HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has no need for racing's most coveted consolation prize.

Gordon finished 11th in the Nextel Cup standings, earning a $1 million payout and an invitation to the prestigious postseason awards banquet in New York City.

"All that matters to me is performing and running up front," he said after Sunday's season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "The points always take care of themselves when you run good. All that matters to me is battling for wins and being competitive."

Gordon certainly did that after he was eliminated from the Chase for the championship in September.

Crew chief Steve Letarte replaced Robbie Loomis, who stepped down after Gordon missed the Chase, and the team was one of the best over the final 10 races.

Gordon had five top-10 finishes during that span — all in the last seven races — and finished first at Martinsville , second at Atlanta and third last week at Phoenix.

"I really never focused one time on points throughout this last 10 races," Gordon said. "Our focus was on just trying to make our team better, and I think we did."

Gordon was equally impressive Sunday, leading 39 laps and running near the front of the field for much of the race. But a late caution caused him to fall back several spots.

Nonetheless, Gordon finished 44 points ahead of Jamie McMurray for the 11th spot. Elliott Sadler was 13th.

It was far from where Gordon wanted to end up — for the race and the series — but it guaranteed him the extra money and a spot at the banquet Dec. 2.

Gordon has earned a seat at the banquet after each of his 13 years on the circuit. His worst points finish was 14th as a rookie in 1993, but he was named rookie of the year and earned a trip to New York for the festivities.

Gordon was one of the two most notable drivers who missed making the 10-man field for the Chase; Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the other.

But instead of moping, Gordon dedicated himself to getting things turned around and gaining momentum for next year — which begins at the Daytona 500 in February.

He believes he did.

"I was just really thrilled the way we ended the season," Gordon said.