Hamlin's confidence in his Joe Gibbs Racing group, led by crew chief Mike Ford, had all the reasons in the world to believe that they could outperform and outmaneuver the likes of Johnson and fellow headwrench Chad Knaus.

While Johnson and his familiar blue and white No. 48 Chevy Impala have dominated the series for the past four seasons, Hamlin's black Toyota Camry has lurked in the picture in a way that it's not off the frame, but just waiting for the right moment to become the center of attention.

Aggressive, cunning, and treacherous, the Chestefield, VA native is in the midst of a career year, capturing eight checkered flags, including a season sweep of the races at Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

His pit crew has been on its game all year long, particularly during the AAA Texas 500 held a few weeks ago, when crew chief Mike Ford played mind games with Johnson and Co., pitting adjacent to them to dictate their entrance and exit out of pit road.

By obstructing his path for a clear exit out of their pit box, along with solid, fast stops all race long by the FedEx pit crew, the Lowe's team found itself in a peculiar situation unlike in years' past.

Due to slow stops, Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus essentially "fired" his pit crew.

A somewhat risky decision, he elected to replace them with the "Rainbow Warriors,"  who have reeled off consistently fast stops all year long.

Although Johnson salvaged a top-10 finish, the biggest winner was Denny Hamlin, who took over the points lead, leapfrogging past Johnson as the Sprint Cup gang headed to Phoenix last weekend.

For most of the Kobalt Tools 500K, it appeared as if Hamlin's points lead would extend to a somewhat comfortable margin of 50 to 60 markers over Johnson, piloting a dominant mount in the Arizona venue.

However, poor fuel mileage relegated the '06 Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year winner to a disappointing 12th place result.

Instead of appearing like a man with exuberant confidence, he seemed more defeated, musing on his slender 15-point margin over the No. 48 team.

Despite doing everything in their power to get maximum results, including leading the most laps last Sunday, it was all for naught for the 29-year-old racer.

"It’s tough not to be happy with a lead going into the last race, but I was sitting pretty,” Hamlin said following the 500K race, per Yahoo! Sports' Jay Hart's article.

A driver hardly satisfied with anything but victories, his race at Phoenix was hardly indicative of his desire and determination to capture a Cup title, particularly when the Johnson Express rallied home to finish fourth after a hard charge from a 21st starting position.

Given how stout a car they had and that they were in position to win their ninth race of the season, 12th-place is basically a giveaway by Hamlin and his No. 11 team.

Now, with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford Championship Weekend, Hamlin has no choice but to look "forward" if he wants to make good on his word from a year ago.

Of the three remaining title contenders, only Hamlin has won a race at the famed South Florida facility, driving his way to Victory Lane, leading 71 of the 267 circuits enroute to his fourth victoy last season, while his 2010 championship rivals Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson placed third and fifth, respectively.

Can Hamlin duplicate his magic from a year ago, only this time, with greater implications on the line?

If he's able to repeat his efforts in this year's season finale, there will indeed be a new Sprint Cup champion to crown on Sunday afternoon after 400 miles of hard, intense racing.

“It’s going to be tough,” Hamlin said. Commenting on how Johnson and Harvick's consistent seasons, he added, "As far as I’m concerned, it’s going to take a win (to capture the title).”

If there's anybody in Hamlin's camp that can relate to the pressure, intensity, and excitement that will culminate with this Sunday's Ford 400 (Live, 1 PM ET on ESPN), look no further than car owner Joe Gibbs. A three-time Super Bowl championship-winning coach, he'd know exactly how special yet stressful it is to win the ultimate prize of any sport.

With guidance, confidence, and motivation, while it may take a Super Bowl effort to beat two juggernaut teams like Johnson and Harvick, if anyone's up for the challenge when the stakes are high, Denny Hamlin is surely the man to get the job done.

Whatever the outcome on Sunday afternoon, the biggest winner after the four hour season finale will have certainly earned their stripes as true-to-blue champions in America's most prestigious form of stock car racing—NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com

In the course of 36 points races, frustrations are bound to boil over, stemming from issues like deliberate paint trading, mediocre pit stops, or a late race collapse from leading the field to ending up smashed up with a pile of heap in the garage area.

Considering the rather middling afternoon that Burton and Gordon were experiencing last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, with their cars hovering within the Top 20 just past halfway in the AAA Texas 500, coupled with their frustrating 2010 seasons with fruitless bids for a return to Victory Lane, something had to give.

On lap 191, as the field prepared to align itself under a caution flag formation, Gordon and Burton were heading into turn two to catch up with the rest of the field when the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet hooked the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet from behind.

The result?

Gordon was sent spinning into a head-on collision with the outside retaining wall, severely damaging both ends of his car while Burton's Richard Childress Racing mount suffered front-end flareup.

Also, it left 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, per Yahoo! Sports' Nick Bromberg's blog entry, musing and joking, "I heard there was a fight today. Did everyone take their helmets off?"

It's one thing to crash during a race, which generally happens under green flag conditions due to a variety of reasons, from mechanical problems to contact between at least two drivers. But a grinding during a caution period?

Add to that the Kurt Busch tangle at Martinsville from a few weeks ago for Gordon and one can understand why the following took place after both battered Chevy machines came to a rest on the backstretch.

No matter the most rational or soundest apology from Burton, Gordon was not going to have any of it on this day.

After taking off his helmet and gloves in his wrecked Impala, Gordon made one of the longest walks in all of motorsports—the one to the infield care center vehicle. However, it wasn't the only trip he had in mind in terms of a "mandatory check-up."

Instead, he paced himself in disgust towards Burton, who also latched out his Chevy, looking as if he had to prepare himself for what would be one of the most surreal moments of this season in NASCAR—fisticuffs between stock car racing's usually cool mannered racers.

Aggravated, Gordon landed two solid shoves and attempted a few swings at Burton before being separated by the Sprint Cup officials—a brief respite between the racers before both ended up riding in the same ambulance for their required infield care medical center check-up, where both were physically fine.

"Well, I didn't want to ride in the vehicle with him, I can tell you that," Gordon said. "I wanted to go confront him, that's for sure, but it wasn't fun. He talked. He talked a lot, you know? But I didn't say a whole lot."

However, the damage was done and both racers, whose Chase bids have taken a trip down south prematurely, watched the rest of the race in the garage area while their teams assessed and packed up their battered heaps to their respective team haulers.

When asked about the backstretch incident, Gordon said, "Lucky I had a long enough walk to think about what I wanted to say or do. If I hadn't had that long of a walk, I would have done something that I would have regretted."

Prior to the yellow flag crash, both racers were racing hard in the third corner, when Burton got Gordon's No. 24 machine loose.

Burton, whose view of the track was obstructed by the sun, tried to catch up with the DuPont Chevy once the caution flag flew to "explain" their near crash when indeed, both drivers ended up taking themselves out of the 500-miler.

Surprisingly, Burton understood Gordon's reaction and shove, saying, ""Honestly, I came off turn four with Jeff underneath me, the sun is really bad off of turn four and it is really hard to race over there right now and I should have let him go and I didn't.

"Caution came out and he pulled up next to me to express his displeasure and he was right. We don't need to be racing side-by-side right there right now. I went to pull back up to him to acknowledge him and when we did I was turning left and I don't know, we hooked somehow and around we went."

Perhaps summing their tangle best, Burton added, "Hell, I would have been mad if I had been him too. I really don't blame him. He was mad and I was right there and he wasn't some of it."

Considering the heat of the Lone Star State, which saw the entire No. 48 pit crew replaced by Chad Knaus with Gordon's "Rainbow Warriors," and Denny Hamlin taking his eighth win of the season, it was one of the most intense races in recent NASCAR times.

As for who was at fault for the Burton-Gordon scuffle, it's a case of both drivers who were both right and wrong. For old school racing fans, it was a bit reminiscent of the 1979 Daytona 500 "Donniebrook" that pitted Bobby and Donnie Allison in a fight with Cale Yarborough following a last-lap dramatic crash in turn three.

While one could sarcastically blame the sun for their crash, it may be a blessing in disguise that two normally even-tempered winners showed their raw, human emotions in front of the fans and media in attendance at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gordon showed intensity for being taken out and Burton expressed sincerity and candor in one of the most bizarre racing incidents of the year. For that, the real question isn't who's at fault, but rather, who won from the "Battle of the Jeff's?"

Fans won, as they had to be thrilled with the unexpected near-brawl, which brought some drama and controversy to this year's Chase, enhancing one of the closest title battles since 2004, pitting Hamlin, four-time Cup titlist Jimmie Johnson, and '07 Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick.

One has to wonder how these two drivers will handle each other in the next instance their machines are in the same spot, racing for the same inch of real estate on the track.

So to answer Matt Kenseth's post-race question, yes indeed, both racers took off their helmets before their altercation along the backstretch.

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com

At times, he's been able to conquer the 1.5-mile quad-oval speedway with some ease, logging in a victory, seven top-fives and nine top-10 finishes.

One of Gordon's more memorable moments in his storied career took place at this facility last year in the spring race, when he won the Samsung 500, ironically his most recent victory.

However, there are also bad finishes of 13th or worse at this facility, including four crash related DNFs (1998-1999, 2008 and April 2010). The inaugural race at Texas proved fruitless for the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet team, crashing out just midway into the event, while running in second position.

In addition, there were those country song like wrecks from 1998-'00, when he would get swept up either by somebody else or something else, including a grinding solo crash in '99 that resulted in bruised ribs from his impact with the fourth turn outside retaining wall.

Next, was heartache in the making for a race that looked like victory well within reach for "The Rainbow Warrior."

On the most recent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at "The Great American Racetrack", Gordon looked poised to capture his second win, dominating the event by leading 124 of the 334 laps run on an overcast Monday afternoon. Surely, the checkered flag was in the offing, but it was not to be, as he was involved in a late-race crash that eliminated him from the finish just 17 laps too soon.

A lot has happened since that 500-miler, including the sudden falloff in the DuPont team's performance despite a Chase berth and a relatively solid 2010 season. Sitting fourth in points with 11 top-fives and 17 top-10's, it's the kind of year that most teams outside the Chase (save for Jamie McMurray) would embrace.

However, victories and titles are supposedly the measure of success for one of NASCAR's perennial forces, given their success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Call it what you will, be it a rich roster of talent that includes teammate and current title dynasty holder Jimmie Johnson, Richard Childress Racing's triumvirate of Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer, the Joe Gibbs duo of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch and the list goes on and on.

Simply put, Gordon's success raised the bar of his competitors' abilities, going a bit faster than that No. 24 red, orange, yellow and black Chevrolet Impala and, thus, capturing wins at a blinding clip.

That's not to say that he's forgotten how to win in NASCAR and he certainly hopes to prove that this Sunday afternoon in the sixth running of the AAA Texas 500 (Live, 3 PM ET on ESPN).

Anxious for the series return to the 14-year-old Speedway Motorsports Inc. owned venue, Gordon said that his team, led by crew chief Steve Letarte, will head into the race weekend using the same setup from April during pre-race practice sessions.

"We're going to go back there the same way we were," Gordon said during his hauler press conference last Saturday at Talladega. "We're going to find out how much this sport and setups have changed since we were last there and then we will fine-tune it from there."

"We had such a great car there, it is hard to go back any different. I expect for us to still be really strong there and I am excited about that."

That might spell trouble for the rest of his competitors, something that was a common trend back in his heydays of the late 1990s, when just a verbal cue from the source himself incited some fear with his fellow drivers.

While the four-time Cup champion seems realistically eliminated from the title hunt, trailing points leader Jimmie Johnson by 207 points, a good run at Texas, ranging from a victory to a top 10, along with trouble striking the front three drivers in the points battle, could make the Chase into a four-man race.

With last Sunday's AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway being relatively tranquil for the Chase contenders, one has to wonder when that inevitable wild card race will take place.

It may not happen, but then again, stranger things have happened in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing, particularly with Gordon (remember Martinsville in April of 2004, anybody?). Anything is possible, although the likelihood of a pothole in Texas happening is like hoping for Tom Brady to cut his hair or Jimmie Johnson shaving his cabin man beard.

Until the numbers say otherwise, this title race is still to be decided and, while most have concluded it to be a triple threat, if it becomes a quartet, it will be that way because of a superb finish and some "Texas Justice" from the No. 24 DuPont team, who are capable of some "Hail Mary" wins when needed.

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com

For Jamie McMurray, his track record at this mammoth NASCAR staple is like life: lots of ups accompanied by downs.

Sure, he's got a victory at this facility from last fall (his final win with the Roush-Fenway Racing organization), four other top-fives, and six total top-10 finishes in his past 16 starts. On the flip side, there are the mediocre finishes, in which McMurray has finishes of 12th or worse, including three crash-related DNFs (Oct. 2006-'07 and April '09).

That's typical for most racers at this superspeedway, in which their fate is determined by luck based on their position on the track. The difference between a good and bad day is measured by a blink of an eye, just enough time for a driver to experience the Gatorade bath of Victory Lane or the agony of defeat with an obliterated stock car in the garage area.

However, it's not been a typical season for the the 34-year-old Joplin, MS native, who's virtually had a dream 2010 campaign that's seen him capture three wins. Those checkered flags include a victory in the 51st Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 at Indy and the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Not bad for a racer whose future was in shambles last winter, in which one of the sport's most promising stars went from the "next best thing" to a complete afterthought on the circuit.

Touted as a solid top-10 points contender by many prognostics in the mid 2000's, it appeared as if the stock car sensation was headed on the right track of success for his immediate future.

That is, until he left his first Sprint Cup team for what looked like greener pastures in the form of one of the sport's elite and perennial organizations.

McMurray tried every way in the book to make things work at Roush-Fenway Racing, a dream job for the 2003 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, but his tenure from 2006-2009 was marred by disappointment.

Being a small fish in a big pond just wasn't in the cards, with fate and circumstances leading the lame duck racer back home to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, essentially the original organization that he drove for from 2003-2005.

Unlike the past four years, the 2010 season has been a year of redemption, with the congenial driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Impala looking more comfortable with his surroundings.

Perhaps McMurray's made an example of the adage, "There's no place like home." At EGR, he knows he's the big fish in a small pond, with his team catering to his needs promptly as well as the sense of familiarity with the prominent team.

There are some intangibles to consider, like:

- Could it be his crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion, whose cool and steady demeanor compliments the equally reserved but personable nature of McMurray?

- Is it that powerful EGR motor that's given McMurray the competitive edge to compete against the likes of Hendrick, Gibbs and Childress for race wins?

- Has McMurray matured since arriving in the sport in 2000, looking more like a confident and calculative racer than the one who overdrove his equipment?

While inconsistency has plagued McMurray's efforts for a bid in this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, he finds himself sitting 13th in points, with nine top-fives, 11 top-10's and a trio of victories. That's almost his combined statistics in his four years at Roush-Fenway Racing, showing that he certainly still has what it takes to compete and contend on the circuit.

With the series heading back to Talladega for a Halloween Sunday "spooktacular" aka the AMP Energy Juice 500 (Live, 1 PM ET on ESPN), McMurray returns to a track where he's performed solidly in the past two races.

He captured a stirring victory in a crash-marred but exciting October classic last fall, tallying that with a runner-up effort last April, narrowly being defeated at the line by Kevin Harvick.

Sure, this team still has some work to do on the chalkboard as far as finding speed and consistency in the offseason and there's still a bit of uncertainty as to where McMurray will drive after this season.

All said, besides Harvick, who's looking to capture maximum points in his efforts to catch and pass points leader Jimmie Johnson, it's not a half bad idea to choose McMurray, who has a respectable average finishing position of 16.2.

Making the weekend more significant and special for McMurray, and for that matter, his team and fans, is that the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet will be adorned in the 1998 Sprint All-Star Race paint scheme piloted by the late Dale Earnhardt.

McMurray's machine will consist of a primarily gold base complimented by black, much like the machine that "The Intimidator" drove in the sport's biggest non-points event of the year.

In this case, however, points are on the line and without a doubt, there's only one place at Talladega (besides the race lead) that McMurray wants to drive the car whose namesake greatly changed NASCAR: the winner's circle.

A victory for the ninth year racer would serve notice to the rest of the Cup gang that the No. 1 team's a force to be reckoned with in the immediate future, especially given their solid runs and finishes this year.

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com

Be it the relatively smooth confines of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., a track oriented more towards the drivers' comforts than the white knuckle action of Bristol, or Talladega, or the nighttime fireworks at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Johnson usually finds a way to finish near or at the top of the race standings.

He does this as frequently as Wilford Brimley asks millions of Americans to "check their blood sugar" and to "check it often."

Detractors of the 35-year-old El Cajon, Calif. native often run into the case of wishful thinking when hoping for trouble to beset the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team.

To put it in layman terms, it's almost like watching a movie and hoping for a different ending, even though you've probably watched it about 10 times.

While the 2010 racing season has seen occasional gaffes by the usually steady, consistent group led by crew chief Chad Knaus, they've lived up to their standards as the team to beat in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

Sure, Johnson had a rather inconsistent regular season, with four DNFs (did not finish) interlaced with five wins prior to the Chase. Yes, he had two particular stretches where he finished 10th or worse, from the Talladega spring race to Charlotte's 600 miler, as well as a seven race period from Daytona's July event to Bristol in August.

However, when it comes to the most crucial time of the year, when a team has to absolutely be on its toes and ready to bounce back from adversity, the No. 48 team is coming through in the clutch like Peyton Manning negotiating and leading his Indianapolis Colts team in a two minute drill for the win.

Even after Johnson's dubious kickoff race for the Chase at Loudon, NH, where he placed 25th, his immediate rise up the point standings was almost expected.

Finishes of first at Dover, second at Kansas, and a pair of thirds at Fontana and Charlotte have boosted the four-time championship winning squad to yet another points lead in the Chase, 41 markers ahead of title rival contender Denny Hamlin.

For those hoping for a rather exciting finish down the stretch for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title, while there's still plenty of racing left, if past track performance is an indicator, then Don Meredith's old Monday Night Football song will ring true for Johnson's rivals:

Turn out the lights, the party's over...

With Martinsville, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami hosting the final five races of the Chase, the only obstacle between Johnson and an unprecedented, fifth consecutive Cup champion is...well, quite honestly, himself.

His track records at these venues are steady and consistent, much like the way he's driven throughout his Cup career. Witness:

• Martinsville has to definitely be Johnson's "house," scoring six victories in 17 previous starts, which comprise of 11 additional top-five finishes and 16 total top-10's.
• Talladega is relatively kind to Team 48, with an average finish of 9.7, including his spring 2006 win, three other top-fives and seven total top-10 results.
• At Texas, Johnson boasts an 8.8 average finish in his past 14 starts, including a victory in the fall 2007 race, as well as six additional top-fives and 10 total top-10's.
• Phoenix is certainly a sunny spot for the "California Kid," logging in four wins, nine top-fives and 12 top-10's, computing to an average finish of 11th in his 14 previous starts.
• Homestead-Miami Speedway is Johnson's weakest track, with three top-fives and six top-10's in his previous in nine starts, translating to a somewhat human 19.3 average finishing position.

Now that 41 point lead over Denny Hamlin sounds a lot closer, even to the most loyal pessimist around. However, barring a Sam Hornish, Jr. like incident, such as the case in last year's race at Texas, the final five races appear to be a coronation in the making for NASCAR's newest "king."

Anything short of a top-five at Martinsville and Phoenix would be somewhat disappointing for the Lowe's crew, as they're this team's two strongest tracks.

This group has to certainly be the pre-race favorites at these facilities, just knowing how to get the job done at flat-banked, finesse tracks that require a bit of patience, facets that define Johnson's game.

Although Johnson has a stellar average finishing position at Talladega, almost every team, including the Lowe's unit, has to be somewhat concerned with the unknown elements that are presented at a plate racing venue.

Drivers jockey for position every lap, pushing and bumpdrafting off each other as if Justin Bieber's signing autographs at a record store. Certainly, Johnson and Knaus have to perhaps resort to a conservative approach at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

Texas and Homestead-Miami are somewhat solid tracks, with the Lone Star State being the stronger of the two battle grounds for Johnson and his team.

After the incredible late race comeback finish of third at Charlotte, following an early spin that relegated "JJ" to the tail end of the lead lap, there's reason to believe that the No. 48 Chevrolet will be among the class of the field.

Quad-oval, 1.5-mile facilities are another strong feature to NASCAR's current dynasty, and it'd not be a surprise to see them nab another solid finish at the Ft. Worth speedway.

That leaves Homestead-Miami as Johnson's "Achilles' Heal," but usually by the time that the circuit reaches the warm confines of South Florida, so aren't the hopes for any title contender not named Jimmie Johnson.

The No. 48 team usually finds themselves already in a position to clinch the title by essentially just being there to start the race and even if they aren't, a conservative finish is usually suffice for them to capture a title.

Unless all the regular season inconsistencies creep up on the No. 48 team or how much effort Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, or any of the other Chase contenders put forth between now and Homestead, the No. 48's "B game" will just be enough to capture a history-making fifth title.

Drivers like Johnson come in cycles, but their greatness is usually "once in a lifetime."

While he's certainly not a fan favorite and someone who'll have the adoration and awes of a driver such as teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, or even the Busch brothers, respect is the name of the game for one of the sport's classiest drivers and teams.

He who simply find more ways to win, especially when it's all on the line for bragging rights and trophies.

Author's Note: If you'd like to check out more of my works about racing, including exclusive interviews with some of today's hottest stars and tomorrow's promising prospects, check out my blog, "The Podium Finish," where you can find works like this and more!

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com

He's been close to capturing that fifth title on two occasions, specifically in 2004 and 2007, when his team was the most consistent but just not the fastest when it all mattered in the Sprint for the Sprint Cup title.

And then there are those seasons in which he's just had to seek for respectability despite an otherwise off year.

With distractions on and off-the-track in his life in the '02 season, Gordon slipped from the top of the stock car world to an almost human fourth place points finish. While considered a great year for most racers (three wins, including a sixth Southern 500 win), for the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet team, anything short of a championship is a disappointing year.

The following year brought more of the same circumstances, winning three more races and finishing fourth in the standings, with Gordon's biggest highlight being his Saturday Night Live appearance as a guest host for the popular NBC program.

Gordon's had his shots at capturing that elusive championship, but it's like a Wily E. Coyote cartoon or the Trix Bunny trying to get his box of cereal—so close, yet denied at the last moment.

Bring up the '04 and '07 season to a Gordon fan and it would be like asking a Buffalo Bills fan about those four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s—at the big game but denied the biggest prize in all of sports.

However, this year has been everything but predictable for the 39-year-old veteran. At times, he and his Steve Letarte-led team have looked like one of the best teams on the circuit, leading laps and running among the lead pack of cars. There were opportunities to bag victories, such as at Martinsville, Phoenix, Texas, Talladega, Richmond, Daytona and Chicagoland.

And then there are those moments where they're just off by just enough of a margin to struggle on race day. Efforts like at the June race at Pocono, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol, Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta and Air Force 400 at Richmond have shown the team's weaknesses in terms of adjusting an ill-handling mount to the team's ineffectiveness to battle through adversity.

Call it whatever you want, be it a case of the "Jekyll and Hyde" syndrome or the "on/off switch," and either way, it's a case of multiple identities for the No. 24 team, one that has ultimately redefined what it means to succeed in NASCAR racing.

Overlooked in the days prior to the kickoff race for the Sprint Cup Chase, most fans and the press pointed to Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin as the favorites to win the title. And why not? They were the two most dominant racers in the regular season, with both racers capturing six races and sitting atop the first two spots in the Chase rundown.

While Johnson has worked his way to the front of the pack and Hamlin sits second, 36 markers from being in the captain's chair, lurking in fourth, just 85 points from the front of the train is Jeff Gordon, whose title hopes were about over with 20 laps remaining in last Sunday's Pepsi MAX 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Pushing his No. 24 Chevrolet just a bit over the speed limit near the end of the race, NASCAR officials nailed Gordon with a speeding violation, thus sending him to the tail end of the lead pack with just over 40 laps to go.

With a victory out of the question, the only thing that this team could pull out was a solid salvageable finish to cap off an eventful Sunday afternoon. Despite some close calls near the end of the race, particularly the Kurt Busch crash that he just missed, the wily veteran was able to pick and pull his way through the competitive field to place ninth in the 400-miler, a moral victory for the 82-time race winner.

"It wasn't the kind of day we were hoping for," Gordon said following the race. "Things are going pretty well for us and we're hanging in there but honestly I think we were anywhere from a third to a fifth-place car, so to come home ninth, there's no doubt, we need to get better. There's no doubt. We've got to get better."

Words spoken like a true champion, a winner knows when they have to be at their absolute best. Sure, they could be content in their performance, having run in the top-five for the majority of the 200-lap event, which meant running with the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, and Kevin Harvick. However, the finish did not translate into a result that mirrored their run, which meant a bit of a lost opportunity in capturing maximum points.

At the end of the day, there's still a reason to believe that a fifth title is within reach for Gordon and crew chief Steve Letarte. After all, his drive from 24th to ninth in the last 20 laps was a page out of vintage Gordon, the one who raced on rails, determined to drive the wheels off his Chevrolet to win a race.

A winning attitude, spirit, and resolve, do not count out the No. 24 team from this year's title race—even with the Cup series heading to another "house that Jimmie Johnson built," if there's any driver more determined and focused in dethroning the El Cajon, Calif. hero from extending his historical reign in stock car racing, look no further than the man once called "Wonderboy."

After all, as Jeff Gordon once said when asked about his take on NASCAR racing, "There's nothing like confidence and believing in our minds. We can go to every race track and be a contender."

Author's Note: For more of my thoughts on racing, from the elite stock car arenas of NASCAR to the grassroots levels of stock car and open wheel racing, check out my blog, "The Podium Finish!"

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com

All that domination fades away into side-by-side, sheet metal action that surely translates into dramatics for both competitors and the fans at the track, who surely have no idea what will happen until the green flag unfurls with a parade of colors flashing by at over 180 miles per hour.

Other racers absolutely feast on the concept of double file, "shootout" format restarts, knowing it's their one chance to make the most of their opportunities for a win.

After biding their time, sitting contentedly within the lead pack, it's shut up or go time for these competitors, ready to pounce and attack on the leader who's been in the front of the field all race long.

It's no secret that race victories happen because of a driver's ability to make the most out of a restart, most especially when they're within grasp of the winner's circle.

That's why for these nine drivers and possibly a face to remember this season, they've found what it takes to win in recent years.

And if it's due to coincidence or sheer skills, make no mistake that these are the faces you want to keep an eye on when you see their machines pacing or near the front of the pack when it's crunch time.

Ladies and gentlemen, here are the "Top 10 Best Restarters in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," who always play a role at the end of every race, no matter the time or place.

Author's Note: For more of my racing thoughts and analysis, please visit my blog, "The Podium Finish," where you can find out about the latest racing sensation or my perspectives on a popular racing topic, such as restarts or the struggles of a NASCAR Cup team. Check out "The Podium Finish" at http://thepodiumfinish.com, where you're amongst the winners all the time!

Begin Slideshow

Gritty.  Tough as nails.  Driven to succeed, no matter the pain in the game.

Those are some of the characteristics that describe 25-year-old Natalie Sather, an upcoming NASCAR racer who cut her teeth in some of the finest dirt tracks of the Midwest as well as asphalt short-oval arenas of the Southeast.

On the surface, she’s congenial, very apt to discuss racing as well as her family life that has inspired her through the years. 

Certainly, she values the support given to those around her, and it shows with her ambition to succeed in this competitive field of motorsports.

When it comes to her mindset just as the green flag’s about to unfurl, all that’s on her mind is how she’s going to make the most out of it. 

Ask for 100 percent, she’ll give you 110, making her way to the front with the precision and cunning of some of sport's most clutch drivers like the Labonte brothers or Jeff Gordon, the latter who has inspired her in her career.

Stumbling upon her when reading about this year’s Drive for Diversity class, I took notice of her racing record, which at first seemed to be filled with glowing highlights and statistics that couldn’t be tangibly appreciated.

However, when I read how she’s triumphed in her dreams despite setbacks, it showed me the kind of hunger and willpower she has to make it in this sport.

While others out there are all talk and just appear at the track for television time, Sather embodies that old Wrangler jeans motto of being “one tough customer.” 

In a highly competitive game that involves high risk with one’s health and psyche, it seems as if nothing can derail the young gun from realizing her goal of becoming a full-time winner on the Sprint Cup circuit.

I interviewed Natalie Sather recently, getting her thoughts on her career, as well as her observations about her experiences in auto racing.  You’ll see what I mean by her giving 110 percent in all she does, trying hard but not too much in making the most of her opportunity. 

Without a doubt, she wants to make it badly in NASCAR, knowing she has to give it her all in a sport that requires sacrifices here and there to make it to the top.

Strap in, put on your driving gloves, and get ready for some short-track racing, when I put you in “The Driver’s Seat with Natalie Sather, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Racer!”

Rob Tiongson : Some people get a thrill out of their need for speed, be it in their street cars, video games, or taking up auto racing in some shape or form as a means of recreation.  What compelled you to embark on a career in motorsports, particularly with stock cars?

Natalie Sather : Growing up, my dad sponsored his best friend’s race car. 
No one in my family actually raced, so I didn't necessarily grow up around it.  However, I loved going to watch (races) much more than anyone in my family.

After years of watching the local sprint cars at the dirt track, the friend my dad sponsored saw a flyer for a local go-kart race and told my parents they needed to take me and that they should get me a go-kart. 

After the race, we were all hooked, and so began my racing career starting in karts.

I grew up racing go-karts and eventually made the jump in to a sprint car on dirt. Growing up around the Mid-West, there are only dirt tracks in the area, so asphalt racing wasn't an option.  So the asphalt dream seemed pretty far-fetched when I first started.


RT : Did you have any particular hero growing up in Fargo, N.D., at least, when it came to racing, or in particular, with your life?

NS : Growing up in Fargo, N.D., I looked up to a sprint car great named Donny Schatz.  I would go to the World of Outlaw races sporting his t-shirt and a homemade sign, saying “I’m going to race against him someday.”

Well, that day did eventually come, and more to follow (oh and P.S., I have beaten him), and I will never forget it.

Another racer that I looked up to was Jeff Gordon...so much that my whole room as a teen-age girl was Gordon, and I even did my senior English project on him.

He grew up racing go-karts, and then moved up to Sprints and pursued his dream and made the transition to asphalt and has proved many wrong.  His path is one I would like to follow myself. 

I say one day I will race against Jeff, as well.  One down (Donny Schatz), one to go (Jeff Gordon)!
  

