HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Nobody knows yet if Hendrick Motorsports will leave Miami with a Nextel Cup championship. But Rick Hendrick is certain that his teams already have come down to South Beach as champions.
For the first time since 10 people aboard Hendrick's airplane died in a crash on their way to Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 24, Rick Hendrick returned to work. He sat atop the pit box watching Kyle Busch, his Busch Series driver, race to third place Saturday.
He also visited with his Nextel Cup Series drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, offering them his physical presence in addition to the spirit he has been sending out since the tragedy.
On Sunday, Gordon and Johnson will compete for a championship, with just 21 and 18 points, respectively, standing between them and the ultimate honor they wish to pay in tribute to those who lost their lives last month.
Everyone at Hendrick Motorsports will tell you that ever since the plane crash there have been two goals: To continue racing and to win a championship, both out of respect for the love and livelihood that the victims always offered to this sport.
"To honor all of those people on that plane, I'm more committed to this sport than I've ever been," said Hendrick, addressing the media with courage and choking up only once during his statement.
"Together we're going to continue to try to be a strong competitor and a good citizen of this sport. We love the sport and love the people. The folks on that plane will never be forgotten. But we have to go on."
Hendrick was most emotional when he thanked everyone in the organization for ensuring that the team could go on. Not only were they friends and loved ones on that plane, they held important roles within the organization. A general manager, one of the top engine builders in the sport and the son who was groomed to inherit the kingdom, among others.
Hendrick attempted to clarify who would be filling those roles. The answer dawned on him the week after the accident as he mourned and the entire organization prepared for the next race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"We had a job to do and the organization had a job to do and they showed up at Atlanta," Hendrick said. "They raced and we were fortunate enough to win. Everybody in that organization, 450 strong, stepped up. It wasn't one. It wasn't two. It was 450 people that just really, really stepped up. Our guys are champions no matter what happens tomorrow because of what they've been through. They've had a tough time. I couldn't have done it."
For Johnson, seeing Hendrick at the racetrack for the first time in four weeks was an immediate boost.
"I'm excited for him to be at the track, but I also know how difficult it's going to be for him," Johnson said. "When we first came back to the track it was not an easy thing. As excited as I am to see him here, I know today and tomorrow are going to be very tough for him."
Johnson said the No. 48 Chevy team's determination is no stronger than it was last week, or the week before. Still, to feel what he called the courage and bravery it took Hendrick to come for the first time after losing his son, among many other relatives and friends, certainly rubbed off on the entire 48 crew.
The confidence comes at a particularly important time. After winning four of the past five races to position himself within 18 points of leader Kurt Busch, Johnson and Co. had a terrible qualifying run on Friday and had to take a provisional just to make the field for Sunday's event. He will start 39th, the farthest back he's ever started in his three-year career.
But on Saturday, after a night of deep discussion and thought, the crew found a shock problem which helped explain the poor qualifying lap. The solution came just in time, given the deep dejection the team experienced after their poor lap on Friday.
With the problem fixed, Johnson is certain that his car can make it to the front by the time the checkered flag unfurls.
"It's nice to know we found what the problem was and why the car was so loose," Johnson said. "We're starting in the back, but we've blown engines and crashed cars and done a lot of crazy things [before races] and have had to start in the back [as a result]. But we've always been able to come back.
"So I think the first half of the race we're just going to be doing things to get track position and try to get toward the front and be in a safe area if there is an accident or something -- not to be in the middle of the pack. But we'll be in good shape."
Indeed they are. The 48 car immediately responded to the changes since Friday and Johnson laid down the second-fastest lap in the final practice before Sunday's big event. Only Greg Biffle, who qualified second, was faster.
"Having a good day today after yesterday is refreshing to feel that competitive nature again and to know that we're going to be able to go down fighting -- regardless of what happens," Johnson said. "So, I'm excited. I don't know what to expect. I'm sure tomorrow morning when I wake up, I'm going to go through quite a few emotions, which I'm sure the other four guys in the points battle are going through as well. Tomorrow is the biggest day of one of our lives."
Truth be told, for Gordon, tomorrow is second nature. He possesses experience that none of the other four contenders have. Precisely, he has four Cup titles compared to the combined zero from points leader Kurt Busch, Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin.
It's that experience which keeps Gordon calm even after a slight scare on Saturday. Gordon came to Miami after a successful testing session which has proven quite accurate in how the car should be set up. He's had fast practice times and qualified fifth.
But on Saturday, Gordon started feeling some vibrations in the car. Vibrations bring about fear of many things -- not the least of which is an engine that might not make it to the finish line.
Still, Gordon's a veteran. He knows fear doesn't win races; hard work does. The 24 team labored on Gordon's Chevy until the garage area closed, confident that it will gallop tomorrow.
"I don't think it's anything major," Gordon said. "I just felt a little bit of a vibration there at the end. We should be alright."
Gordon isn't allowing himself the time to worry about tomorrow.
"It's just focusing on getting the car the best we can and going out there and doing our jobs," he said. "It's not about anything else. It's intense because you want to do everything right. It's not about just thinking about the championship, it's thinking about the race. If we do our best in the race then hopefully the results will come along with that and maybe even a championship."
Gordon is the most tenured driver of the Hendrick Motorsports stable. He took it especially hard when Hendrick's father, Papa Joe Hendrick, passed away four months ago. Obviously, the tragedy of last month was incredibly painful for Gordon, too.
He said seeing Hendrick at the track, though, further solidified in his mind what needs to be done. The lives cannot be brought back. But they can be honored. And just as Hendrick honors them by continuing racing, Gordon wants to honor them by bringing back to the shop what those who died labored and wished for -- a championship trophy.
"Nothing will ever replace [them]," Gordon said. "But everyday with everything we do, we can honor them."
Rupen Fofaria is a freelance writer living in Chicago and a regular contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at rfofaria@espnspecial.com.