Homestead, Fla. ? No driver wants to cause the accident that would knock Tony Stewart or Mark Martin out of the final Winston Cup race.

So most of the field will be extra careful at Homestead-Miami Speedway when they see Stewart or Martin in their rearview mirror. Missing a mark, misjudging a closing speed or bobbling just the slightest bit could change the outcome of the championship.

Entering Sunday’s Ford 400, Stewart holds an 89-point advantage over Martin.

“You certainly don’t want to be the guy who ruins the day for one of them,” said Jeff Burton, Martin’s teammate at Roush Racing. “So you always have to be aware of who is around you, and if it’s one of them, not do anything stupid.”

The idea that the 42 cars around him might give him a free pass disgusts Stewart.

“This is just one of 36 races. We all have to race hard, and if 43 guys don’t race to win this weekend, I’ll be very disappointed,” Stewart said.

Regardless, there will be drivers in the field neither Stewart nor Martin will want to be around. Some just have a reputation of reckless behavior.

Just last week, Stewart had to avoid a wreck involving Robby Gordon and Scott Wimmer. Afterward, Stewart was less than thrilled with Gordon.

Mark Martin (6) laps Tony Stewart during the Pop Secret 400 on Nov. 3. Stewart needs to hold off Martin in Sunday's season finale to win the NASCAR Winston Cup points title.

“If he can’t race guys, he just wrecks guys,” Stewart said after the race. “He’s been a weapon ever since he’s been in Winston Cup racing.”

Joe Gibbs, Stewart’s car owner, knows there are some cars on the track that can make the entire team skittish.

“I can tell from talking to our drivers that there are certain people that they don’t mind racing next to and other people where they are more concerned,” Gibbs said.

Neither driver will have to worry about interference from the other’s teammates.

Bobby Labonte, Stewart’s teammate and the 2000 Winston Cup champion, will be rooting for Stewart but won’t help him by blocking Martin.

And Martin’s three Roush Racing teammates have no intention of holding up Stewart.

“We are one race team that races four cars, but the feeling of fair play does pervade the team,” owner Jack Roush said.

Stewart can clinch his first title by finishing 22nd, should Martin win the race and lead the most laps.