Gordon becomes all-time Winston winnings leader.

Jeff Gordon drove the No. 24 DuPont Automotive Chevrolet to a fourth NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in 2001. Last week in New York City, the payoffs for that achievement were plentiful, making Gordon the all-time leading money winner in NASCAR history.

Headlining the season-ending awards ceremony at the Waldotf Astoria Hotel, Gordon received the champion's bonus of $3,737,681 from series sponsor R.J. Reynolds' NASCAR Winston Cup point fund. That cheque - along with several other contingency awards - helped boost Gordon's 2001 winnings to $10,879,757. Gordon's 2001 total increased his career winnings to $48,735,580, topping the all-time list.

Gordon, 30, is only the third driver to win more than three NASCAR Winston Cup championships. Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt share the record for most championships, with seven each. Gordon also won championships in 1995, 1997 and 1998.

Aided by crew chief Robbie Loomis, Gordon won six races this season. His race winnings amounted to $6,649,076.

In addition to Gordon, the rest of the final point standings' top 10 drivers were on hand at the Waldorf Astoria to receive their point fund bonuses. Series runner-up Tony Stewart received a $1,444,920 bonus; third-place Sterling Marlin received $1.077,572.

There were several other awards presented during the theatre style ceremony, with approximately 1,500 in attendance, including the True Value Man of the Year Award, given in recognition of on-track performance and contributions to organizations and a driver's community. Gordon was chosen as the recipient by a distinguished panel of motorsports experts. Panel members were True Value Vice President of Advartising/Merchandising Fred Kirst, NECiTNT broadcaster and former NASCAR Winston Cup champion Benny Parsons, veteran MRN announcer Barney Hall, Associated Press motorsports writer Mike Harris and USA Today motorsports writer Chris Jenkins.

In the evening's most emotional segment, seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt was named the NASCAR Most Popular Driver of the Year posthumously. Accepting for her late husband was Teresa Earnhardt, who was introduced by singer Garth Brooks. Brooks prefaced the most popular driver announcement - made by MSNEC's Brian Williams - with a tribute to Dale Earnhardt; a highlight video of Earnhardt's career was accompanied by Brooks' song "The Dance."

Longtime team owner Jack Roush received the Bill France Award of Excellence, based on outstanding, life-long contributions to NASCAR. NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr. presented the award to Roush.

Chevrolet received the NASCAR Winston Cup Manufacturers Championship. It was the 26th time Chevrolet has won the championship.

United Parcel Service won the NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award, in recognition of an innovative, successful advertising campaign promoting its sponsorship of former NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett, driver of the No. 88 Robert Yatas Racing Ford. The campaign produced a series of commercials in which Jarrett is asked repeatedly when ha is going to start driving a UPS delivery truck, instead of his race car, on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. The campaign's hook: "People love the truck." Jarrett's unending response has bean: "I'm not driving the truck."