Behind the Wall Opening Round of 32
By Richard Tix
It's March again in the NASCAR world. That means the sports world is starting to buzz about the NCAA March Madness Basketball tournament. It's time for you to start filling out your brackets just to find out its ruined after the first 5 games. So, for the fourth straight year Behind the Wall is going to bring you the March Madness NASCAR Style Bracket! No, you can not win millions of dollars here if you get the perfect bracket (sorry, NASCAR doesn't pay me), but you can play along and try and predict who you think will advance and win anyways!
So, lets jump into the rules and how the brackets were created.
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. We are going by Chase standings, so if you have a win you are in the standing's higher because that is how they play out.
- 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.
- 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 (head to head), no bonus points included (Think the last Chase Race)
2016:
4th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
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Six-Time Division
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Beer, Energy, + Bars Div.
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1
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Jimmie Johnson
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1
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Brad Keselowski
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8
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Clint Bowyer
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8
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Michael McDowell
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4
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Jamie McMurray
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4
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Aric Almirola
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5
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Ryan Newman
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5
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Paul Menard
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3
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Austin Dillon
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3
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Martin Truex Jr
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6
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Casey Mears
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6
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Greg Biffle
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2
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Carl Edwards
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2
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Kurt Busch
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7
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AJ Allmendinger
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7
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Danica Patrick
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2015 Champ Division
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Rookies Are Us Division
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1
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Kyle Busch
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1
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Denny Hamlin
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8
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Michael Annett
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8
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Landon Cassill
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4
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Kasey Kahne
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4
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Ryan Blaney
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5
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Trevor Bayne
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5
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Regan Smith
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3
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Dale Earnhardt Jr
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3
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr
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6
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Kyle Larson
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6
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Matt Kenseth
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2
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Kevin Harvick
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2
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Joey Logano
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7
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Chase Elliott
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7
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Brian Scott
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Bracket Notes:
2015 Champ Division
- The 2015 Sprint Cup Champion gets no breaks here. He gets a bracket with Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lucky for him most of those guys will be eliminated before he even see's them.
- Harvick, Earnhardt Jr, Larson, and Elliott will all go head to head at Phoenix this weekend for a spot in the Sweet 16 (remember, this opening round we do two eliminations so really they highest finishes of the four will move on. This group might be the toughest of the opening round.
Six-Time Division
- This division might be the second easiest behind the Rookies are us Division. However, the consistency of guys like Newman and Carl Edwards could pose a challenge and shake things up. That's not even mentioning how well Dillon has run so far this year.
Beer, Energy, + Bars Division
- Named after some of the sponsor's of the group, this division seems like it has a solid 1, 2 and 3 seed. Any of the three could move all the way onto the final. But, some guys in the middle could make it tough for them, like Paul Menard or the consistent Aric Almirola.
- The match up of Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr will be a good one to make it onto next week. However, because of this week's double elimination it wont look like they're really racing each other.
Rookies Are Us Division
- This might be the easiest overall group right now. Daytona winner Denny Hamlin hasn't been running well but got a top seed because of being one of three drivers with a win this season. Matt Kenseth has had some bad luck but might be the best six seed in this bracket.
- Interestingly enough, Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth are also matched up this week to get to the Sweet 16 in there group of four (again, two eliminations this week at PIR so really each group of four will have the highest finisher advance).
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
Last Year's March Madness Articles
- Opening Round
- Sweet 16
- Elite 8
- Final Four
- Championship
- Champion- Brad Keselowski
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