2016 March Madness NASCAR Style: Elite 8

Behind the Wall Elite 8

By Richard Tix

Well, Auto Club Speedway and the Auto Club 400 was a ton of fun on the track. Now NASCAR gets a break and when we finally come out of a long two weeks we head back to racing short track style at Martinsville. 

We also get back to our March Madness NASCAR Style bracket. The drivers have sized up their Elite Eight match-up (obviously they read Behind the Wall on the daily) and have a whole week to prepare.

Now it's your turn. Check out how the last round went below and also check out the Elite Eight match-ups that will take place at Martinsville Speedway once we get back to racing. 

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: Round of 32
• Sweet 16

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

2016: 4th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
Six-Time Division									Beer/Energy Div
1	Jimmie Johnson								8	Michael McDowell
4	Jamie McMurray								4	Aric Almirola
			1	Jimmie Johnson		4	Aric Almirola
			2	Carl Edwards		2	Kurt Busch
3	Austin Dillon								3	Martin Truex Jr
2	Carl Edwards								2	Kurt Busch
2015 Champ Division									Rook's are Us Div
1	Kyle Busch								1	Denny Hamlin
4	Kasey Kahne								4	Ryan Blaney
			1	Kyle Busch		1	Denny Hamlin
			2	Kevin Harvick		2	Joey Logano
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr								6	Matt Kenseth
2	Kevin Harvick								2	Joey Logano

If you're also following the NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness tournament you will notice that the NASCAR style is a complete 180. In the basketball bracket, we have had complete madness. So far in the Behind the Wall bracket is has been almost all "chalk" (or higher seeds) the whole way. Going to the elite eight we have three 1 v 2 match-up's and a 4 v 2 in the other. The 4 seed is coming from the bracket where Brad Keselowksi dropped out in the opening round after a late issue which left the region wise open. What is interesting to note is Aric Almirola once again has a shot at the Final Four after making a surprising run to the Final Four in 2015. 

Match-Up's to Watch

1) Jimmie Johnson v 2) Carl Edwards

• Both guys have put up some nice numbers to get here, but now we get one of the better match-ups of the elite 8. However, that's just how it looks on paper and if we look deeper we realize Carl is in a deep hole before this race even starts. JJ is a master at Martinsville and Carl only has five top 10's in 23 starts.

1) Kyle Busch v 2) Kevin Harvick

• Over the last four Martinsville races the track has not been kind to Rowdy. However, normally if he finishes top 10 it is a top 5 and that is a good thing when going head to head with a guy like Harvick. Harvick has four top 10's in his last five Martinsville races but none of them resulted in top 5's. This will be a fun one to watch and whoever makes it through to the final four could easily become this years Behind the Wall Champion.

4) Aric Almirola v 2) Kurt Busch

• The only match-up of the elite 8 that doesn't involve a No. 1 seed. This came about after 2013 and 2015 tourney winner Brad Keselowski got booted after the first round. Aric surprisingly made the final four last year and once again has a shot at it this year, but it won't be easy. Kurt won a clock as recently as 2014. Even after saying that, Martinsville hasn't been Busch's best track so this one is up for grabs.

1) Denny Hamlin v 2) Joey Logano

• This seems like the most heated match-up when it comes to past history (Auto Club in fact). Actually, it seems JoLo isn't on many JGR drivers good side after the past few years. This is a tough draw for Joey even though he has three top 5's and two poles in the last four races here. That's because Denny Hamlin has five career win's here and might be the guy who steps in as Jeff Gordon steps out as a challenger to Jimmie Johnson. Head to head, this could be the best match-up of the round.

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2015 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Joey Logano
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola
• 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