Behind the Wall Opening Round of 32
By Richard Tix
Can you believe it, it's year five of this silly NASCAR style March Madness bracket? It all started with my love of NASCAR and college basketball and the fact that March -- Spring -- is a wonderful time in sports. The NASCAR season is kicking off and college basketball gives us one of the best weekends in sports, hands down I won't even debate this. The opening weekend of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is one of the best times of the year bringing exciting basketball and the unpredictability to us all on a national level so its always fun to bring that into the NASCAR world. So, check out the rules and how it was all broken down below. Then check out the bracket for the 2017 Tournament and lastly you can look back at the past champions of this Behind the Wall tournament.
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 regular points standings (meaning a win doesn't put you ahead of someone without a win). Straight points.
- 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
- This year the winner will be decided by which driver ends the race with the most points under the current NASCAR points system. So, stage points will count towards the finish of head to head matchups.
2017:
5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
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Full RCR Division
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Loaded Division
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1
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Brad Keselowski
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1
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Kyle Larson
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8
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Chris Buescher
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8
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David Ragan
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4
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Paul Menard
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4
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Denny Hamlin
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5
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Ryan Newman
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5
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Jimmie Johnson
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3
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Kasey Kahne
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3
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Jamie McMurray
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6
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Austin Dillon
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6
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Ty Dillon
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2
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Kevin Harvick
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2
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Kurt Busch
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7
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Cole Whitt
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7
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Dale Earnhardt Jr
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Double Jr. Division
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Young Guns Division
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1
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Martin Truex Jr
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1
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Chase Elliott
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8
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr
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8
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Danica Patrick
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4
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Matt Kenseth
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4
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Aric Almirola
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5
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Erik Jones
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5
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Kyle Busch
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3
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Clint Bowyer
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3
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Trevor Bayne
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6
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Michael McDowell
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6
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Matt DiBenedetto
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2
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Joey Logano
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2
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Ryan Blaney
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7
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Daniel Suarez
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7
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Landon Cassill
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Bracket Notes:
First thought when I looked at the bracket after seeding the drivers was, "Wow Kyle Larson's division is tough." Hamlin, Johnson, Ku Busch, Junior, and a red hot McMurray all in one division. Next I looked at who had favorable match-ups to get to the Elite Eight. Keselowski and Harvick are easy favorites in their bracket as are Logano and Truex in their's. The other two rae a bit more of a toss up with a mix of guys who have all either started strong or are typically strong and are off to slow starts.
So, who is your favorite to win? Team Penske has actually won this bracket challenge three of the four years that I have done it, which is crazy. Keselowski is a two time Champion. The leader for Final Four appearances is a tie at two: Keselowski, Edwards, Logano, Ky Busch, and Ku Busch.
Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions
- 2016 Champion: Joey Logano
- 2nd: Kyle Busch
- Final Four: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Joey Logano
- 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, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart
- 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
- 2nd: Kasey Kahne
- Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch
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