NASCAR at Phoenix 2015: Race Schedule, Live Stream Info and Drivers to Watch

The desert is a place where Sprint Cup drivers can see their success skyrocket or simply get stuck in quicksand. With three drivers already taking checkered flags this season through the first three weeks, 40 others will be looking to stake their claim on Sunday.

Why is the race in Phoenix so important? It marks the first race that will be a repeat track in the most important part of the year. Sure, the Sprint Cup will return to Daytona in July, but the next event in Phoenix will be the final race of the Eliminator Round before heading to Homestead-Miami.

Needless to say, this is an important race for anyone hoping to compete for the championship. Much like everything in NASCAR these days, the recent races in Phoenix have been dominated by Kevin Harvick, who's coming off a win in Las Vegas.

Will Harvick roll snake eyes in Avondale to become the first repeat winner? Or will another driver step up to finally knock the No. 4 machine off the Sprint Cup throne? Those questions will be answered on Sunday under the blazing heat of Phoenix in the CampingWorld.com 500.

Race Information

Where: Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona

When: Sunday, March 15

Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Drivers to Watch

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Holding two career wins in Phoenix, Dale Earnhardt Jr. might just be primed for another at the track. Though he hasn't won since 2004, when he swept two November races in a row, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has been near the top in every recent event at the track.

Junior has gone four straight races with a top-10 result at the track, including finishing second last March behind Harvick. With three straight top fives to start the season, Earnhardt isn't satisfied without driving to Victory Lane.

After last week's race, Earnhardt exclaimed, "I want to win!" during the post-race interview on Fox in Vegas. Though he hasn't earned that elusive victory to this point, Junior knows it's coming. Most of that confidence comes from having more speed, as he referenced on NASCAR.com (via Dirty Mo Radio):

"

We finished first, second, second last year, but we did that on luck. We ran about eighth or ninth all race long last year at Vegas and worked around with strategy and got up there and finished second.

This time, we raced up there. So you can see the cars are better, and I think that our team's really in good shape.

"

Given the fact that Junior has been so close to a win in Phoenix, having more speed might finally equate to another checkered flag at the track. Expectations for the No. 88 car are always high, but he can shatter them with a win on Sunday.

Kevin Harvick

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The one common thread between all stories written about this weekend's race is constantly Harvick. Coming off his first win of the season and sixth consecutive top-two finish, Harvick now heads to a track where he's done pretty well.

How about three straight victories? OK, that's not good enough. Maybe four wins in the last five races? Yeah, that's called domination at a single track. Not to mention, Harvick also holds the most wins overall in the desert with six.

One huge component of that success for Harvick has been thanks to his relationship with crew chief Rodney Childers. The tandem started clicking last season and haven't slowed down in 2015. Kenny Wallace of Fox Sports 1 made a comparison for the duo, via Kris Johnson of NASCAR.com:

"

I'm in full belief that it's a combination that all athletes look for in their lifetime. Rodney Childers used to be a racecar driver and a pretty good one at that. I think what makes those types of crew chiefs stand out is they really understand the driver. Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers, I think they are the new Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus. I'd stand up in front of the world and say that right now.

"

Look for that blistering pace to continue in Phoenix. While Jimmie Johnson previously had control over the track, it's now Harvick's race to lose every time NASCAR heads to the desert.

Brad Keselowski

brightcove.com/?flashVars='videoId=4099997651001

brightcove.com/?flashVars='videoId=4033972806001

He's never won a race in Phoenix, but Brad Keselowski has been one of the most successful drivers at the track recently. Holding an average finish of 5.5 in the last six events at the track, Keselowski looks like Ford's best chance to make it to Victory Lane.

Teammate Joey Logano has stolen the headlines early by claiming his first Daytona 500 triumph. Keselowski can join him with a Chase berth secured in Phoenix by finding a way to hold off Johnson, Earnhardt and several other drivers looking to do the same.

Whether or not he can pull off the win will have to do with much more than just his ability to drive. Given his previous track record and overall blistering pace from last year, Keselowski should be near the top of the leaderboard all day on Sunday.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.