Daytona 500 Schedule 2015: TV Coverage, Preview for Great American Race
NASCAR never cared about saving the best for last, instead opening the Sprint Cup Series season with its main attraction.
Every driver hopes to start strong by claiming the Daytona 500, racing's most prestigious event. After winning the 200-lap frenzy last year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. put himself in strong position to repeat with a Budweiser Duel victory on Thursday.
The defending champion earned a cushy starting spot behind Hendrick Motorsport teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. As noted by ESPN Stats & Info, it's not often one crew surmounts such promising positioning at Daytona Beach.
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Starting first hardly guarantees finishing first, but those stars have the upper hand heading into the anticipated event. Here's the essential viewing information for the 57th Daytona 500.
Daytona 500
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
When: Sunday, Feb. 22
Start Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Preview
Starting last, Earnhardt still zoomed past the competition during the 150-mile qualifier at Daytona International Speedway. Junior led 21 of 60 laps under new crew chief Greg Ives' watch, making him a fierce favorite this weekend.
Three days later, he'll start in a much more favorable spot. Despite dominating the track, he wouldn't go overboard describing his chances to Sporting News' Jeff Owens:
"Well, I don't think it boosts our confidence a lot. Winning the Daytona 500 is a real challenge. The challenge didn't get easier (after winning the Duel). I'm just excited to be able to put this car on the grid for Sunday. I wouldn't want to be driving anything else. The car's so spectacular, it's just going to be great.
"
He placed well behind 2014 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick in last year's standings, but Earnhardt's 12.2 average finish ranked third behind Gordon and Joey Logano, cementing his status as a steady mainstay always in the running down the stretch.
After breaking a decade-long Daytona drought last year, he might not have to wait too long for another win.
To do so, he must overcome Gordon, who will partake in his final Daytona 500. The legend plans to culminate a 22-year career after 2015, but not before battling for his fourth win at the Great American Race.
The 43-year-old will lead the field after winning the pole for the second time in his illustrious career. He last earned the starting spot in 1999, when he capitalized to secure his second Daytona crown.
More than just the sentimental choice, Gordon remains a dangerous stalwart during his swan song. Finishing sixth in points and first in total laps led, he would have won last year's Sprint Cup if not for the new Chase format.
As he explained to Randy Covitz of The Kansas City Star, succeeding actually fueled his decision to retire on top of his game.
"I really was leaning toward this at the beginning of 2014, but didn’t get serious until midway of ’14. The great stretch and the run we had and how good we were last year confirmed things even more for me. I was like, "You know what?" This is all I could ask for is to be at this point … 20-plus years into my career and be that competitive week in and week out. I was almost ready to walk away right then. But I wanted to give one more year to my team, to (owner) Rick (Hendrick), to the sponsors, to the fans, my family and myself.
"
A fairy-tale ending is far from a fantasy. His Hendrick peers provide stout competition, and a loaded field features several other worthy drivers in Harvick, Logano, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth. Yet Gordon gunning for another visit to the winner's circle only seems fitting.
Racing stats courtesy of NASCAR.com.
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