Preview: Gordon can claim title

The Californian holds a 324-point lead over Ricky Rudd going into the event and needs to be 370 points clear of his rival after Sunday's race to be crowned champion.

But the pressure is on Gordon, who could only finish 25th in last Sunday's Rockingham round. He has never won a Winston Cup race at Homestead, although he did claim a Busch series victory at the track last year. He is confident his Hendrick's Motorsport team can return to form this weekend.

"One of the characteristics of a championship team is that they bounce back from a bad finish," said Chevrolet driver Gordon. "We've been able to do it all year and I don't expect it to be any different this weekend."

The man to beat at Homestead is Pontiac star Tony Stewart. No other driver has won a Winston Cup race at the oval since it first hosted the series in 1999.

"There is a lot of pride in that," said Stewart. "It's always great to win an inaugural race, but to win two races in a row and know that you are the only guy in the Cup series to win since it's been there, that's something to hold your head up about."

Qualifying kicks off today (Friday) just after 8pm (GMT), with the race starting on Sunday at 5.30pm (GMT).