Gordon tries to get back on track on road course

So far this season, the twisty track at Infineon Raceway has been the high point of a challenging season for Robby Gordon as he struggles to develop a team, woo sponsors and work out the quirks in an engine new to NASCAR.

This weekend, Gordon -- one of a handful of Nextel Cup regulars who is as comfortable turning right as left -- heads to Upstate New York and Watkins Glen International, the only other road course on the Nextel Cup tour. He'll warm up in the Busch race Saturday.

"We could very easily win both races this weekend," he said. "We've got some good cars and we're definitely getting competitive. The driver definitely shows up more on road courses. The driver can come into play and make the difference."

Watkins Glen is where he took his last checkered flag two years ago, just two months after his a victory at Infineon.

But that was when he was driving for Richard Childress Racing.

Hovering around 40th in the standings with his own team this season, Gordon has not been able to break into the top 35 in car owner points, which would guarantee making the lineup at each race. Instead, he has had to make every race on speed or go home. He has failed to qualify for four events this year.

Problems with his new Menard engines kept him out of the season opener at Daytona, where one failed inspection and the replacement that lacked enough punch to qualify.

That was followed by three engine failures at California, Las Vegas and Atlanta, then he failed to qualify at Bristol, Talladega and Darlington.

Gordon shook thinks up by bringing in a new crew chief and team manager. He has finished every race since, including his 24th-place finish last weekend in Indianapolis. It was his best finish since he was 16th at Infineon in June.

Sorenson heading to Cup

Reed Sorenson, a 19-year-old Busch Series driver, will run a full Nextel Cup schedule next season in a fourth team for Chip Ganassi Racing, two sources told the AP on Thursday.

Sorenson formally will be announced as the drive of the No. 41 Dodge today at Watkins Glen International.