2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Championship

Behind the Wall Championship

By Richard Tix

One last race... March has long been over, but the March Madness Bracket wraps up this weekend at Bristol. What a better place to finish out the five race tournament then going to a NASCAR short track classic. We started with 32 drivers and we are down to two, check out the matchup 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.

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
1	Keselowski		1	Keselowski		1	Larson
3	Bowyer		1	Larson		1	Elliott

Bracket Notes: 

Last week at Texas our Final Four gave us some great runs. All four drivers finished in the top 11 and they all finished top 12 in race points (including the stage points). So, no one had an easy run to the Championship at Bristol this week. In the end, the cream of the crop (or cream of 2017) rose to the top and will face off at BMS. Larson and Keselowski have arguably the best drivers early on this season which might give us our most competitive Championship ever.

Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2017
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Clint Bowyer
• 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