Sonoma, Calif. ? Even for a driver who has won as many races as Jeff Gordon, Sunday’s victory at Infineon Raceway was like a life preserver to a drowning man.

“I can’t even describe the emotions of winning today because it’s been awhile,” Gordon said after parlaying patience and a fast car into a record ninth road-course victory. “It’s a relief.

“It’s so important to get that first win because, as the season goes on, you just feel more and more pressure,” added the four-time NASCAR champion.

NASCAR’s top “Road Warrior,” who had not won since October at Martinsville, started 11th in the 43-car field and took the lead for the first time on lap 49 of the 110-lap Dodge/Save Mart 350. In the end, he led a race-high 44 laps and wrapped up his fifth Sonoma victory and the 74th of his career. The victory came in the 16th race of the season.

It’s only the third time since Gordon began racing full-time in NASCAR’s top series in 1993 that he has gone this deep into the season before winning.

Jeff Gordon celebrates with champagne after winning the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Nextel Cup race on Sunday in Sonoma, Calif. It marked Gordon's first victory of the season.

Gordon, who also announced his engagement to Ingrid Vandebosch on Sunday, said he choked up in the car after taking the checkered flag.

“You know, I guess it suddenly hit me everything that was going on,” Gordon said. “I had gone 30 days without telling anybody about the engagement, so I had been holding that in, and it’s been a long time since we got that last win. Everything all just came together this weekend.”

The victory also vaulted Gordon back into the top 10 in points with just 10 races until the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship begins. The top 10 drivers in the points after the 26th race of the season are eligible for the 10-race playoff.

Terry Labonte grabbed the lead for a while with a slick fuel strategy, but Gordon was able to hunt NASCAR’s “Iceman” down, regain the lead on lap 88 and eventually pull away for his first win since June 2004 on the picturesque 1.99-mile, 11-turn circuit.

Ryan Newman finally raced past Labonte for second place on lap 109, finishing 1.25 seconds – about eight car-lengths – behind the winner. Greg Biffle finished fourth, followed by pole-winner Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Jeff Burton.