RT : Now, like so many of NASCAR's hottest stars in Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Kasey Kahne, you cut your teeth in sprint cars on some of the finest dirt tracks in America.

How much of an asset is it for you to know that particular brand of vehicle, as well as go-kart cars, in terms of driving the heavier stock cars on various asphalt arenas?

NS : Competing around the country at countless dirt tracks has played a huge role in my asphalt career.  A great racer once told me dirt keeps you sharp, you have to be quick, always on your toes, and it’s 30 laps of wheel-to-wheel action.

I have been able to take a lot of what I have learned on the dirt and relate it to the asphalt. For example, when my car (late model) is loose, it is like driving on a dry slick dirt track, and it takes a lot of finesse.

I can't tell you how many times I have been watching the NASCAR greats like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, and Clint Bowyer, and see them get loose and they catch their car and the announcer will say, “Oh, look at that save, that’s their dirt background coming into play!”

So many of them go back and race on the dirt and I truly think that it helps with their asphalt driving.


RT : You've been a part of some excellent programs in racing, from the Skip Barber Racing School to your current team, Sellers Brothers Racing.

How much have those contingencies helped Natalie Sather, the racer and person? It's had to help you get your name out there to places across the States that's given you some great opportunities.

NS : Throughout the last few years, I have had some great opportunities to attend some amazing programs.  Finish Line Racing School in Florida is one that has played a huge role in my asphalt career. Mike and Krystal Loescher, who own, run, and operate the school, have an amazing program.

They have taught me so much about the asphalt side of racing. Mike, who I call "my driving coach," is always there for me if I need any advice and has even come to a few races to help me along in my career.

Another great program that I have had the privilege of being a part of is the Lyn St. James, Women in Racing Program.  Through Lyn's program, I had the opportunity to learn the "behind the scenes" aspect of racing. 

From Media Training, Money/Sponsor Management, Physical and Mental Training…and also attending Finish Line Racing School (through Lyn’s program for a second time), these programs have given me a great establishment into my asphalt career.

 
RT : Having accessibility to your fans is paramount in establishing your popularity in the grandstands, not only in the tracks you've competed at, but at places where you just might be at when you advance in your career.

Would you say that having a presence online, via Facebook, your website, etc., has helped draw in some new fans with your racing, as well as help you attract potential sponsors/teams in joining your efforts?

NS : Fans in my eyes are a huge part of this sport.  I have always had amazing fans, and always take the time to talk to all my fans. 

With the social network sites on the rise, Facebook, Twitter, and other websites, I have tried to have as many ways as possible for the fans, potential sponsors, etc., follow my career.

It’s hard to keep up with everything and I try my best - I do all the networking side myself from designing my race cards to creating and updating my website.

Since creating a Facebook and Twitter, I have been amazed at the response in friends and support.  I even have hit my limit on Facebook, so I had to create a fan page, and group page called Natalie "Speed" Sather!  It’s been overwhelming to see all the support.


RT : Competing in any sport means the possibility of getting hurt out there in the playing field, be it a premier soccer stadium or a hometown short track.

Having dealt with some injuries during various times in your career, how have you dealt with it and is it truly mind over matter in dealing with pain, both physically and emotionally?

NS : Throughout my career, I have sustained some pretty serious injuries that could have ended my career.

When I was 17, I was racing at my local dirt track in a sprint car when I was involved in a incident where I was t-boned at over 110 mph and it broke my leg in three places, requiring seven surgeries and sitting out the season.

It was a time in my life where I was just starting out in my sprint car career and where I really had to take a step back and ask myself if this is something I really wanted to do. “Am I willing to risk getting hurt, even my life for this sport?”

It was a challenging time in my life but I knew that this is what I wanted to do.  From then on, I dedicated my entire life to racing. Over the years, I have had some severe concussions, neck, and shoulder injuries, but nothing has stopped me.

This year, I sustained an injury that I thought for sure would end my career. April 17 was an ultimate high and low for me in my career. 

It was a double-header and I scored my first top ten at South Boston with a ninth-place finish. The second race, the Sellers Brothers team and I were fired up.

On lap eight, I was tagged from behind, sending me spinning down the front straightaway. Once I came to a stop, I realized I was hurt pretty bad, thinking I broke my wrist.

After the initial shock, the adrenaline was still pumping and I ignored the pain and continued on with the race till lap 68, when another accident hurt my car, ending my night.

My wrist was super swollen and I found out the next day that indeed I had broken my wrist.  How do you drive with one arm?  It was a hard time for me and I wasn’t sure what my future held.

I was determined not to let this affect, let alone end my career.  I flew back home to Fargo, ND to have surgery on my wrist where they placed a fairly large screw in my wrist. 

The doctor in town was very supportive in helping me get back in the seat as soon as possible. After a special brace was made, I headed back to Virginia to get back in the seat.

It was pretty difficult getting used to racing with a big bulky brace on.  I really had to relearn how to drive, it was hard, but it didn’t stop me.  I needed to have the strength, courage, and motivation to keep on pursuing my dream.  My team and family also motivated me.

It’s really hard sustaining any injury and being able to bounce back, but I have always told myself, “Never, ever give up.” And I don’t plan on it anytime soon!


