Daytona 500 Schedule 2017: TV Coverage and Schedule for NASCAR Season Opener

Perhaps no sport in the world begins its season with a bigger event than NASCAR, as Sunday's Daytona 500 will kick off what promises to be a competitive and intense 2017 campaign.

The Great American Race counts the same as every other race on the schedule from a points perspective, but winning the Daytona 500 is a special accomplishment for every driver fortunate and skilled enough to do so.

Another driver will have a chance to join that exclusive club Sunday, or a past winner could cement their legacy by entering victory lane once again.

Here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch the Daytona 500, along with analysis regarding some of the top drivers to watch.

Where: Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida

When: Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox

Drivers to Watch

Martin Truex Jr.

After years of struggling at Daytona International Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. put himself in a position to win the Daytona 500 in 2016, but he came out on the wrong side of history.

Truex finished second to Denny Hamlin in what was the closest finish to ever occur in the Daytona 500.

According to Dan Gelston of the Associated Press, Truex is hopeful that the near miss will propel him to victory in 2017:

"

I'm like, "God, so close, why didn't you do this?" As bad as it hurt, at the same time, it was kind of cool to be a part of that finish. That's really the first time I've had an opportunity to win this race. I guess if you have to lose one before you can win one, that was my losing one, and hopefully next time around I'll be able to win it.

"

The 36-year-old veteran has just one top-five finish in 23 career starts at Daytona, but he has seemingly gotten a better feel for the track in recent years.

He has recorded a top-10 result in consecutive years in the Daytona 500, and that should give him so momentum and an opportunity to atone for last year's loss on Sunday.

Clint Bowyer

The 2016 season was a nightmarish one for Clint Bowyer, as he struggled at HScott Motorsports while waiting to take over for Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Bowyer was rarely running near the front, but that wasn't indicative of his skill, as he finished second in the Cup Series points standings in 2012.

With Stewart now retired and Bowyer at the helm for the No. 14 car, 2017 is already looking far more promising.

After running fourth in Daytona 500 qualifying, Bowyer stressed the importance of having quality equipment at his disposal, according to Holly Cain of NASCAR.com: "It feels good to be competitive again. I was down here last year and we were way off the pace. It was crushing because you know deep down you don't even have a chance and when you've got a car like this—a hot rod like this and a team like this—I've got a chance."

Bowyer continued to make positive strides in the Can-Am Duels, as he finished second in his duel to secure the No. 6 starting spot in the Daytona 500.

Following that performance, Bowyer was feeling good about his status, as evidenced by this tweet courtesy of Ford Performance:

Bowyer has never won a Cup Series race at Daytona, but he has run consistently well there over the years.

Among active drivers, his average finish of 15.7 is third best behind only Austin Dillon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Bowyer is clearly rejuvenated with his new team, and that could go a long way toward helping him net his first Daytona 500 victory.

Jamie McMurray

Although Jamie McMurray isn't considered one of the NASCAR Cup Series' elite drivers, he has enjoyed some special moments at Daytona over the years.

That includes winning the 2010 Daytona 500, as well as the 2007 Pepsi 400.

McMurray hasn't won a Cup Series race since 2013, but there is a great deal of momentum on his side entering Sunday's event.

The 40-year-old veteran finished second in his Can-Am Duel run and will begin the Daytona 500 in the second row from spot No. 3.

According to Chip Ganassi Racing, McMurray is happy with the car he'll take to the start-finish line in the Great American Race:

While McMurray has just five top-10 finishes in 28 career Cup Series starts at Daytona, he tends to make his good runs count.

McMurray has a lot to prove in 2017 after back-to-back 13th-place finishes in the points standings, and making a statement with a Daytona 500 win would be a huge step toward contending for a championship.