The 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the third season of the Craftsman Truck Series, the pickup truck racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. Jack Sprague of Hendrick Motorsports won the title.
Teams & drivers List of full-time teams at the start of 1997.
TeamTruck(s)#Driver(s)Listed owner(s)Crew chief AAG Racing Chevrolet C/K 65 Kenny Allen Shiela Allen Blake Motorsports Chevrolet C/K 12 Doug George Bob Blake Brevak Racing Ford F-150 31 Tony Roper (R) Shelly Brevak Bob Brevak Charles Hardy Motorsports Chevrolet C/K 35 Dave Rezendes Charles Hardy Tony Gibson Chesrown Racing Chevrolet C/K 6 Rick Carelli Marshall Chesrown Rick Ren Circle Bar Racing Ford F-150 14 Rick Crawford (R) Tom Mitchell Roland Wlodyka Clark Racing Chevrolet C/K 23 T. J. Clark Debbie Clark CSG Motorsports Ford F-150 57 Brian Cunningham Ed Scherer Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet C/K 16 Ron Hornaday Jr. Dale Earnhardt Fred Graves Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet C/K 17 Rich Bickle Darrell Waltrip Dave McCarty Geoff Bodine Racing Ford F-150 7 Tammy Jo Kirk (R) Geoff Bodine Ernie Cope Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet C/K 24 Jack Sprague Rick Hendrick Dennis Connor Impact Motorsports Ford F-150 86 Stacy Compton (R) David Hodson Troy Selberg Irvan-Simo Racing Ford F-150 44 Boris Said (R) Mark Simo Jay Smith K Automotive Racing Dodge Ram 29 Bob Keselowski Ron Keselowski Ron Keselowski Ken Schrader Racing Chevrolet C/K 52 Tobey Butler Ken Schrader Tim Kohuth L&R Racing Dodge Ram 90 Lance Norick Ron Norick Liberty Racing Ford F-150 98 Kenny Irwin Jr. (R) Jim Herrick Gary Showalter Petty Enterprises Dodge Ram 43 Jimmy Hensley Dodge Motorsports Richard Petty Phelon Motorsports Ford F-150 66 Bryan Reffner Dale Phelon RGR Racing Ford F-150 27 Rob Rizzo (R) Rob Rizzo Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet C/K 3 Jay Sauter Richard Childress Todd Berrier Roehrig Motorsports Dodge Ram 18 Michael Dokken Kurt Roehrig Mike Bodick 19 Tony Raines (R) Carmela Roehrig Bob Hustler Roush Racing Ford F-150 80 Joe Ruttman Jack Roush Randy Goss 99 Chuck Bown Spears Motorsports Chevrolet C/K 75 Dan Press Wayne Spears ThorSport Racing Chevrolet C/K 88 Terry Cook (R) Duke Thorson Ultra Motorsports Ford F-150 2 Mike Bliss Marlene Smith Barry Dodson Walker Evans Racing Chevrolet C/K 20 Butch Miller Phyllis Evans Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet C/K 61 Randy Tolsma (R) Steve Coulter
Schedule No. Race title Track Date 1 Chevy Trucks Challenge Walt Disney World Speedway, Bay Lake January 19 2 NAPA 200 Tucson Raceway Park, Tucson March 1 3 Florida Dodge Dealers 400 Homestead Motorsports Complex, Homestead March 16 4 Chevy Desert Star Classic Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix April 20 5 Craftsman 200 Portland Speedway, Portland May 3 6 NAPACARD 200 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe May 10 7 Western Auto/Parts America 200 I-70 Speedway, Odessa May 24 8 Pennzoil Discount Center 200 New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon May 31 9 Pronto Auto Parts 400K Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth June 6 10 Loadhandler 200 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol June 21 11 NAPA AutoCare 200 Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth June 29 12 Sears DieHard 200 Milwaukee Mile, West Allis July 5 13 Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225 Louisville Motor Speedway, Louisville July 12 14 Colorado 250 By Snap-On Tools Colorado National Speedway, Dacono July 19 15 Lund Look 275K Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka July 27 16 Cummins 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg July 31 17 Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 200 Flemington Speedway, Flemington August 9 18 Federated Auto Parts 250 Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville August 16 19 Parts America 150 Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen August 24 20 Virginia Is For Lovers 200 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond September 4 21 Hanes 250 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway September 27 22 Kragen/Exide 151 Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma October 5 23 Dodge California Truck Stop 300 Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield October 12 24 The No Fear Challenge California Speedway, Fontana October 18 25 GM Goodwrench/Delco 300 Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix November 1 26 Carquest Auto Parts 420K Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas November 9
Races No.RacePole positionMost laps ledWinning driver 1 Chevy Trucks Challenge Jack Sprague Jack Sprague Joe Ruttman Ford 2 NAPA 200 Michael Dokken Michael Dokken Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 3 Florida Dodge Dealers 400 Joe Ruttman Jack Sprague Kenny Irwin Jr. Ford 4 Chevy Desert Star Classic Jack Sprague Jack Sprague Jack Sprague Chevrolet 5 Craftsman 200 Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Chevrolet 6 NAPACARD 200 Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Chevrolet 7 Western Auto/Parts America 200 Rich Bickle Tony Raines Tony Raines Dodge 8 Pennzoil Discount Center 200 Jack Sprague Jack Sprague Jay Sauter Chevrolet 9 Pronto Auto Parts 400K Mike Bliss Mike Bliss Kenny Irwin Jr. Ford 10 Loadhandler 200 Ron Hornaday Jr. Ron Hornaday Jr. Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 11 NAPA AutoCare 200 Mike Bliss Jack Sprague Jack Sprague Chevrolet 12 Sears DieHard 200 Jack Sprague Jack Sprague Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 13 Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225 Jimmy Hensley Ron Hornaday Jr. Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 14 Colorado 250 By Snap-On Tools Ron Hornaday Jr. Ron Hornaday Jr. Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 15 Lund Look 275K Joe Ruttman Ron Hornaday Jr. Joe Ruttman Ford 16 Cummins 200 Jimmy Hensley Jimmy Hensley Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 17 Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 200 Terry Cook Ron Hornaday Jr. Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 18 Federated Auto Parts 250 Mike Bliss Ron Hornaday Jr. Jack Sprague Chevrolet 19 Parts America 150 Ron Fellows Jack Sprague Ron Fellows Chevrolet 20 Virginia Is For Lovers 200 Ron Hornaday Jr. Bob Keselowski Bob Keselowski Dodge 21 Hanes 250 Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Rich Bickle Chevrolet 22 Kragen/Exide 151 Dave Rezendes Dave Rezendes Joe Ruttman Ford 23 Dodge California Truck Stop 300 Mike Bliss Ron Hornaday Jr. Randy Tolsma Chevrolet 24 The No Fear Challenge Mike Bliss Mike Bliss Mike Bliss Ford 25 GM Goodwrench/Delco 300 Mike Bliss Jack Sprague Joe Ruttman Ford 26 Carquest Auto Parts 420K Jack Sprague Mike Bliss Joe Ruttman Ford
Chevy Trucks Challenge The inaugural Chevy Trucks Challenge was held January 19 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
#80 - Joe Ruttman #20 - Butch Miller #17 - Rich Bickle #3 - Jay Sauter #6 - Rick Carelli #43 - Jimmy Hensley #98 - Kenny Irwin Jr. #94 - Ron Barfield Jr. #13 - Curtis Markham #86 - Stacy Compton
Failed to qualify: #01-Billy Ogle, #04-Thomas Spangler, #08-Felix Giles, #9-Greg Marlowe, #19-Tony Raines, #22-David Smith, #23-T. J. Clark, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Andy Belmont, #27-Rob Rizzo, #39-Jeff Spraker, #41-Randy Renfrow, #45-Michael Cohen, #51-Perry Tripp, #52-Tobey Butler, #54-Jon Leavy, #56-Darin Brassfield, #59-Shane Doles, #61-Randy Tolsma, #64-Chad Dokken, #69-Jimmy Davis, #73-Bob Schacht, #88-Terry Cook, #92-Mark Kinser
Tobey Butler replaced Bob Brevak in the #34 truck in the race.
NAPA 200
The NAPA 200 was held March 1 at Tucson Raceway Park. Michael Dokken won the pole.
Top ten results
#16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #17 - Rich Bickle #3 - Jay Sauter #20 - Butch Miller #2 - Mike Bliss #27 - Rob Rizzo #24 - Jack Sprague #43 - Jimmy Hensley #99 - Chuck Bown #7 - Dave Rezendes
Failed to qualify: #07-Tammy Jo Kirk, #09-Tim Buckley, #9-Kevin Briscoe, #11-Mike Hurlbert, #15-Mike Cope, #23-T. J. Clark, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Andy Belmont, #31-Tony Roper, #32-Curtis Markham, #45-Michael Cohen, #52-Tobey Butler, #53-Scott Hansen, #54-Jon Leavy, #55-Lance Hooper, #56-Darin Brassfield, #63-Carlos Serrano, #65-Kenny Allen, #73-Scott Grissom, #88-Terry Cook, #90-Lance Norick
Tony Roper replaced Bob Brevak in the #34 truck in the race.
Florida Dodge Dealers 400
The Florida Dodge Dealers 400 was held March 16 at Homestead–Miami Speedway. Joe Ruttman won the pole. Tragedy struck during the closing laps of this race when John Nemechek struck the wall in turn 2 on lap 144, suffering massive head injuries. He died five days later.
