The 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 49th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 26th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. It began on February 9 and ended on November 16. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won his second Cup championship at the end of the season.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefChevroletAmerican Equipment Racing96 David Green (R) Sammy JohnsAndy Petree Racing33 Ken Schrader Andy PetreeDarrell Waltrip Motorsports17 Darrell Waltrip Jeff HammondDiamond Ridge Motorsports29 Robert Pressley Wes Ward Jeff Green Hendrick Motorsports5 Terry Labonte Gary DeHart24 Jeff Gordon Ray Evernham25 Ricky Craven Phil Hammer Andy Graves Todd Bodine Jack Sprague Larry Hedrick Motorsports41 Steve Grissom Charley PressleyMarcis Auto Racing71 Dave Marcis Bob MarcisMorgan-McClure Motorsports4 Sterling Marlin Robert LarkinsRichard Childress Racing3 Dale Earnhardt Larry McReynolds31 Mike Skinner (R) Kevin HamlinTeam SABCO40 Robby Gordon (R) Mike Hillman Joe Nemechek Wally Dallenbach Jr. Greg Sacks Steve Park Elliott Sadler 42 Joe Nemechek Tony Glover Phil Parsons FordBill Elliott Racing94 Bill Elliott Mike BeamBrett Bodine Racing11 Brett Bodine Donnie RichesonButch Mock Motorsports75 Rick Mast Dave CharpentierCale Yarborough Motorsports98 John Andretti Tony FurrDonlavey Racing90 Dick Trickle Bob Johnson Tommy Baldwin Jr. Dorsey Schroeder FILMAR Racing81 Kenny Wallace Newt MooreGeoff Bodine Racing7 Geoff Bodine Pat Tryson Todd Bodine Jasper Motorsports77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Terry Whooten Morgan Shepherd Robert Pressley Kranefuss-Haas Racing37 Jeremy Mayfield Paul AndrewsPenske Racing South2 Rusty Wallace Robin PembertonRobert Yates Racing28 Ernie Irvan Marc Reno88 Dale Jarrett Todd ParrottRudd Performance Motorsports10 Ricky Rudd Jim LongStavola Brothers Racing8 Hut Stricklin Bill IngleTravis Carter Enterprises23 Jimmy Spencer Donnie WingoTriad Motorsports78 Billy Standridge Bill Hayes Bob Johnson Tom Hubert Bobby Hillin Jr. Gary Bradberry Wood Brothers Racing21 Michael Waltrip Leonard WoodRoush Racing6 Mark Martin Jimmy Fennig16 Ted Musgrave James Ince99 Jeff Burton Buddy Parrott97 Chad Little Harold HollyPontiacMark Rypien MotorsportsBahari Racing30 Johnny Benson Doug HewittBill Davis Racing22 Ward Burton Chris HusseyJoe Gibbs Racing18 Bobby Labonte Jimmy MakarMB2 Motorsports36 Derrike Cope Ryan PembertonPetty Enterprises43 Bobby Hamilton Robbie LoomisPE244 Kyle Petty Bobby KennedyPrecision Products Racing1 Morgan Shepherd Michael McSwain Jerry Nadeau Mike Wallace Lance Hooper
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefRaces ChevroletBACE Motorsports 74 Randy LaJoie Barkdoll Racing 73 Joe Nemechek Phil Barkdoll Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 14 Steve Park Philippe Lopez Darrell Waltrip Motorsports 26 Rich Bickle Dave McCarty Ken Schrader Racing 52 Jack Sprague LAR Motorsports 12 Jeff Purvis Philippe Lopez LJ Racing 91 Mike Wallace Doug Richert Loy Allen Jr. Greg Sacks Ron Hornaday Jr. Kevin Lepage Miller Racing 08 Mike Miller Norm Benning Racing 84 Norm Benning Team SABCO 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Terry Shirley T.R.I.X. Racing 79 Randy MacDonald FordA. J. Foyt Enterprises 50 A. J. Foyt Bill Elliott Racing 92 Ron Barfield Bud Moore Engineering 15 Larry Pearson Greg Sacks David Blair Motorsports 27 Rick Wilson Slugger Labbe Kenny Irwin Jr. H. L. Waters Racing 0 Delma Cowart H. S. Die Racing Team 61 Tim Steele Melling Racing 9 Lake Speed Jeff Buice Jeff Davis Ranier-Walsh Racing 20 Greg Sacks Tommy Baldwin Jr. Lance Hooper Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Gary Bradberry Lee Leslie Ed Berrier Standridge Motorsports 47 Billy Standridge TriStar Motorsports 19 Loy Allen Jr. Peter Sospenzo Gary Bradberry Ultra Motorsports 02 Mike Bliss PontiacBailey Racing 66 H. B. Bailey Buckshot Racing 00 Buckshot Jones Ricky Pearson ISM Racing 35 Todd Bodine
Schedule No. Race title Track DateBusch ClashDaytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 9Gatorade 125sFebruary 131Daytona 500February 162Goodwrench Service 400North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 233Pontiac Excitement 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMarch 24Primestar 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 95TranSouth Financial 400Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 236Interstate Batteries 500Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthApril 67Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolApril 138Goody's Headache Powder 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewayApril 209Save Mart Supermarkets 300Sears Point Raceway, SonomaMay 410Winston 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaMay 10Winston OpenCharlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 17The Winston11Coca-Cola 600May 2512Miller 500Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverJune 113Pocono 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJune 814Miller 400Michigan Speedway, BrooklynJune 1515California 500 presented by NAPACalifornia Speedway, FontanaJune 2216Pepsi 400Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachJuly 517Jiffy Lube 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonJuly 1318Pennsylvania 500Pocono Raceway, Long PondJuly 2019Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway, SpeedwayAugust 220The Bud at The GlenWatkins Glen International, Watkins GlenAugust 1021DeVilbiss 400Michigan Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1722Goody's Headache Powder 500Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2323Mountain Dew Southern 500Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonAugust 3124Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 625CMT 300New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonSeptember 1426MBNA 400Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 2127Hanes 500Martinsville Speedway, RidgewaySeptember 2928UAW-GM Quality 500Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 529DieHard 500Talladega Superspeedway, TalladegaOctober 1230AC Delco 400North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 2731Dura Lube 500 presented by KmartPhoenix International Raceway, PhoenixNovember 232NAPA 500Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonNovember 16NASCAR Thunder Special SuzukaSuzuka Circuit, SuzukaNovember 23
Results No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driverBusch ClashTerry LabonteTerry LabonteJeff GordonChevroletGatorade 125 #1Mike SkinnerDale JarrettDale JarrettFordGatorade 125 #2Steve GrissomDale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtChevrolet1Daytona 500Mike SkinnerMark MartinJeff GordonChevrolet2Goodwrench Service 400Mark MartinDale JarrettJeff GordonChevrolet3Pontiac Excitement 400Terry LabonteDale JarrettRusty WallaceFord4Primestar 500Robby GordonDale JarrettDale JarrettFord5TranSouth Financial 400Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale JarrettFord6Interstate Batteries 500Dale JarrettTerry LabonteJeff BurtonFord7Food City 500Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceJeff GordonChevrolet8Goody's Headache Powder 500Kenny WallaceJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet9Save Mart Supermarkets 300Mark MartinMark MartinMark MartinFord10Winston 500John AndrettiDale EarnhardtMark MartinFordWinston OpenChad LittleRicky CravenRicky CravenChevroletThe WinstonBill ElliottBobby LabonteJeff GordonChevrolet11Coca-Cola 600Jeff GordonErnie IrvanJeff GordonChevrolet12Miller 500Bobby LabonteDale JarrettRicky RuddFord13Pocono 500Bobby HamiltonWard BurtonJeff GordonChevrolet14Miller 400Dale JarrettTed MusgraveErnie IrvanFord15California 500 pres. by NAPAJoe NemechekJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet16Pepsi 400Mike SkinnerJohn AndrettiJohn AndrettiFord17Jiffy Lube 300Ken SchraderJeff BurtonJeff BurtonFord18Pennsylvania 500Joe NemechekDale JarrettDale JarrettFord19Brickyard 400Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanRicky RuddFord20The Bud at The GlenTodd BodineJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet21DeVilbiss 400Johnny Benson Jr.Mark MartinMark MartinFord22Goody's Headache Powder 500Kenny WallaceDale JarrettDale JarrettFord23Mountain Dew Southern 500Bobby LabonteBill ElliottJeff GordonChevrolet24Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400Bill ElliottJeff BurtonDale JarrettFord25CMT 300Ken SchraderJeff GordonJeff GordonChevrolet26MBNA 400Mark MartinMark MartinMark MartinFord27Hanes 500Ward BurtonRusty WallaceJeff BurtonFord28UAW-GM Quality 500Geoff BodineBobby LabonteDale JarrettFord29DieHard 500Ernie IrvanTerry LabonteTerry LabonteChevrolet30AC Delco 400Bobby LabonteRicky CravenBobby HamiltonPontiac31Dura Lube 500 pres. by KmartBobby HamiltonRusty WallaceDale JarrettFord32NAPA 500Geoff BodineBobby LabonteBobby LabontePontiac
Race Summaries Busch Clash
The Busch Clash, a race for pole winners from the previous season, and drivers who have won the event before was run on February 9 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Terry Labonte drew the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top ten results
#24 - Jeff Gordon #2 - Rusty Wallace #3 - Dale Earnhardt #22 - Ward Burton #28 - Ernie Irvan #6 - Mark Martin #88 - Dale Jarrett #25 - Ricky Craven #30 - Johnny Benson #37 - Jeremy Mayfield
Gatorade 125s The Gatorade Twin 125s were run on February 13 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mike Skinner and Steve Grissom were the pole sitters for races one and two, respectively. The races were broadcast tape-delayed on CBS just prior to the Daytona 500.
Race one results
#88 - Dale Jarrett #31 - Mike Skinner #28 - Ernie Irvan #23 - Jimmy Spencer #4 - Sterling Marlin #6 - Mark Martin #10 - Ricky Rudd #18 - Bobby Labonte #22 - Ward Burton #29 - Robert Pressley
Race two results
#3 - Dale Earnhardt #24 - Jeff Gordon #94 - Bill Elliott #33 - Ken Schrader #21 - Michael Waltrip #2 - Rusty Wallace #30 - Johnny Benson #5 - Terry Labonte #40 - Robby Gordon #17 - Darrell Waltrip
39th Daytona 500
The 1997 Daytona 500 was run on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Mike Skinner won the pole. The race ended under caution after a big crash with five laps remaining involved several cars. The race was broadcast on CBS.
#24 - Jeff Gordon* #5 - Terry Labonte #25 - Ricky Craven #94 - Bill Elliott #4 - Sterling Marlin #37 - Jeremy Mayfield #6 - Mark Martin #22 - Ward Burton #10 - Ricky Rudd #17 - Darrell Waltrip
Failed to qualify: #91 - Mike Wallace, #95 - Gary Bradberry, #78 - Billy Standridge, #15 - Larry Pearson, #42 - Joe Nemechek*, #97 - Chad Little, #75 - Rick Mast, #96 - David Green, #0 - Delma Cowart, #84 - Norm Benning.
Robert Pressley's car caught air after he spun on lap 10. The rear of the car lifted so much, the car was temporarily sliding across the track on its nose. After the crew repaired the car, Todd Bodine drove the car to complete more laps. Joe Nemechek's car owner Felix Sabates bought the #73 entry of Phil Barkdoll, who had qualified 38th. Nemechek drove Barkdoll's #73 for the 500. Dale Earnhardt rolled his #3 Chevrolet in a crash with Ernie Irvan while in a four-way battle for the lead with 12 laps to go. In the crash, the hood of Irvan's car flew into the backstretch grandstand, injuring some fans. Earnhardt famously noticed that his tires were still on the car after the roll, had his car taken off the hook, and drove it back to pit road. The car was repaired and Earnhardt finished the race in 31st, 5 laps down. At 25 years old, Jeff Gordon became the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever until Trevor Bayne in 2011. Hendrick Motorsports posted a 1-2-3 finish with Gordon winning the race, Terry Labonte finishing second, and Ricky Craven finishing in third.
Goodwrench Service 400
The Goodwrench Service 400 was run on February 23 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
#24 - Jeff Gordon #88 - Dale Jarrett #99 - Jeff Burton #10 - Ricky Rudd #25 - Ricky Craven #2 - Rusty Wallace #5 - Terry Labonte #7 - Geoff Bodine #28 - Ernie Irvan #1 - Morgan Shepherd
Failed to qualify: #97 - Chad Little, #78 - Billy Standridge, #91 - Mike Wallace, #95 - Gary Bradberry
Pontiac Excitement 400
The Pontiac Excitement 400 was held March 2 at Richmond International Raceway. Terry Labonte won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
#2 - Rusty Wallace* #7 - Geoff Bodine #88 - Dale Jarrett #24 - Jeff Gordon (-1) #43 - Bobby Hamilton (-1)