happen, especially in this tourney.

This week NASCAR heads to Auto Club Speedway to figure out who will head to the Elite Eight. So, lets take a look at the rules break down and then the bracket going into this weekend.

Rules and Bracket Breakdown

• Brackets were decided by current standings after the race at Las Vegas. Four Divisions, top 4 in the standings got the #1 seeds, 5-8 in the standings got the #2 seeds, 9-12 #3 seeds and so on.
• From the standings the rankings were given out serpentine style. Meaning: The driver ranked 5th (first #2 seed) started in the lowest #1 seed's bracket. That continues until the three seeds where it then goes from top back down.
• Here is how the rounds break down by race (first race we have two eliminations to speed it up).
• Phoenix: Round 32 
• Auto Club: Sweet 16
• Martinsville: Elite 8
• Texas: Final Four
• Bristol: Championship
• The driver that finishes Highest in the race moves on, no bonus points included (Think the last Chase Race)

Round By Round Articles:

• Opening Round

2015 March Madness NASCAR Style Bracket

2014 Champ Division									Juniors Division
1	Kevin Harvick								1	Dale Earnhardt Jr
8	Ricky Stenhouse Jr		1	Harvick		8	Whitt		8	Cole Whitt
4	David Gilliland		5	Keselowski		4	Almirola		4	Aric Almirola
5	Brad Keselowski								5	Sam Hornish Jr
3	Casey Mears								3	Matt Kenseth
6	Trevor Bayne		6	Mears		6	Edwards		6	Carl Edwards
2	Denny Hamlin		7	McMurray		2	Johnson		2	Jimmie Johnson
7	Jamie McMurray								7	Michael Annett
Comback Division									Sliced Bread Division
1	Martin Truex Jr								1	Joey Logano
8	Brett Moffitt		1	Truex		1	Logano		8	Jeff Gordon
4	Ryan Newman		4	Newman		5	Ragan		4	Clint Bowyer
5	Danica Partick								5	David Ragan
3	Paul Menard								3	Greg Biffle
6	Kyle Larson		6	Larson		6	Dillon		6	Austin Dillon
2	AJ Allmendinger		2	Allmendinger		2	Kahne		2	Kasey Kahne
7	Michael McDowell								7	Justin Allgaier

So its onto the Sweet 16 that will be played out in Fontana. This year NASCAR Behind the Wall only did one elimination after the first race, so this will be the first true Sweet 16 we have had. Normally we go from 32 to 8 in one weekend creating the opening round excitement of the NCAA tourney, but it was also very hard to follow. So, you can see the match-up's above, lets take a look at a few of them.


Match-Up's to Watch

1) Kevin Harvick v 5) Brad Keselowski

• In my opinion this is the best match-up of round 2. Both of these drivers were relevant at Phoenix (obviously Harvick more so) and both were top drivers in 2014 (again, Harvick more so after winning the title). However, neither is amazing at Auto Club, so the guy moving on could be outside the top 10 (most likely one will finish in the top 10, though).

2) Johnson v 6) Edwards

• This might be the other big time match-up this weekend. This one might actually be even better than the one we just talked about above. That because these two have been really good at Auto Club over there careers. JJ has an average finish of 6.6 and Edwards has one of 8.5 (both of those are the best of current drivers other than Larson who has one start here). 

1) Truex v 4) Newman

• These two are the model of consistency so far this year. In 2014 thats how Newman made his way into the Chase and so far Truex has been following that mold. Truex has been the turn around story so far in 2015 and will looks to keep his four races top 10 streak alive this weekend.

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2014 Champion: Tony Stewart
• 2nd: Carl Edwards
• Final Four: Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Brian Vickers
• 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Kasey Kahne
• Final Four: Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch