Question of the day: Who will win this year’s NASCAR Chase: Hamlin or Johnson?

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Writers from around the Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Jim Peltz, Los Angeles Times

Any sport with the vagaries of flat tires, broken parts and crashing cars renders predictions nearly pointless. That said, Jimmie Johnson gets the nod for several reasons. His 15-point deficit to Hamlin is almost negligible. That Hamlin won at Homestead a year ago is irrelevant; so is the fact that Johnson’s never won there. Johnson’s Hendrick Chevrolet will be just as stout as Hamlin’s Toyota. Having gone through this title experience several times, the last four with the Sprint Cup trophy ultimately in his hands, Johnson has the mental toughness and cool confidence to win no matter what happens in the race. Finally, Johnson has another trump card in his hand: Chad Knaus, the smartest, most tenacious crew chief in the business.

[Updated at 1:01 p.m.

Dave Fairbank, Newport News

My head says Hamlin, but my gut says Johnson.

Hamlin has been the Chase’s most consistent driver, playing the Mariano Rivera of NASCAR to at least a push. Johnson has been good, but not his Jimmie-esque self of previous Chases.

Hamlin’s team squandered his chance for a less-stressful run at Homestead with late race pit strategy in Phoenix that shrank his lead. I think he’ll run well, but he hasn’t been in this position before.

Granted, Johnson hasn’t been in this position lately, either. He’s come to Homestead with comfortable leads in recent years and hasn’t had to chase.

Johnson’s ace in the hole is crew chief/evil genius Chad Knaus. One race for all the marbles; who else would you want atop your pit box?

Shawn Courchesne, Hartford Courant

When the corks on the champagne bottles start popping on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway following the Ford 400, it will be Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team getting drenched.

NASCAR got out of the Chase for the Championship this year what it has so desired, a race to the wire with Johnson and Denny Hamlin battling up front and dark horse Kevin Harvick in third.

Hamlin takes a 15-point lead over Johnson into the final race. Who blinks first?

Along the way to winning the last four Sprint Cup Series titles, Johnson and his crew chief, Chad Knaus, have proved to be masters at dealing with the pressure that comes with chasing down a championship. Machine-like precision, an even-keeled approach, has carried them to four consecutive titles. They keep their eye on the prize.

Hamlin sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. Too much emotion. Sunday Hamlin faces the biggest pressure event of his career — and pressure has never been Hamlin’s friend on the track.]