HUNTERSVILLE, NC -- In a wide-ranging interview that lasted roughly 45 minutes longer than anyone asked for, Denny Hamlin laid out a comprehensive case for why he is, in fact, the main character of NASCAR.

"Look at the evidence," said Hamlin, gesturing at a whiteboard in his office that appeared to have been prepared well in advance. "Rivalries? I've got them. Drama? Constant. Championships? Well -- we'll get to that."

The Case for Denny

Hamlin's argument, which he presents with the confidence of a man who has won the Daytona 500 three times but zero championships, centers on several key points.

Point 1: Screen time. "Name another driver who gets talked about more," Hamlin said, seemingly unaware that being talked about and being liked are two different things. A quick survey of NASCAR Twitter confirms that Hamlin is indeed mentioned frequently, though the sentiment analysis is best described as "complicated."

Point 2: 23XI Racing. "I'm a driver AND an owner. I'm playing both sides of the chess board," said Hamlin, mixing his metaphors with the same energy he brings to late-race restarts. "Michael Jordan is my business partner. What's your team owner doing? Selling RVs? No offense to anyone who sells RVs."

(Some offense was clearly intended.)

Point 3: The rivalries. Hamlin pulled up a list on his phone that he titled "Active Feuds" and scrolled for what felt like a very long time. "See, a main character needs antagonists," he explained. "I've got Ross Chastain, I've had issues with pretty much everyone at some point. That's not a character flaw -- that's a character arc."

The Championship Question

When asked about his conspicuous lack of a Cup Series championship -- a sore spot that Hamlin insists is "not a sore spot" while visibly tensing -- he had a ready answer.

"Every great story needs tension," he said. "You think people would still be watching if I'd won it all in 2010? The journey IS the story. I'm basically the Leonardo DiCaprio of NASCAR. He didn't win his Oscar for years and everyone loved him more for it."

When informed that DiCaprio did eventually win, Hamlin nodded slowly and said, "Exactly."

What His Peers Think

We asked several other drivers whether Hamlin is the main character of NASCAR. Most declined to comment, though one anonymous Cup Series driver simply replied, "He thinks he is, and honestly, that might be enough."

Kyle Busch, reached by phone, laughed for approximately eight seconds and then hung up.

The Verdict

Is Denny Hamlin the main character of NASCAR? Probably not. Is he the character who gets the most storylines, the most discourse, and the most takes -- hot and cold? Absolutely.

And if there's one thing we've learned about Denny Hamlin, it's that he will take "absolutely" and run with it until the checkered flag, the cooldown lap, and well into the post-race press conference.

Track Side Tea will neither confirm nor deny being on Denny Hamlin's "Active Feuds" list after this article's publication.