Jeff Gordon Makes Stunning Comeback with Win at NASCAR Sprint Cup Finale

In a reversal of the debacle that resulted from Jeff Gordon exacting his revenge by hooking Clint Bowyer and slamming him into the wall at Phoenix, Gordon won the season finale Sunday.

The driver was fined $100,000, docked 25 driver points and placed on probation for his actions. It was thought by many that he should have been banned from the final race at Homestead.

His actions appeared to have doomed any chance Clint Bowyer had to contend for the title. Oddly, when the Ford EcoBoost 400 was over, Bowyer finished second to Gordon and second in the point standings.

Gordon will unofficially make it to the stage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup awards banquet with his 10th-place finish in the Chase.

Bowyer will collect a nice check despite being 39 points behind the title winner, Brad Keselowski, and one point ahead of Jimmie Johnson, who unofficially is third in the standings.

The driver of the No. 24 car out of Hendrick Motorsports also celebrated his 20-year relationship with major sponsor Dupont.

Gordon ends the season with two wins, 11 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes during the 2012 season.

The win at Homestead-Miami Speedway sets him up with momentum going into the 2013 season. His team overcame the criticism and controversy, thus proving how strong they are.

Though Gordon felt Bowyer had the retaliation coming to him, he realized his emotions got the best of him at Phoenix.

Bob Pockrass of Sporting News reported Gordon's explanation of his actions and how his angst  began at Martinsville when he really wanted the 200th win for Hendrick Motorsports.

Gordon was leading at the end of the race when Bowyer sent him spinning into his teammate, Jimmie Johnson.

The loss of the that race was a very emotional one for the Hendrick organization because of the celebration that was planned to soften the tragedy suffered in 2004 with the plane crash near the track.

Perhaps there are those who are disgusted that Gordon made his way to Victory Lane at Homestead, but for the Hendrick driver, it was a stunning comeback in the shadow of Brad Keselowski's championship.