Hendrick a winner regardless of what happens at Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Rick Hendrick must feel like the father who has two sons on opposing sides of the football field.

But the difference is Hendrick will be a winner no matter which one of his children comes out on top.

Hendrick can sit and watch Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin slug it out for this year's Sprint Cup championship in Sunday's Ford 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and know however things turn out, a ninth Cup title is his.

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"I would have to say this is probably as good as it gets," Hendrick said. "You know, to have the three cars in the points where they are right now, having the championship as owner going into Homestead already secured, we've won a lot of races, and this has got to be as good as any season we've ever had."

And after another stellar season performance, Johnson is turning out to be as good as any driver to come along in NASCAR's 60-plus-year history.

With a 108-point advantage over Martin, Johnson needs only to finish 25th or better to lock up a record fourth consecutive championship.

But don't expect Johnson to simply ride around all day on Sunday hoping to notch that middle of the pack finishing position. As has been his strategy all year long, Johnson plans on going out swinging for the fences and coming home with both the race and championship trophies.

"It doesn't matter if it's Martinsville, Daytona 500, final race of the season, even down to the responsibilities on the car, what guys do, the check systems that they go through, wire things, lock things, all those things are really the same," Johnson said of his team's approach. "That's really what we strive for, is to treat every race the same, so that when you get into these pressure-packed situations, it's just the same old thing, that nothing affects you and things should work out as you would hope. So it's really the same stuff we've been doing all year."

That same old stuff has resulted in seven victories and putting Johnson on the brink of history.

But don't expect Martin to simply smile and hand Johnson the trophy and place in the record books.

The 50-year-old veteran has in many ways exceeded any of his previous 25 seasons in NASCAR's big league with a spectacular first season as a member of the Hendrick organization.

Like Johnson, Martin comes to Homestead with the same philosophy he's employed at every race this season with the hope it will be enough to somehow wrestle the crown away.

"You know, I have focused the same every race all year," Martin said. "I'm excited about going to Homestead because I can't wait to go to work with my team, to compete in each practice session, and to compete in qualifying, and compete for the race. And if we do a good job, then we'll do well."

There's something else the pair shares, and that's mental preparation for the final 400 miles. Johnson said he has run about 100 laps in his head every night this week.

He's not alone.

"I've run some laps," Martin said. "He's not the only one."

Who's hot

Greg Biffle: Won three consecutive races from 2004-06. Biffle has posted an average finish of 15.5 in his past two starts at Homestead. He has the third-best average finish on the new configuration and has recorded an average finish of 14.7 on 1.5-mile tracks in 2009.

Carl Edwards: Defending race winner Edwards leads all drivers with a 6.4 average finish on the new configuration. He ranks 19th in average finish (19.2) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2009. Edwards is seeking his first win of the season after scoring a series-leading nine victories a year ago.

Best Chase drivers at Homestead
Driver	Starts	Avg. Finish
1. Carl Edwards	5	6.4	Edwards
2. Jeff Gordon	10	9.9
3. Tony Stewart	10	11.9
4. Mark Martin	9	12.0
5. Denny Hamlin	4	13.0
Homestead Chase stats

Tony Stewart: Will make first track start with Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart finished ninth last year with Joe Gibbs Racing for his fifth top 10. He won the first two events on the old configuration. Stewart has posted an average finish of 10.2 on 1.5-mile tracks in 2009.

Who's not

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Homestead is his worst track on the schedule based on his 24.7 average finish. Earnhardt finished 41st last season in his first start with Hendrick Motorsports after a wheel problem. He has posted an average finish of 23.6 on 1.5-mile tracks this year.

Kyle Busch: Homestead is his worst track based on his 29.5 average finish. Busch's best finish (19th) with Joe Gibbs Racing at this event came last year. He has led the most laps (482) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2009.

Brian Vickers: Has posted a 37.0 average finish in two starts with Team Red Bull. His best finish -- 18th -- came in 2004, with Hendrick Motorsports. His 16.1 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks ranks 13th among all drivers.

Make a note

• The last five Homestead races have been won by Roush Fenway Racing Fords.

• Matt Kenseth, the 2007 winner, has led 287 laps.

• Kevin Harvick leads all drivers with a 7.7 average finish in the six races on the variable banking.

• Jeff Gordon has finished fourth in his past two starts.

• Martin Truex Jr. has a 6.0 average finish in his past three starts.

• Jimmie Johnson has five top 10s in eight starts at Homestead.

• Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart have second and third best average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2009.