Victory has Hamlin ready to fight for Cup title in 2010 (cont'd)

The secret, according to Hamlin, is figuring out how to maintain that level of performance.

"There's some things I need to do to get better," he said. "I feel like through the season I've gotten better. I'm figuring out what I need to make my race car better. [Crew chief Mike Ford] is starting to figure it out. We're getting on the same page now, figuring out what we need to be good at racing.

Hamlin wins finale

Denny Hamlin dominated the final 70 laps at Homestead and cruised to the victory.

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"One thing we're going to have to improve on next year is qualifying. We can't come from 38th like we did [Sunday]. It looks good on paper, but realistically you put yourself at more risk."

Ford is certainly of the same opinion.

"You look at the second half of the season, we hit a stride," Ford said. "We felt like we learned a couple things. We peaked early the last two years and kind of nosed over and were afraid to try things in the Chase, and that wasn't the case this year. We continued to learn throughout, but we put ourselves in a good position to start it.

"I think everyone being on the same page, being able to work through problems, it was a lot easier to make gains during the season and during races with Denny and myself being on the same page pretty much every week."

Between Hamlin and Ford, owner J.D. Gibbs sees a chemistry that may remind some of a younger Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus.

"I think one thing you forget, Denny's first year he winds up third in the points," Gibbs said. "I think it just kind of came natural. I think in the years following he kind of pushed hard in some areas and maybe tried some things you shouldn't try.

"I think what we've kind of learned is watching these guys kind of mature really taking a leadership role, Denny within the sport and Mike within our shop, really the future is exciting for us. So I think really both those guys work well together. They're quiet, they're not going to talk a lot about stuff, they just kind of get it done. That's what encourages me coming up the next couple years for JGR."

As far as delivering a message this weekend, Hamlin hopes 2010 picks up where 2009 leaves off.

"There's some things we need to do to be better, and I think this Chase has just made us stronger," Hamlin said. "Because now I think everyone is focused and everyone is fired up about next year, knowing that we're one of the few guys that can run with that 48 every single week."