Unlike in previous years, none of the frontrunners competing in this season’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs could—or were willing to—name an absolute favorite to hoist the champion’s trophy Nov. 2 at Phoenix.

In fact, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, a three-race winner, said he’s feeling as calm as he’s ever felt entering the 10-race Playoff stretch that begins Sunday in the Cook Out Southern 500 at historic Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (6 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

That was a pervasive vibe throughout Wednesday’s Playoff Media Day among the 16 drivers who will race for the 2025 title.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin was first to meet with reporters at the Charlotte Convention Center. His 19-year string of Playoff appearances is the longest in the series. Hamlin’s four victories this season are also tied for most in the series, but the 44-year-old insisted his expectations are no different this year as he tries once again to secure a first championship.

“It’s too hard to predict because it’s unpredictable,” said Hamlin, who goes into the championship run ranked third in the points standings, three points behind the co-leaders, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron.

“Our average finish drops every year in the Playoffs,” he continued. “We run better in the final 10 (races) than we do the rest of the season. It’s just a matter of all the other variables. Does someone below the cutline win and get in and knock us out, or does someone ride the wall and knock us out?

“I’m so tainted that I’m just very nonchalant and like, ‘Let’s just win races and see where this thing ends up.’”

Although he has qualified for the Playoffs for seven straight years, 2025 Regular Season Champion William Byron is also looking to land his first NASCAR Cup Series title after finishing third the previous two seasons.

The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet won his second consecutive Daytona 500 in February, added a win at Iowa earlier this month and ultimately wrapped up the regular-season title with one race still remaining.

“I think in our position, we’ve had that conversation of just trying to stack some more points and stack some more race wins,” said Byron, 27. “We’ve been in this position before and feel like we kind of understand the cadence of this first round.

“It’d be really nice just to go out there and win one of these just to take the pressure off and have some forward momentum as well. They are good tracks for us.”

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!