Jimmie Johnson on Real Sports Tuesday night

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- During Tuesday’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” correspondent John Frankel will reconnect with Jimmie Johnson as the five-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion prepares for the start of the 2011 season. This show is scheduled to air on Feb. 15 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO (other air dates are listed below).

With another Sprint Cup championship performance in 2010, Johnson continues to make racing history by becoming the first driver to win five consecutive titles.  Named 2010 Driver of the Year, Johnson and his No. 48 car and crew are clearly the sport's best, though they continue to hear criticism from unsatisfied fans and press.  First covered on “Real Sports” in 2008 and then the subject of a "24/7" reality series on the network in 2010, Johnson has raised his national profile while continuing to excel.

Other HBO playdates:  Feb. 15 (3:30 a.m.), 18 (7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.), 21 (9:30 a.m.), 23 (1:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 25 (6:30 p.m.), 26 (11:30 a.m.) and 28 (10:30 p.m., 3:05 a.m.), and March 6 (8 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates:  Feb. 18 (8 p.m.), 20 (11 p.m.), 22 (3 p.m., 11 p.m.) and 24 (8 a.m., 10 p.m.), and March 1 (6 p.m., 5 a.m.), 12 (noon) and 20 (6:10 a.m.)

HBO On Demand availability:  Feb. 21-March 14.