If you’re a regular visitor to the NASCAR corner of the social media world, there is a common theme you may be hearing in 2026 — that NASCAR is cooking the books for the Toyota camp, and Denny Hamlin in particular, to become champions this year.

And while I can understand a little bit why that thought springs to mind for some people — as Toyota have won 10 of the first 16 races between Tyler Reddick (5), Hamlin (4) and Ty Gibbs (1); and even lesser Toyota teams like Legacy Motor Club are starting to show speed and run up front — the reality is far more boring that the conspiracy would have you believe.

Hamlin is just that good this year. As he’s said in the past, he’s beating your favorite driver, week in and week out, and achieving new career milestones week after week. He recent entered the ultra-rare 50 win/50 pole club, and has now passed the late Kyle Busch with his 64th career win (and sits 12 wins behind 8th-place Dale Earnhardt).

To be doing this at age 45 is nothing short of incredible in a sport where youth often prevails.

JEFF GORDON, DRIVER OF THE NO. 24 CHEVROLET SS IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AND HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAM OWNER, RICK HENDRICK, MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA THURSDAY TO DISCUSS JEFF GORDON’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT 2015 WILL BE HIS FINAL FULL SEASON OF NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES COMPETITION.

BELOW IS THE TRANSCRIPT FROM TODAY’S NASCAR TELECONFERENCE WITH JEFF GORDON and TEAM OWNER RICK HENDRICK aftef the announcement that 2015 will be Gordon's last year racing full-time in the Cup series: