Daytona 500 2015: Storylines to Watch in NASCAR's Season Opener
After just a three-month hiatus, Jeff Gordon—the face of the sport—kicks off the NASCAR season and begins his journey toward his personal career checkered flag.
Gordon begins this journey from the pole position in the 2015 Daytona 500, with fellow Hendrick Motorsports superstars Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. starting second and third, respectively.
The 57th Great American Race seems to set the stage for something greater, perhaps a poetic send-off for one of the sport's legendary names.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Regardless, the marathon to a place in history awaits the driver who plays the field best, bides time and strikes away from the pack at the right moment. It might be Hendrick Motorsports. It might be an upset.
It will entertain.
Daytona 500 Information
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
When: Sunday, Feb. 22
Start Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: Motor Racing Network
Storylines to Watch
A Missing Piece
For Tony Stewart, the lack of a trip to Victory Lane in the Daytona 500 is the lone glaring blemish on the track for one of the best drivers of his time. He's a three-time Sprint Cup champion, but the top prize in the sport's Super Bowl continues to elude him.
Despite his history at the event, Stewart seems hungry to show the globe he's far from done and told Jenna Fryer of The Associated Press that past close calls have prepared him for this moment.
"Not until the day that I don't run here anymore," he said of wondering if he'll ever win Daytona 500. "Everybody has got a shot here. We've been in that position before. That at least gives you confidence that you've got a shot."
The Stewart-Haas Racing superstar is not one to count out Sunday. Sometimes a chip on the shoulder with a dash of late-race experience on the biggest stage of them all can set a driver over the top.
Hendrick Motorsports' Other Stars
Those being Johnson and Earnhardt Jr., of course.
The team has a strong history at Sunday's event, to say the least, and both men figure to work together and stand a strong shot at a trip to Victory Lane.
Johnson is already in strong form, winning his Budweiser Duel Thursday. The two-time winner is all about a semblance of revenge this time around.
Everyone knows Johnson has trouble avoiding the many wrecks the track and talent create each year. He seems determined to right the ship after an uncharacteristic early exit from the Chase for the Sprint Cup last season, as captured by Mike Hembree of USA Today.
"It wasn't fun watching (other drivers race for the title)," he said. "But the incentive for me this year, more so than that obvious reality, is that I just know we didn't do our jobs. We didn't execute right. I know we didn't do what we're capable of doing. We just didn't have a good year."
The task isn't as dramatic for Earnhardt Jr.—he's looking to take home two Daytona 500 triumphs in a row.
As ESPN Stats & Info details, few drivers have more credibility in Daytona than Earnhardt:
Much of Earnhardt's success is simple instinct. He knows when to strike, when to fall back and when to box out. Call it good genes or something else, but last year's win is proof enough considering he didn't lead until Lap 131 and then never looked back.
Sunday, the two teammates figure to help each other out as much as possible.
Until those instincts kick in for good.
The Farewell Tour Begins
Gordon faces long odds despite a Hollywood-worthy starting spot.
In fact, he is one of only nine drivers in the sport's history to go from the pole to the checkered flag at the event, according to NASCAR.com—and he did it way back in 1999.
The overall picture is not much better. Gordon touts six wins at the track, but his last came a decade ago.
For his part, though, Gordon is far from downtrodden about the outlook. Rather, he's simply going to soak in the moment as his tour begins, per Kenny Bruce of NASCAR.com:
"But you feel that you are part of a very special event and you are getting that energy from the fans, from the media, from your team, from everybody. There is just something different about it and it is just really hard to describe what creates that other than it's the Great American race.
"
There seems to be a fairytale beginning to the end in place for Gordon, although to overcome the budding trends it will take one of the top feats of his career to sit in Victory Lane by day's end.
Then again, does anyone really want to put it past him given the start to his year so far?
Stats via NASCAR.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
