Jeff Gordon calls it 'highly unlikely' he'll race in 2015

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Jeff Gordon is backing away from the possibility of running more races after this year.

The four-time NASCAR champion announced last month this will be his final year as a full-time driver, but he did not use the word retirement.

On Thursday, he said it's ''highly unlikely'' he'll race a Sprint Cup car in 2016. He says it is difficult to put together a ride for one race and be competitive enough to win. He said trying to get a one-off ride with Hendrick Motorsports would be disruptive to the organization.

Gordon starts on the pole for Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500.