Top ten results
#98 - Kenny Irwin Jr. #2 - Mike Bliss #99 - Chuck Bown #93 - Mike Skinner #24 - Jack Sprague #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #35 - Dave Rezendes #6 - Rick Carelli #20 - Butch Miller #90 - Lance Norick
Failed to qualify: #00-Frank Kimmel, #10-Toby Porter, #23-T. J. Clark, #34-Bob Brevak, #45-Michael Cohen, #51-Terry McCarthy, #54-Jon Leavy, #55-Jim Bown, #61-Randy Tolsma, #62-Blaise Alexander, #68-Bobby Dotter, #68-Ronnie Newman, #73-Bob Schacht, #81-Jerry Glanville, #88-Terry Cook
Chevy Desert Star Classic
The Chevy Desert Star Classic was held April 20 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
#24 - Jack Sprague #80 - Joe Ruttman #2 - Mike Bliss #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #17 - Rich Bickle #29 - Bob Keselowski #35 - Dave Rezendes #99 - Chuck Bown #10 - Toby Porter #6 - Rick Carelli
Failed to qualify: #13-Mike Colabucci, #19-Tony Raines, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Andy Belmont, #27-Rob Rizzo, #38-Doug Adams, #54-Jon Leavy, #55-Jim Bown, #61-Randy Tolsma, #92-Mark Kinser, #04-Tommy Spangler
Craftsman 200
The Craftsman 200 was held May 3 at Portland Speedway. Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
#17 - Rich Bickle #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #20 - Butch Miller #24 - Jack Sprague #29 - Bob Keselowski #2 - Mike Bliss #19 - Tony Raines #14 - Rick Crawford #52 - Tobey Butler #3 - Jay Sauter
Failed to qualify: #10-Toby Porter, #23-T. J. Clark, #25-Andy Genzman, #56-Brandon Butler, #57-Brian Cunningham
NAPACARD 200
The NAPACARD 200 was held May 10 at Evergreen Speedway. Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
#17 - Rich Bickle #24 - Jack Sprague #18 - Michael Dokken #80 - Joe Ruttman #98 - Kenny Irwin Jr. #29 - Bob Keselowski #2 - Mike Bliss #86 - Stacy Compton #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #20 - Butch Miller
Failed to qualify: #01-Dave Goulet, #4-Bill Sedgwick, #57-Brian Cunningham, #77-Lonnie Rush Jr., #87-Jim Bown, #92-Mark Kinser
Western Auto/Parts America 200
The Western Auto/Parts America 200 was held May 24 at I-70 Speedway. Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
#19 - Tony Raines* #43 - Jimmy Hensley #99 - Chuck Bown #17 - Rich Bickle #20 - Butch Miller #80 - Joe Ruttman #6 - Rick Carelli #2 - Mike Bliss #31 - Tony Roper #24 - Jack Sprague
Failed to qualify: #27-Rob Rizzo, #37-Scot Walters, #46-Marc Robe, #61-Randy Tolsma, #90-Lance Norick, #92-Mark Kinser This was Raines' first career Craftsman Truck Series victory.
Pennzoil Discount Center 200
The Pennzoil Discount Center 200 was held May 31 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
#3 - Jay Sauter #24 - Jack Sprague #6 - Rick Carelli #44 - Boris Said #98 - Kenny Irwin Jr. #14 - Rick Crawford #35 - Dave Rezendes #66 - Bryan Reffner #80 - Joe Ruttman #99 - Chuck Bown
Failed to qualify: #39-Jeff Spraker, #47-Danny Hieber
Pronto Auto Parts 400K
The inaugural Pronto Auto Parts 400K was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
#98 - Kenny Irwin Jr. #44 - Boris Said #14 - Rick Crawford #99 - Chuck Bown #2 - Mike Bliss #29 - Bob Keselowski #35 - Dave Rezendes #61 - Randy Tolsma #80 - Joe Ruttman #42 - Ken Bouchard
Failed to qualify: none
Loadhandler 200
The Loadhandler 200 was held June 21 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results
#16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #17 - Rich Bickle #3 - Jay Sauter #6 - Rick Carelli #80 - Joe Ruttman #14 - Rick Crawford #24 - Jack Sprague #43 - Jimmy Hensley #99 - Chuck Bown #66 - Bryan Reffner
Failed to qualify: #0-James Boulton, #01-Billy Ogle Jr., #11-Eddie Johnson, #22-Tommy Humphries, #25-Andy Genzman, #57-Brian Cunningham, #70-Joe Buford
NAPA AutoCare 200
The NAPA AutoCare 200 was held June 29 at Nazareth Speedway. Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
#24 - Jack Sprague #80 - Joe Ruttman