Daytona 500 Schedule 2015: TV and Live Stream Coverage for NASCAR Season Opener

The Daytona 500 is the first race of the season for NASCAR’s premier series, and motorsports fans who have missed the sport all offseason are ready for the green flag to finally fly on the 2015 campaign.

With the top drivers in the world converging on Daytona International Speedway for a 500-mile adventure on one of the toughest tracks in the sport, fans are ready to see the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson dominate the legendary course.

Here is the full television schedule for the Daytona 500 and a breakdown of one of the top contenders in the annual race.

Where: Daytona International Speedway; Daytona, Florida

When: Sunday, February 22

Start Time: 1 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Driver to Watch: Jimmie Johnson

While top stars such as Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon have been stealing most of the headlines this week in Daytona, it is one of Hendrick Motorsports’ other drivers, Jimmie Johnson, who could be the biggest threat to walk away victorious.

After watching Earnhardt win Thursday’s first Budweiser Duel race, Johnson came out strong in the second Duel and started the race on the pole. Johnson managed to lead 40 laps during the event and pulled out the win over Kyle Busch with a thrilling finish.

When asked about winning the second Duel race, Johnson told Reid Spencer of NASCAR.com, “It's a special night. What a race car. I'm stoked for my teammate (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) to win the first Duel. We won the second, and Jeff (Gordon) and I have the front row locked down. It's been an awesome week for all our Hendrick Motorsports cars. I'm just happy to start out the week like we have.”

Johnson took to Twitter to share more of his excitement:

As well as Johnson has performed this week, his history on the track is not all good. Of all the courses NASCAR’s top series visits each year, Johnson has his worst career finishing average at Daytona International Speedway (17.96), according to DriverAverages.com.

The old adage in NASCAR is “checkers or wreckers,” and Johnson personifies that saying at Daytona. With three wins, nine top-five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in 26 careers starts—including two Daytona 500 victories—he has found serious success on the legendary track.

Unfortunately, Daytona’s long straightaways and high-banked turns lend themselves to wide-open racing. Having 43 of the top drivers in the world going full speed results in huge accidents, and Johnson has failed to avoid the crashes, which has given him the low average for this track.

If he can stay away from the typical crash that has been dubbed “The Big One,” Johnson has the experience and the equipment to emerge as one of the legitimate contenders at the end of the race.

Earnhardt Jr. will be tough to beat, but Johnson will be right behind him in contention.

Predicted Daytona 500 finish: second place

Stats via NASCAR.com.