2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Sweet 16

Behind the Wall Sweet 16

By Richard Tix

Opening weekend of the NCAA Basketball tournament and the first round of the Behind the Wall NASCAR Style tourney, which is better? Just kidding, Obviously its the Behind the Wall bracket! Villanova and Duke went down in one and Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth went down in the other. Crazy!

To top it off Ryan Newman was the big surprise of the weekend just like South Carolina. Weekend two is on the way and the Sweet 16 will be decided at Auto Club. So, check out how the first round shook out at Phoenix last weekend below.


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.

Round by Round Articles:

• Opening Round: Round of 32

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
Full RCR Division									Loaded Division
1	Brad Keselowski								1	Kyle Larson
8	Chris Buescher		1	Keselowski		1	Larson		8	David Ragan
			5	Newman		5	Johnson
4	Paul Menard								4	Denny Hamlin
5	Ryan Newman								5	Jimmie Johnson
3	Kasey Kahne								3	Jamie McMurray
6	Austin Dillon		6	Dillon		3	McMurray		6	Ty Dillon
			2	Harvick		7	Earnhardt Jr
2	Kevin Harvick								2	Kurt Busch
7	Cole Whitt								7	Dale Earnhardt Jr
Double Jr. Division									Young Guns Division
1	Martin Truex Jr								1	Chase Elliott
8	Ricky Stenhouse Jr		8	Stenhouse Jr		1	Elliott		8	Danica Patrick
			5	Jones		5	Busch
4	Matt Kenseth								4	Aric Almirola
5	Erik Jones								5	Kyle Busch
3	Clint Bowyer								3	Trevor Bayne
6	Michael McDowell		3	Bowyer		3	Bayne		6	Matt DiBenedetto
			7	Suarez		2	Blaney
2	Joey Logano								2	Ryan Blaney
7	Daniel Suarez								7	Landon Cassill

Bracket Notes:

The first round had some pretty crazy up's and downs at Phoenix. Early on Joey Logano looked locked in but bye the end he was upset by a young gun, Daniel Suarez. In that very same region Martin Truex Jr was upset by a strong run by Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Matt Kenseth was taken over by another young gun in Erik Jones. That leaves Stenhouse, Jones, Suarez, or Bowyer left for a shot at the Final Four. Not a ton of other huge upset's really happened on Sunday in the other regions.


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