HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) - When Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon made contact in the closing laps at Phoenix, Gordon was overcome by a grudge he'd been carrying for at least seven 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 was allowed to race in Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

He's not sorry for wrecking Bowyer. In fact, he said he believes he showed his rivals that he won't be pushed around on the race track.

Gordon says Bowyer had one coming wrecking Gordon and Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville in April, when they were trying to give Rick Hendrick his 200th victory.