By Dick Brinster
The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - Jeff Gordon is racing down a familiar road that could lead to a fifth NASCAR championship.

His titles were built largely on victories at tracks where they were expected. This year, four of his five Nextel Cup wins have come where he leads all active drivers - California, Daytona, Sonoma and Indianapolis.

Now, Gordon - fresh from winning Indy's Brickyard 400 - is at the Watkins Glen International road course, where his four victories are a record. Two months ago, he won for the fourth time at Sonoma, the other NASCAR road course.

"Our track record at the road courses speaks for itself," Gordon said.

His eight victories on the serpentine layouts also are a NASCAR record. He is bidding for his fourth victory in seven races and could move closer to teammate Jimmie Johnson for the series lead. Gordon is 97 points behind Johnson with five events remaining before the top 10 drivers fight for the title over the last 10 races.

Gordon is making no assumptions about Sunday's Sirius at The Glen. Twice he has lost on the 2.45-mile track after contact with other drivers took him from contention.

He set a qualifying record of 124.580 mph last year but fell to the end of the field when Greg Biffle spun him out on the first turn.

"I can't remember a time when it was easy," Gordon said. "It seems there is always someone that is running well at the road courses."

He's right. Defending champion Robby Gordon and 2002 winner Tony Stewart are aces in this discipline. And then there are the NASCAR irregulars whose road-course expertise in sports cars makes them contenders.

"Guys like Ron Fellows, Scott Pruett and Boris Said have stepped it up a notch," Jeff Gordon said.

Robby Gordon and Stewart are the most worrisome.

"I love The Glen," Robby Gordon said. "It's like I'm heading to New York to visit an old friend."