NASCAR Schedule 2015: Dates, List of Races, TV Coverage, Sprint Cup Predictions
The 2014 NASCAR season saw the introduction of the new Chase for the Sprint Cup system, and after perhaps the most exciting finish to a campaign ever, excitement is through the roof for 2015.
Kevin Harvick ultimately persevered and conquered the elimination-style playoff format. He is a contender to repeat, but other hungry competitors, such as Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson, are sure to give the driver of the No. 4 car a run for his money.
If nothing else, 2014 placed a renewed emphasis on winning races, and that will once again be the trend in 2015, as a single victory is almost certainly enough to guarantee a spot in the Chase.
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Here is a look at the full 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup racing schedule, as well as predictions for how the Chase will ultimately play out.
Sprint Cup Schedule
| Sunday, Feb. 22 | 1 p.m. ET | Daytona 500 at Daytona | Fox | |
| Sunday, March 1 | 1 p.m. ET | Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta | Fox | |
| Sunday, March 8 | 3:30 p.m. ET | Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas | Fox | |
| Sunday, March 15 | 3:30 p.m. ET | CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix | Fox | |
| Sunday, March 22 | 3:30 p.m.ET | Auto Club 400 at California | Fox | |
| Sunday, March 29 | 1 p.m. ET | STP 500 at Martinsville | Fox | |
| Saturday, April 11 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Duck Commander 500 at Texas | Fox | |
| Sunday, April 19 | 1 p.m. ET | Food City 500 at Bristol | Fox | |
| Saturday, April 25 | 7 p.m. ET | Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond | Fox Sports 1 | |
| Sunday, May 3 | 1 p.m. ET | Geico 500 at Talladega | Fox | |
| Saturday, May 9 | 7:30 p.m. ET | NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas | Fox Sports 1 | |
| Sunday, May 24 | 6 p.m. ET | Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte | Fox | |
| Sunday, May 31 | 1 p.m. ET | NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover | Fox Sports 1 | |
| Sunday, June 7 | 1 p.m. ET | Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 at Pocono | Fox Sports 1 | |
| Sunday, June 14 | 1 p.m. ET | Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan | Fox Sports 1 | |
| Sunday, June 28 | 3 p.m. ET | Toyota - Save Mart 350 at Sonoma | Fox Sports 1 | |
| Sunday, July 5 | 7:45 p.m. ET | Coke Zero 400 at Daytona | NBC | |
| Saturday, July 11 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Quaker State 400 at Kentucky | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, July 19 | 1:30 p.m. ET | NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, July 26 | 3:30 p.m. ET | Crown Royal Presents "Your Hero's Name Here" 400 at Indianapolis | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Aug. 2 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Aug. 9 | 2 p.m. ET | Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Aug. 16 | 2:30 p.m. ET | Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan | NBCSN | |
| Saturday, Aug. 22 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Sept. 6 | 7 p.m. ET | Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington | NBC | |
| Saturday, Sept. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Federated Auto Parts 400 a Richmond | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | 3 p.m. ET | MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 | 2 p.m. ET | Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Oct. 4 | 2:30 p.m. ET | AAA 400 at Dover | NBCSN | |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7 p.m. ET | Bank of America 500 at Charlotte | NBC | |
| Sunday, Oct. 18 | 2:15 p.m. ET | Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas | NBC | |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | 2:30 p.m. ET | Alabama 500 at Talladega | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Nov. 1 | 1:15 p.m. | Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville | NBCSN | |
| Sunday, Nov. 8 | 2 p.m. ET | AAA Texas 500 at Texas | NBC | |
| Sunday, Nov. 15 | 2:30 p.m. ET | Quicken Loans Race For Heroes 500 at Phoenix | NBC | |
| Sunday, Nov. 22 | 3 p.m. ET | Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami | NBC |
Sprint Cup Predictions
Jeff Gordon
It can be argued that Gordon had a better overall season than anyone in 2014, but after narrowly missing out on the championship round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, his year ended in bitter disappointment without a title.
The 43-year-old veteran is a four-time champion of NASCAR's top series, but he hasn't won a title since the advent of the Chase. As it turns out, the 2015 season will be Gordon's final opportunity to do so, as he is stepping down as a full-time driver at the conclusion of the campaign.
There is no question Gordon is one of the all-time greats, and it would be fitting to see him go out on top. Gordon proved last year that he is still one of the best, and that could translate to championship glory in 2015.
Gordon's crew chief, Alan Gustafson, believes it would only be right for his driver to go out on top in the No. 24 car, according to NASCAR's official Twitter account:
Above all else, though, Gordon is determined to have a great season rather than dwelling on the fact that he is reaching the end, per Ryan McGee of ESPN The Magazine.
"Now that the emotion of the announcement is out of the way, I am really focused on getting down to business," Gordon said. "I am sure the emotion of it all will return when we hit the second half of the season and start visiting some tracks for my last time as a driver. People might make a big deal out of it."
Gordon has the ability, equipment and support to make the 2015 season one of his finest. Nobody is going to hand him anything, but look for Gordon to seize his fifth career championship.
Brad Keselowski
Many NASCAR fans don't like him, but there is little doubt that Keselowski's aggressive brand of racing has made him a huge success.
He is already a former Sprint Cup champion at just 31 years of age, and he has a legitimate chance to win another in 2015. He took the checkered flag in six races last year, but, much like Gordon, he was unable to qualify for the championship round.
It seemed like somebody was after Keselowski after every Chase race last season, and while it can be argued that his ask-questions-later approach will prevent him from reaching the top once again in 2015, he'll somehow find a way to be in the thick of things.
According to Jeff Gluck of USA Today, Keselowski makes no apologies for what he does on the track in order to be a winner.
"I feel like I'm doing things that are going to make me the guy to beat for the next five to 10 years," Keselowski said. "And there might be some heartburn, but that heartburn is temporary, and it's more than worth it to me looking at the longer view."
He isn't lacking in terms of confidence either, as he ranks himself among the Sprint Cup Series' elite drivers, per Nate Ryan of MotorSports Talk:
Although it will be difficult for Keselowski or anyone else to outgun Gordon, he should be able to steer the No. 2 car to a second-place finish in the standings.
Kevin Harvick
While he has long been one of the best and most consistent drivers on the Sprint Cup circuit, a championship eluded Kevin Harvick until last year. He finally realized his true potential, which means the floodgates could open.
As happy as Harvick must be about winning the title in 2014, he isn't satisfied. If anything, he seems even hungrier to repeat the feat, according to Jim Utter of The Charlotte Observer:
"You always re-establish new goals. When you're able to accomplish goals, it's very rewarding, but it also makes those new goals much more realistic. As we come into this year, knowing you did the things we did last year, it's very rewarding and a great confidence builder for our race team. We know we can win races and a championship if we put all the pieces together correctly because we've done all that.
"
Harvick was remarkably clutch down the stretch in 2014, winning the season-closing race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to take the championship. That will make him dangerous once again in 2015.
He has been a contender on a yearly basis for essentially the entirety of his Sprint Cup career with the exception of one or two seasons. There is no reason to think that will change this year.
Harvick will almost certainly have a legitimate shot at repeating, but he'll ultimately come up a bit short and settle for third in 2015.
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