CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Look out, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are right behind you — and they're making sure you know it.

With the title up for grabs in Sunday's season finale, Johnson and Harvick are doing their best to turn up the heat on NASCAR's points leader.

Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, was his usual model of California cool during Thursday's news conference to preview the closest title race in Chase for the Sprint Cup championship history. Harvick was his typically mischievous self, facing every question with blunt honesty and never passing on an opportunity to needle the competition — well, mostly just Hamlin.

“This has been one of the most awkward 30 minutes I've been through,” Hamlin said about halfway through the session.

Stuck on a podium between the two drivers trying to stop him from winning his first NASCAR title, Hamlin didn't participate in the generally good-natured — but pointed — mudslinging being tossed at him from both sides.

“He definitely seems like the most nervous,” Harvick said, nodding at Hamlin.

“For us, I mean, we have nothing to lose. This guy does,” Johnson said, putting his arm around Hamlin.

Johnson has the experience of participating in the six Chases all the way to the finale, including wins in the last four, and he hasn't had to race very hard at Homestead since 2005.

Hamlin, on the other hand, has yet to be in this position during his NASCAR career. Nobody has any idea how he'll handle the stress Sunday or if he'll be able to hold off two drivers who seemed far more relaxed than he did on the podium.

“It's almost endearing ... we say the things that we say about each other and our teams because it's so close,” Hamlin said. “You're looking for any advantage. If you can get into a guy's head, then that's going to be an advantage.”