MORE: Gordon lends his voice for Disney project | Watkins Glen results
Jeff Gordon had mechanical issues early on at Watkins Glen during the Cheez-It 355.
Sunday's race was one of his best chances to lock up a Chase berth, given his road course prowess (4 wins, 4 poles and 9 top 10s in 22 starts at Watkins Glen; he also has five wins at Sonoma, the series' other road course), Gordon was set back thanks to early brake problems.
While on pit road, the four-time champion received a new brake line on the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and re-entered the race on Lap 33, scored in 43rd place and four laps down.
Gordon entered Sunday's race in 10th place in the driver points standings. He finished the race in 41st place and lost two spots in the standings, falling to 12th place, 203 points behind leader Kevin Harvick .