Hendrick Motorsports teammates Mark Martin (Left) and Jimmie Johnson (Right) lead the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: Lat Photographic)

Two very different drivers, one nearly old enough to be the other’s father, racing for one title.

And yet, for all their differences, they have one critical factor in common beyond the obvious fact that they both work for Hendrick Motorsports: In a garage filled with guys who work hard, no one works harder than Johnson and Martin do.

“I'd say that the thing that is almost identical with these two is the devotion to excellence, not only in what they need to do in the car with the race team, but the way they take care of themselves outside of the car as far as the way they train, the way they eat, and the way they think,” said team owner Rick Hendrick, who will tonight will tie Petty Enterprises for the most Cup championships as an owner with nine.

“They're as close to being identical as any two I've ever been around,” said Hendrick. “They are both students of what it takes both in the car and outside of the car. And their dedication to excellence, it's remarkable. Their talent speaks for itself. I think that's the reason that they're sitting where they are today. They just are never satisfied without everything around them being as perfect as it can be. They put all of the load on their shoulders.”

This afternoon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin will each carry that load one last time in 2009, and while only one will walk away a champion, both will finish with spectacular seasons. Johnson has three poles, seven race victories and 15 top-five finishes, Martin seven poles, five victories and 14 top fives.

“I'm very proud of my race team,” said Martin. “I feel like it's been a tremendous accomplishment to even give those guys any kind of run for their money, is a tremendous accomplishment. And my race team deserves great credit for what we've done. I feel really good about things. And I've had the time of my life. I'm in the best frame of mind that I have been since I've been an adult. This has been the best time. I look forward every time I have an opportunity to go strap in that race car and to work and interact with my team.”

“To see where we are now as a team and a group is really special,” said Johnson. “I'm glad that we have this late-season push each year, especially with the Chase in play.”

One race left, this afternoon at Homestead. May the best team win.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of ?Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,? and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to