to be the finale to the 2001 season, but as the fall race in New Hampshire had been postponed due to the attacks of September 11, it became the penultimate race instead. Jerry Nadeau nearly won this race, but ran out of gas with half a lap to go, giving way to Bobby Labonte. Jeff Gordon clinches the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship with his sixth-place finish, joining Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt to win four or more NASCAR Championships. With this championship win, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt are the only 2 drivers to win 4 or more titles under the Winston Cup sponsorship. They are also the only 2 drivers in NASCAR history to win 4 or more Championships under one points system, and they both accomplished it in the very same system. They did it in a points system that was created by Bob Latford back in 1975, and ended in 2003. They won a combined total of 11 Championships under the Bob Latford Winston Cup points system (Earnhardt with 7, and Gordon with 4). Jeff Gordon wins the title with having 6 wins, 18 top 5s, and 24 top 10s. His six wins are the fewest victories in any of his four championship-winning seasons. This was the fourth straight season that a driver clinched the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship with one race to go. Jeff Gordon accomplished the feat twice in those four seasons, the first year in 1998, and the fourth year in 2001. Dale Jarrett did it in 1999, and Bobby Labonte did it in 2000. This would be the final race Dave Marcis would fail to qualify for. Dave would wrap up his career at the 2002 Daytona 500. New Hampshire 300 The New Hampshire 300 was scheduled for September 16 but was moved to November 23 (the Friday after Thanksgiving) due to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The starting order was set according to the owner's points as of September 10 meaning new champion Jeff Gordon would start first. Top Ten Results 31 - Robby Gordon 40 - Sterling Marlin 18 - Bobby Labonte 17 - Matt Kenseth 20 - Tony Stewart 25 - Jerry Nadeau 77 - Robert Pressley 11 - Brett Bodine 6 - Mark Martin 88 - Dale Jarrett 42 cars were entered for this race instead of the traditional 43, as the Eel River Racing Team had