Johnson rolling into Chase after rockin' at Richmond (cont'd)

Kevin Harvick said Johnson, as well as Gordon and Stewart, are tough every year.

"Not everyone is going to have a silky smooth Chase so we just got to capitalize if one of them has trouble," Harvick said. "We're not winning races like those guys are but we are consistent and that goes a long way."

Consistency, yes, but so does aggressiveness, Chad Knaus said.

The 48's championship winning crew chief said his team is going to have to be very aggressive, because of the level of competition.

Last year, he said, the average finish to win the championship was typically eighth or ninth but this year drivers will need to step up their games.

"You're going to have to be a sixth- to a fifth-place finisher for the final 10 races to win the championship," Knaus added.

And not only is Johnson on a two-race win streak and hitting his stride, he also buried a ghost this weekend after sweeping both the spring race and Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway, a track where his average finish was nearly 20th place.

"Yeah, this place has been tough on me," Johnson said. "I figured some things out in the spring and we've been able to build on that. The Car of Tomorrow has been able to help me get a better feel for Richmond here."

Now it's on to New Hampshire, where Johnson will take the first step toward a repeat championship and he said he feels relaxed.

"I don't think our job is going to be any easier for us," he said, "but we are coming in without as much pressure on ourselves, I think."