(UPDATE) -- "There's no one we want to beat more than 24," said the driver of the number 48, Jimmie Johnson. He is chasing teammate Jeff Gordon for the Cup Series points lead, but in contrast to yesterday's report about the tension between Roush-Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth, Johnson and Gordon seem to have a mutually beneficial relationship on and off the track. "They make us step up week after week and I feel that we do the same for the 24."

Maybe during the brief off-season Johnson and Gordon can put on a clinic for Edwards and Kenseth. "I have respect for what everybody does out there, and then when it gets to my teammates and to Jeff Gordon who has mentored me through all these years, there's even more respect."

Gordon pretty much believes that if you do the right things the rest will take care of itself. "You gotta work hard. You gotta work together as a team," said Gordon.

Love or hate them, Johnson and Gordon get it done on and off the track.