RT : When you're at the track, strapped up and geared up to go, do you have a particular pre-race ritual or superstition that you follow? Or are you more
like, "OK Natalie, this is our race to win?"

NS : Ok, well, I do have a few rituals that I do, have to wear, etc.  Some are more personal than others, but I will let you in on the secret.

I have a racing angel pin that must be on my suit.  I also do have a lucky pair of undergarments that I do wear most of the time (laughter).  Also, once I’m strapped into my car, I always say a lil’ prayer and then tell myself that I can do this, and also ask my Grandma, who was one of my biggest fans, to cheer me on and give me the strength and courage I need to finish the race.


RT : Alright, so it's down time, race isn't for a few days. What's a typical week in the life for you, during a race week? How about during a true off-week?

NS : A typical race week for me, well honestly, it’s been a lot different this season due to the fact that I broke my wrist at the beginning of this season so it has limited how much I can do.  But normally, I would help out in the shop.

I had started working on the shock dyno this year and really enjoyed it.  Otherwise, I work out as much as I can and get prepared for the next race, whether it’s washing my suit, cleaning my car, etc.

On an off-week, I usually try to go home to spend time with my family and friends.  I go to the lake, hang out with my puppies, and work on my hunting cabin.
 

RT : What's been your favorite track that you've competed at thus far in your career? Any particular track that you're absolutely floored to compete at some day?

NS : My all-time favorite place to race would hands down be Knoxville, Iowa!  It’s a half-mile dirt track located in a small town outside of Des Moines. 

From the staff to the facility, to Dingus (a lil’ bar across the street), everything about that place, I just love.

My favorite part is the track, as it is where I really found out what I could do in a race car. From the high speed, the intense wheel-to-wheel racing, to the slide jobs, there is never a dull moment. I hope to one day go back and race a sprint car there!

A track that I someday hope to compete at is Daytona, the birthplace of NASCAR.  This is where the legends made a name for themselves. To be able to race where the founding generation drove would be such a privilege!


RT : Free Association time for you, Natalie! No pain, no gain...this will be child's play. Tell me the first thing that comes into your mind with the following, all right? Here we go!

Green flag.

NS : "¡Andale! ¡Andale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! ¡Yii-hah!" (Speedy Gonzalez)

RT : Three wide.

NS : My favorite way to pass.

RT : Starting position.

NS : Outside pole.    

RT : Family.

NS : Support.

RT : Confidence.

NS : Most of the time.

RT : A real racer's track.

NS : South Boston (asphalt) and Knoxville, Iowa (dirt).

RT : Your ideal street car.

NS : Chevy Truck!

RT : If I could organize a music concert, I'd have...

NS : Country music.

RT : Best motto ever given to you.

NS : “Save your fork - the best is yet to come.” My Grandma told me that.

RT : Faith.

NS : Christian.

RT : Where you see yourself down the road...

NS : Racing, or anything to do with racing.


RT : When it comes to distinguishing yourself amongst your peers, what are some qualities or factors that make you such a special, unique racer to fans out there who may be looking for the next big star to follow?

NS : I am the “girliest” tomboy you will meet.  I can work in the race shop, hunt, shingle a roof, and don’t even mind a lil’ dirt under my nails. On the other hand, I own about 30 pairs of high heels and love putting on a fun dress and going shopping at the mall.

I carry a hand gun and lip gloss in my purse.  I am an energetic, outgoing person,  passionate about what I do and that comes out on the track.

I am always myself, and tend to show a lot of emotion, but it’s who I am.  If I didn’t love this sport and put everything I had in to it, I would have nothing to lose…but I do.

I am also passionate about the opportunities to help out in my community that racing has presented. I have had the chance to meet many strong kids at the local hospitals that have opened my eyes, and taught me how to be a stronger, better person. 

This I hope to continue on throughout my career and help these young kids work towards their dreams for the future.

I have faced a lot of difficulties in my career from breaking my leg (in ‘02) and my wrist (just this season) to being scrutinized in my career, giving many reasons for one to quit or give up.  All of these things have only made me stronger and shaped me into the woman I am today.


RT : Say I'm your team owner...and we're competing for the long haul of a season. How would you impress me, as far as proving yourself out there? Would you go all out for wins or go for top-10s, gradually working your way to becoming a race contender as a season goes on?

NS : I am a very competitive person, but you have to be realistic.  This is only my second season racing asphalt, but I still tend to set my goals very high.

Consistency is key…I would go for the top fives, top 10’s, and of course I will take a win.

In order to win championships, you have to use your head and be consistent. In 2007, I won the American Sprint Car Championship and didn’t win a single race (although I came very close a few times) but I was always in the hunt, finishing every race, and making sure I made smart decisions which paid off in the end.

I am always looking to improve every race, learning something new every time I hit the track.

Author's Note : Thanks to Shannon Myers Tipton of Creative Designs for the photo in this piece, and major kudos to Natalie Sather for taking the time out of her busy schedule for this interview.

Follow her on Twitter (@SpeedSather) and find her on Facebook at her "Natalie 'Speed' Sather" fan page. Visit Natalie's official website at http://www.nataliesather.com/ right now!

Also, if you want to check out more of my thoughts on all things racing, check out my blog "The Podium Finish" at http://thepodiumfinish.com .

Read more Motorsports news on BleacherReport.com