1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the third season of the Craftsman Truck Series, the third highest stock car 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.Team | Truck | # | Driver | Listed owner | 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 ' | 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 ' | 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 ' | Geoff Bodine | Ernie Cope |
Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet C/K | 24 | Jack Sprague | Rick Hendrick | Dennis Connor |
Impact Motorsports | Ford F-150 | 86 | Stacy Compton ' | David Hodson | Troy Selberg |
Irvan-Simo Racing | Ford F-150 | 44 | Boris Said ' | 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. ' | 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 ' | 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 |
Roehrig Motorsports | Dodge Ram | 19 | Tony Raines ' | Carmela Roehrig | Bob Hustler |
Roush Racing | Ford F-150 | 80 | Joe Ruttman | Jack Roush | Randy Goss |
Roush Racing | Ford F-150 | 99 | Chuck Bown | Jack Roush | - |
Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet C/K | 75 | Dan Press | Wayne Spears | - |
ThorSport Racing | Chevrolet C/K | 88 | Terry Cook ' | 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 ' | Steve Coulter | - |
Races
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
- 13-Curtis Markham
- 86-Stacy Compton
- Tobey Butler replaced Bob Brevak in the #34 truck in the race.
NAPA 200
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
- Tony Roper replaced Bob Brevak in the #34 truck in the race.
Florida Dodge Dealers 400
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
Commentators: Mike Joy, Buddy Baker, Steve Brynes and Mike Hogewood
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
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
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
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
- This was Raines' first career Craftsman Truck Series win.
Pennzoil Discount Center 200
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
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
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
NAPA 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
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 18-Michael Dokken
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 99-Chuck Bown
- 37-David Green
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 19-Tony Raines
Sears DieHard 200
The Sears DieHard 200 was held July 5 at The Milwaukee Mile. Jack Sprague won the pole.Top ten results
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 52-Mike Wallace
- 19-Tony Raines
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 80-Joe Ruttman -1
- 99-Chuck Bown -1
Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225
The Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225 was held July 12 at Louisville Motor Speedway. Jimmy Hensley won the pole.Top ten results
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.*
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 19-Tony Raines
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 86-Stacy Compton
- 37-Scot Walters
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 44-Boris Said
- 52-Mike Wallace
- Ron Hornaday Jr. led every lap in route to the win.
Colorado 250 By Snap-On Tools
Top ten results
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 86-Stacy Compton
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 14-Rick Crawford
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 19-Tony Raines
- 20-Butch Miller
Lund Look 275K
The Lund Look 275K was held July 27 at Heartland Park Topeka*. Joe Ruttman won the pole.Top ten results
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 55-Dorsey Schroeder
- 93-Mike Skinner
- 1-Bobby Hamilton
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 14-Rick Crawford
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 19-Tony Raines
- This was the first Craftsman Truck Series race at Heartland Park Topeka held on the 2.1 mile configuration. The previous two races were on the shorter 1.8 mile layout.
Cummins 200
Top ten results
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 53-Mike McLaughlin
- 61-Randy Tolsma
- 98-Kenny Irwin Jr.
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 35-Dave Rezendes
- 17-Rich Bickle
- Jimmy Hensley led the first 200 laps but lost the lead with 2 to go in the green-white-checker.
Stevens Beil/Genuine Parts 200
Top ten results
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 52-Mike Wallace
- 20-Butch Miller
- 31-Tony Roper
- 2-Mike Bliss
Federated Auto Parts 300
The Federated Auto Parts 300 was held August 16 at Nashville Speedway USA. Mike Bliss won the pole.Top ten results
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 20-Butch Miller
- 35-Dave Rezendes
- 86-Stacy Compton
- 17-Rich Bickle -1
- 99-Chuck Bown -1
- 14-Rick Crawford -1
- 2-Mike Bliss -1
- 6-Rick Carelli -1
Parts America 150
The Parts America 150 was held August 24 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Ron Fellows won the pole.Top ten results
- 48-Ron Fellows
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 18-Ted Christopher
- 63-Rick Johnson
- 62-Blaise Alexander
- 6-Rick Carelli
Virginia Is For Lovers 200
The Virginia Is For Lovers 200 was held September 4 at Richmond International Raceway. The #16 of Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole. Dodge's first win in the Truck Series.Top ten results
- 29-Bob Keselowski*
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 98-Kenny Irwin Jr.
- 53-Ken Schrader
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 99-Chuck Bown
- 61-Randy Tolsma
- 20-Butch Miller
- This was Bob Keselowski's one and only career victory in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Hanes 250
Top ten results
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 28-Ernie Irvan
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 51-Bobby Hamilton
- 20-Butch Miller
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 98-Kenny Irwin Jr.
- 86-Stacy Compton
- 24-Jack Sprague
Kragen/Exide 151
The Kragen/Exide 151 was held October 5 at Sears Point International Raceway. The #55 of Dave Rezendes won the pole.An incident between Boris Said and Rich Bickle with five laps to go caused NASCAR to fine Said $5,000 and put him on probation for the rest of the year. Bickle was also put on probation.
Top ten results
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 18-Tom Hubert
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 63-Rick Johnson
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 35-Doug George
- 46-Joe Bean
- 86-Stacy Compton
- Dave Rezendes was leading the event when he crashed on his own in the Esses with three laps to go.
Dodge California Truckstop 300
Top ten results
- 61-Randy Tolsma*
- 86-Stacy Compton
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 17-Rich Bickle
- 14-Rick Crawford
- 52-Mike Wallace
- 75-Kevin Harvick
- 43-Jimmy Hensley
- 24-Jack Sprague
- This was Randy Tolsma's first career Craftsman Truck Series victory.
The No Fear Challenge
Top ten results
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 52-Mike Wallace
- 98-Kenny Irwin Jr.
- 28-Ernie Irvan
- 61-Randy Tolsma
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 1-Michael Waltrip
- 29-Bob Keselowski
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 14-Rick Crawford
GM Goodwrench Delco 300
The GM Goodwrench Delco 300 was held November 1 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mike Bliss won the pole.Top ten results
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 99-Chuck Bown
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 98-Kenny Irwin Jr.
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 52-Mike Wallace
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 20-Butch Miller
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 2-Mike Bliss
Carquest Auto Parts 420K
The Carquest Auto Parts 420K was held November 9 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jack Sprague won the pole.Top ten results
- 80-Joe Ruttman
- 24-Jack Sprague
- 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
- 3-Jay Sauter
- 2-Mike Bliss
- 6-Rick Carelli
- 52-Mike Wallace
- 75-Kevin Harvick
- 99-Chuck Bown -1
- 14-Rick Crawford -1