(Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
The upcoming back-to-back short track races at Bristol and Martinsvilleare arguably the most exciting weekends of the NASCAR season. The same can be said for the beginning of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament which starts today. Several competitors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series showed their passion and knowledge as college basketball fans and offered their tournament predictions:
Michael Annett (NNS No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota)
Final Four Picks: Kansas, Missouri, Duke, North Carolina
Champion: Kansas
TJ Bell (NCWTS No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota)
Final Four Picks: Wake Forest, Memphis, Pittsburgh, North Carolina
“I only watch basketball during the final four because it is a crazy time of year for those basketball fans. It is great to see how emotional people get for their teams.”
Clint Bowyer (NSCS No. 33 Cheerios Chevrolet)
Final Four Picks: Kansas, Memphis, Pittsburgh, North Carolina
Champion: Kansas
“Kansas won it all last year, and I think they are ready to do it again. Florida went back-to-back in 2006 and 2007, so I'd like to see that trend continue. They're in a tough conference and lost some of their big players from last year, but I think they'll be just fine.”
Kurt Busch (NSCS No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
Final Four Picks: Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh, North Carolina
Champion: North Carolina
"I know that's the popular choice around this area of the country, but picking the Tar Heels to win it has nothing to do with popularity. I've seen them several times on TV this year and I'm convinced they are that good -- good enough to win it all. I personally am pulling for a miracle run by through Arizona Wildcats, but I know that's highly impossible."
Kyle Chapman (spotter for NNS No. 27 Kleenex Ford)
Final Four Picks: Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma
Champion: Louisville
“Of course, my heart will be pulling for my Hilltoppers from Western Kentucky (Chapman was the captain of the Western Kentucky basketball team his senior season, 1999.) It's the best time of year for a college basketball junkie. I will be checking my Sprint cell phone throughout the Bristol weekend to keep up with the latest scores."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (NSCS No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
Final Four Picks: Louisville, Memphis, Duke, North Carolina
Champion: North Carolina
“I enjoy watching the tournament and listening to all the analyst’s points of view on the brackets and who they think should have got in and who shouldn’t. Bobby Knight is a good one to listen to before the tournament starts. It gives you a good crash course on how every team’s season went. You get to learn about the Cinderella teams, who they are and how they got there. You get the whole story. I always try to pull for the (University of North Carolina) Tarheels but I like to pull for the underdogs too. You always want to see a team like Davidson come in and get to the Final Four. It’s exciting for those teams and you want to see them do well.”
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