By Andy DeLay, Staff Writer | Seriously Fast Motorsports

One thing that I’ve noticed while watching this year’s NASCAR Cup Series season unfold, there’s been a lot of red, white, and black out front. Through the first five races of the year, the story isn’t just about who’s winning, it’s about the fact that Toyota seems to have a tight grip on the rest of the field’s gonads.

Following Denny Hamlin’s win at Vegas this past Sunday, Toyota has now won four out of the first five races of the season. Tyler Reddick already racked up three wins and has a commanding 61-point lead in the standings, while Hamlin’s 61st career victory at Vegas proved that the veteran isn’t ready to step down just yet.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The level of dominance we’re seeing is statistically staggering. Toyota drivers have led over 59% of all laps completed this season (677 of 1,145). At Las Vegas, the “T-Club” swept the top four starting spots in qualifying and put three Joe Gibbs Racing cars in the top five.

While Ford broke the streak briefly with Ryan Blaney’s win at Phoenix, Chevy… the five-time defending manufacturer champion… is still looking for its first trip to Victory Lane. For “Bowtie” fans, this season has been a hard pill to swallow. Even heavy hitters like Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are finding themselves chasing the rear spoilers of the Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Camrys.

Looking Ahead: The Lady in Black

As the circuit moves toward the spring date at Darlington Raceway this weekend, all eyes are on whether the Toyota momentum can survive the “Track Too Tough to Tame.”

Darlington is a driver’s track, but it’s also a place where Toyota has historically flexed its muscle. Keep a close eye on these three storylines:

• The Reddick Factor: Tyler Reddick is currently the gold standard. His ability to run the high line against the wall fits Darlington like a glove.
• Denny’s House: Hamlin has always treated Darlington like his personal playground. After overcoming a speeding penalty to win in Vegas, his confidence is through the roof.
• The Legacy Connection: Don’t sleep on Erik Jones. He’s in his third year with Toyota under the Legacy Motor Club banner and is a multi-time Darlington winner who knows how to manage tires on the old, abrasive surface.

If Toyota sweeps the podium at Darlington, the rest of the garage might officially be in “panic mode” before we even hit the summer stretch. The way things are looking, the Ford and Chevy teams had better get their Prozac ready.

Image Credit: Patrick Vallely