HOMESTEAD, Fla. – When Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon made contact in the closing laps at Phoenix, Gordon was overcome by a grudge he’d been carrying at least 7 months.

The four-time NASCAR champion retaliated by intentionally wrecking Bowyer, triggering a garage-area melee.

Gordon’s reputation took a hit among his peers and he was fined $100,000 by NASCAR. But he avoided suspension and will race Sunday in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he’ll celebrate his 20th anniversary with sponsor DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports.