1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Limited schedule

Schedule

Races

Busch Clash

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Rusty Wallace
3. Dale Earnhardt
4. Ward Burton
5. Ernie Irvan
6. Mark Martin
7. Dale Jarrett
8. Ricky Craven
9. Johnny Benson

   Gatorade 125s

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 31-Mike Skinner
3. 28-Ernie Irvan
4. 23-Jimmy Spencer
5. 4-Sterling Marlin
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 10-Ricky Rudd
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 22-Ward Burton
10. 29-Robert Pressley

1. 3-Dale Earnhardt
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 94-Bill Elliott
4. 33-Ken Schrader
5. 21-Michael Waltrip
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 30-Johnny Benson
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 40-Robby Gordon
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip

    39th Daytona 500

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 25-Ricky Craven
4. 94-Bill Elliott
5. 4-Sterling Marlin
6. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
7. 6-Mark Martin
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip

• 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. The landing was quite hard, so after the crew repaired the car, then Busch Series competitor and future 2 time Camping World Truck Series Champion Todd Bodine hopped in to complete more laps.
• Joe Nemechek's car owner Felix Sabates bought the #73 entry of Phil Barkdoll, who had qualified 38th. Nemechek went to the #73 for the 500.
• Dale Earnhardt rolled his #3 Chevrolet in a crash with the #28 Ford of 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, 5 laps down in 31st. The car can be found in diecast form in 1:64 and 1:24 scale and is known to collectors as the "crash car" and the only diecast car to be replicated of a crash.
• At age 25, Jeff Gordon became the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever until Trevor Bayne in 2011. Richard Petty had previously been the youngest winner in 1964, when he won the 500 at age 26.
• 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

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 99-Jeff Burton
4. 10-Ricky Rudd
5. 25-Ricky Craven
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
9. 28-Ernie Irvan
10. 1-Morgan Shepherd

• With this victory, Jeff Gordon became the fourth driver to win the Daytona 500 and the second race of the season.

  Pontiac Excitement 400

1. 2-Rusty Wallace
2. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 43-Bobby Hamilton
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 30-Johnny Benson
10. 44-Kyle Petty

• During post-race inspection, Rusty Wallace's engine failed to meet the proper 14:1 compression ratio. Due to this, Nascar suspended Wallace's victory and confiscated his car's motor. After conducting another test the following day, the cooler temperature engine met the required compression ratio. As a result, Wallace's victory was certified official.
• Only 3 cars finished on the lead lap in this race.
• This was the last Winston Cup race at Richmond International Raceway scheduled for the daytime until 2016, and the last time that the first Richmond race of the season was held in March, due to the cold, wet weather that is often seen at Richmond in late winter.

  Primestar 500

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 1-Morgan Shepherd
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 21-Michael Waltrip
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 5-Terry Labonte
10. 43-Bobby Hamilton

• This was the final race held on the configuration of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Renovations had already started that would turn the racetrack into a quad-oval.
• This race was red flagged on lap 282 due to a crash involving the #41 of Steve Grissom. The #23 of Jimmy Spencer had spun out off Turn 2 and was hit by the #31 of Mike Skinner. Grissom spun to avoid this wreck and hit the inside wall near where there was a gate allowing infield access for motorhomes. Because of this, the car hit the wall tail first, breaking the wall, shearing the fuel cell out of the car and putting Grissom on his roof. The #91 of Mike Wallace backed off the throttle upon seeing the accident, which caused his exhaust to throw flames right over the fuel cell. This caused a significant fire. Grissom was not seriously injured.

  TranSouth Financial 400

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 16-Ted Musgrave
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 18-Bobby Labonte
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 21-Michael Waltrip
8. 33-Ken Schrader
9. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
10. 30-Johnny Benson

• This was Phil Parsons last Winston Cup start
• First of only 2 times that Dale Jarrett would score back-to-back victories. The second time would come in 2001.

  Interstate Batteries 500

1. 99-Jeff Burton*
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 18-Bobby Labonte
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 10-Ricky Rudd
6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 4-Sterling Marlin
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 41-Steve Grissom

• This was Jeff Burton's first career Winston Cup victory.
• Even though this race was the inaugural event, the race date was acquired as part of the purchase of North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1996.
• This race was marred by two huge crashes. The first occurred just after the start between turns 1 and 2, which involved at least 15 cars, including Dale Earnhardt, who was able to continue. Near the halfway point of the race, Rusty Wallace struck the wall off turn 4 and dropped oil on the track near the tri-oval, into which Mike Skinner, Brett Bodine and Sterling Marlin spun. Seconds later, four more cars became involved in the wreck, including Ernie Irvan, who was trying to get back on the lead lap, Jeff Gordon and Greg Sacks.
• Ricky Craven suffered a concussion in a practice crash and was forced to sit out. This was the beginning of a series of injuries that adversely affected Craven's career over the next 4 years. Todd Bodine subbed for Craven in this race and ran very well until he crashed out of the lead.

  Food City 500

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 3-Dale Earnhardt
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 97-Chad Little
9. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
10. 11-Brett Bodine

• This race had 20 cautions for 132 laps. The 20 cautions at the time tied a record for most cautions with the 1989 spring event at Bristol. However, this race had an additional 34 laps run under caution compared to the 1989 event.
• On the last lap, Jeff Gordon bumped Rusty Wallace out of the way in Turn 4 to win the race. Wallace barely was able to hold off Terry Labonte for 2nd.
• Jack Sprague subbed for Ricky Craven in this race due to Craven's injury at Texas last weekend.

  Goody's Headache Powder 500

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 43-Bobby Hamilton
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 5-Terry Labonte
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 81-Kenny Wallace
7. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 17-Darrell Waltrip
10. 33-Ken Schrader

• Winner Jeff Gordon was spun out at one point of the race by Jimmy Spencer, but was able to recover from the spin to win the race.
• Ricky Craven returned to the #25 Chevrolet after missing 2 races due to the concussion he suffered at Texas. He finished 22nd, 2 laps down.
• Jeff Gordon led 431 of the 500 laps in this race, the most laps he has led in a single race in his career.

  Save Mart Supermarkets 300

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 88-Dale Jarrett
5. 17-Darrell Waltrip
6. 11-Brett Bodine
7. 21-Michael Waltrip
8. 28-Ernie Irvan
9. 99-Jeff Burton
10. 22-Ward Burton

• The Melling Racing #9 team technically did not make the trip to Sears Point due to a lack of funding. However, they allowed Jeff Davis' Winston West Series team to use their number on their Ford so that the Melling team could get the owners' points. Davis ended up crashing out of the race, finishing 37th.
• This was the last race for the Winston Cup Series on the configuration at Sears Point Raceway until 2019. After this event, a purpose-built section was added for the NASCAR weekend.
• After David Green failed to qualify, Caterpillar put their logos on the #35 Ford driven by Larry Gunselman, one of the Winston West teams. Gunselman started the race, but Green did get in the car and drive at one point.
• The #19 Child Support Recovery Ford for Tri-Star Motorsports that was driven by Gary Bradberry in the race was actually qualified by Ken Pedersen, a driver in Winston West at the time.
• The #78 Ford for Triad Motorsports tapped Tom Hubert, a crew member for Bahari Racing, to qualify the #78 in 2nd round qualifying. When Hubert qualified fast enough to earn the 27th starting spot in the race, Hubert was put in the car for the race to temporarily replace the team's regular driver, Billy Standridge.
• This was the final race at Sears Point held in May, as it had been for the previous 5 years. In 1998, the race moved to the last Sunday in June, where it would remain through 2017.
• Geoff Bodine Racing's sponsor; QVC, ran an unusual promotion in which a lucky fan would get their name and face on Geoffrey Bodine's #7 QVC Ford, with the winner being Mississippi native Dawn Gillis. Ultimately, however, Bodine would finish in last place.

  Winston 500

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 18-Bobby Labonte
4. 98-John Andretti
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer
8. 99-Jeff Burton
9. 30-Johnny Benson
10. 28-Ernie Irvan

• Joe Nemechek drove the #40 Chevrolet in place of Robby Gordon during this race since Gordon was attempting to do the Indy-Charlotte double in 1997. As a result of the rescheduled race, it conflicted with Pole Day at Indianapolis. As part of the contract that Gordon signed with SABCO Racing, the owner Felix Sabates provided a team for Gordon to attempt Indianapolis with. As for Nemechek, he finished 19th, 1 lap down in Gordon's car.
• This was the last race for the #20 Ford for Ranier-Walsh Racing. The acquisition of their sponsor Hardee's by CKE Restaurants resulted in the company pulling sponsorship of the team. Without sponsorship, the team shut its doors. The #20 car would remain inactive until 1999, when Tony Stewart drove it for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Final time in his career that Mark Martin would win back-to-back races.

  Winston Open

1. 25-Ricky Craven
2. 41-Steve Grissom
3. 9-Lake Speed
4. 97-Chad Little
5. 8-Hut Stricklin
6. 46-Wally Dallenbach Jr.
7. 30-Johnny Benson
8. 33-Ken Schrader
9. 98-John Andretti
10. 31-Mike Skinner

    The Winston

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 5-Terry Labonte
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 23-Jimmy Spencer
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 88-Dale Jarrett
8. 25-Ricky Craven
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 94-Bill Elliott

• The only caution came on the 3rd lap of the first segment, when Bobby Labonte spun coming off turn 4.
• Gordon started 19th because of a problem during his qualifying run.
• After the first segment was completed, the finishing order would be inverted for the start of the 2nd segment. The finishing order of the 2nd segment determined how the field would line up for the final segment. Caution laps counted in the first two 30-lap stages; however, only green flag laps were recorded in the final 10-lap stage.
• Speedvision carried a special live in-car simulcast of this race.

  Coca-Cola 600

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 94-Bill Elliott
5. 99-Jeff Burton
6. 18-Bobby Labonte
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 1-Morgan Shepherd
10. 10-Ricky Rudd

• Race shortened to 333 laps due to rain.
• Geoffrey Bodine suffered a concussion in a practice crash on the Wednesday before the race in Turn 1. As a result, Geoffrey tapped his younger brother Todd to drive his #7 Ford in the race. However, the engine blew after Todd had made a run up through the field, leaving him with a 42nd-place finish.
• This was the final race for flagman Doyle Ford, who had spent 38 years as a NASCAR official.

  Miller 500

1. 10-Ricky Rudd
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 99-Jeff Burton
4. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
5. 44-Kyle Petty
6. 33-Ken Schrader
7. 21-Michael Waltrip
8. 94-Bill Elliott
9. 31-Mike Skinner
10. 4-Sterling Marlin

• This was the last race held at Dover.
• Robby Gordon, in a rather freak incident during the Indianapolis 500, suffered significant burns to his legs early on when an invisible fire started in the cockpit of his #42 Chevy-powered G-Force. This forced him to sit out for a couple of weeks. Wally Dallenbach Jr. subbed for Gordon at Dover, finishing 36th after suffering electrical problems. He was credited with completing 364 laps of the 500 lap distance.

  Pocono 500

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 16-Ted Musgrave
7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
8. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
9. 5-Terry Labonte
10. 3-Dale Earnhardt

• Greg Sacks was tapped to sub for Robby Gordon in the #40 starting here at Pocono. He qualified 4th, but spun into the wall coming out of Turn 1 on Lap 9 immediately in front of Jeff Gordon.

  Miller 400

1. 28-Ernie Irvan*
2. 94-Bill Elliott
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 16-Ted Musgrave
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 88-Dale Jarrett
7. 3-Dale Earnhardt
8. 36-Derrike Cope
9. 18-Bobby Labonte
10. 30-Johnny Benson

• This was Ernie Irvan's final Winston Cup victory, and it came at the very same track where he had almost lost his life three years earlier. He had tears in his eyes as he brought the 28 car into Victory Lane. The win also came in his last year with Robert Yates Racing.
• This was the 1st career Winston Cup start for Jerry Nadeau in the #1 Pontiac for Precision Products Racing. He replaced Morgan Shepherd in the car.

  California 500 Presented by NAPA

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 10-Ricky Rudd
4. 16-Ted Musgrave
5. 23-Jimmy Spencer
6. 18-Bobby Labonte
7. 29-Jeff Green
8. 88-Dale Jarrett
9. 25-Ricky Craven
10. 6-Mark Martin

• After Mike Wallace failed to qualify for the race, his team hastily entered the Winston West race which was run the day before the Winston Cup race. He finished 3rd to Ken Schrader in that race.
• Mark Martin ran out of gas with 10 laps to go and was forced to the pits for additional fuel. However, they did not get enough fuel in the car. This resulted in Martin running out of gas again on the last lap and having to coast to the line.
• This was the only Cup race at California Speedway run in June. The following year, the California 500 moved to the first week of May, swapping dates with Sears Point Raceway.

  Pepsi 400

1. 98-John Andretti
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 4-Sterling Marlin
4. 3-Dale Earnhardt
5. 88-Dale Jarrett
6. 2-Rusty Wallace
7. 44-Kyle Petty
8. 99-Jeff Burton
9. 28-Ernie Irvan
10. 18-Bobby Labonte

• This was John Andretti's first Winston Cup career win.
• This was the last July race at Daytona scheduled to run during the day. The 2014 Coke Zero 400 was run during the day, but only after being postponed due to rain the previous night.
• The race ended with a 1 lap shootout, likely the last such shootout in the Winston Cup Series. John Andretti's crew chief Tony Furr employed a rather cynical strategy of brake-checking the field on the final restart, resulting in a stack-up of cars on the backstretch. As the field entered the final turns, cars spread out 3 and 4 wide, resulting in a multi-car wreck developed in turn 4. On ESPN's telecast of the race, the spotter for one of the drivers involved could be heard yelling "God dammit."
• It was also Cale Yarborough's first and only victory as a car owner.

  Jiffy Lube 300

1. 99-Jeff Burton
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 41-Steve Grissom
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 94-Bill Elliott
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 28-Ernie Irvan
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 7-Geoffrey Bodine

    Pennsylvania 500

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 99-Jeff Burton
4. 16-Ted Musgrave
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 31-Mike Skinner
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer
8. 44-Kyle Petty
9. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
10. 94-Bill Elliott

    Brickyard 400

1. 10-Ricky Rudd
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 30-Johnny Benson
8. 94-Bill Elliott
9. 31-Mike Skinner
10. 28-Ernie Irvan

• First time since 1987 that Ricky Rudd won multiple races in a season.

  The Bud At The Glen

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
3. 2-Rusty Wallace
4. 40-Robby Gordon
5. 6-Mark Martin
6. 16-Ted Musgrave
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 5-Terry Labonte
9. 41-Steve Grissom
10. 46-Wally Dallenbach Jr.

• This was Jeff Gordon's 1st career victory on a road course, beginning a streak of 6 consecutive road course wins that lasted until 2000.
• This race was the 1st career Winston Cup start for Steve Park, driving the #14 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. He qualified well, but ended up finishing 33rd, 2 laps down.

  DeVilbiss 400

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 24-Jeff Gordon
3. 16-Ted Musgrave
4. 28-Ernie Irvan
5. 88-Dale Jarrett
6. 18-Bobby Labonte
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 99-Jeff Burton
9. 3-Dale Earnhardt
10. 5-Terry Labonte

Goody's Headache Powder 500

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 90-Dick Trickle
4. 99-Jeff Burton
5. 41-Steve Grissom
6. 33-Ken Schrader
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 18-Bobby Labonte
9. 7-Geoffrey Bodine*
10. 4-Sterling Marlin

• Jeff Gordon was spun out of the lead by Jeremy Mayfield around the halfway point of the race.
• David Green got on his side during a crash around lap 260. He grinded along on his driver's side after getting bounced off the #36 of Derrike Cope into the wall coming off Turn 4. After sliding about with other cars spinning around him, the car flipped over once and got back on all 4 wheels. Green was ok.
• Shortly after the halfway point, Geoffrey Bodine's crew chief Pat Tryson quit the team, apparently unhappy with the way the team was being managed.

  Mountain Dew Southern 500

1. 24-Jeff Gordon*
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 88-Dale Jarrett
4. 94-Bill Elliott
5. 10-Ricky Rudd
6. 5-Terry Labonte
7. 18-Bobby Labonte
8. 6-Mark Martin
9. 21-Michael Waltrip
10. 33-Ken Schrader

• Jeff Gordon's victory made him the 2nd and final driver, joining Bill Elliott, to win the Winston Million. Ironically, the 2 drivers that won the Winston Million won it in the very first running in 1985, and in the very last running in 1997. The program was replaced the following season in 1998 with the No Bull 5 program, which offered five drivers the chance to win 1 million dollars.
• Dale Earnhardt mysteriously passed out during the pace laps for the race and hit the wall. Nobody is really sure what caused this, but Earnhardt had to step out of the car for the day. Once the car was repaired, Busch Series driver Mike Dillon was tapped to sub in the #3. Dillon drove the car to a 30th-place finish, 85 laps down.
• "Jeff Burton will make a challenge off the corner, onto the straightaway...but Jeff Gordon wins it!"-Bob Jenkins as Jeff Burton tried to challenge Gordon for the victory in the last corners.

  Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 99-Jeff Burton
3. 24-Jeff Gordon
4. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
5. 2-Rusty Wallace
6. 42-Joe Nemechek
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 27-Kenny Irwin Jr.*
9. 16-Ted Musgrave
10. 37-Jeremy Mayfield

• This was Kenny Irwin Jr.'s 1st career Winston Cup start.

  CMT 300

1. 24-Jeff Gordon
2. 28-Ernie Irvan
3. 43-Bobby Hamilton
4. 41-Steve Grissom
5. 25-Ricky Craven
6. 88-Dale Jarrett
7. 23-Jimmy Spencer
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 6-Mark Martin
10. 8-Hut Stricklin

• This was the 1st September race held at New Hampshire International Speedway. The race date was acquired as part of the purchase of North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1996 that resulted in its dates being split.
• Jeff Burton had an inner ear problem and required relief from Todd Bodine.
• 10th and final win of 1997 for Jeff Gordon.

  MBNA 400

1. 6-Mark Martin
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 44-Kyle Petty
4. 18-Bobby Labonte
5. 88-Dale Jarrett
6. 10-Ricky Rudd
7. 24-Jeff Gordon
8. 94-Bill Elliott
9. 28-Ernie Irvan
10. 75-Rick Mast

• This was the first race at Dover.

  Hanes 500

1. 99-Jeff Burton
2. 3-Dale Earnhardt
3. 43-Bobby Hamilton
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 94-Bill Elliott
6. 81-Kenny Wallace
7. 22-Ward Burton
8. 25-Ricky Craven
9. 33-Ken Schrader
10. 28-Ernie Irvan

• Jeff Burton inherited the lead after leader Rusty Wallace jumped a restart and was black flagged as a result.
• Steve Park drove the #40 Chevrolet in place of Robby Gordon, who was subbing for Dario Franchitti at the inaugural Marlboro 500 CART race at California Speedway. Park blew an engine early and finished 41st. Ironically, Franchitti would drive the 40 car in 2008, 11 years later.

  UAW-GM Quality 500

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 3-Dale Earnhardt
4. 6-Mark Martin
5. 24-Jeff Gordon
6. 99-Jeff Burton
7. 94-Bill Elliott
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 44-Kyle Petty
10. 30-Johnny Benson

• Waltrip failed to qualify because Terry Labonte, who was higher in points, used the past champion's provisional. This was Waltrip's first DNQ in 23 years, last time was the 1974 Winston 500.
• This was Rick Wilson’s final cup start
• This was the first career start for Kevin Lepage in the #91 Chevrolet. He finished 40th after wrecking.
• Early in the race, there was an unusual water seapage problem on the backstretch. This resulted in the track near the outside wall in the middle of the backstretch being wet to the point where cars were kicking up spray. This did not cause any problems, however.
• This was the first race for ISM Racing's #35 Pontiac with Todd Bodine as the driver. The car qualified well, then sank to the rear of the field and eventually finished 26th, 4 laps down.

  DieHard 500

1. 5-Terry Labonte
2. 18-Bobby Labonte
3. 98-John Andretti
4. 33-Ken Schrader
5. 28-Ernie Irvan
6. 25-Ricky Craven
7. 44-Kyle Petty
8. 7-Geoffrey Bodine
9. 75-Rick Mast
10. 2-Rusty Wallace

• The top 5 became the first drivers eligible for the Winston No Bull 5 million-dollar bonus for next season, meaning that if any of them were to win the 1998 Daytona 500, they would receive an extra $1 million.
• With this win Terry Labonte became only the second Chevrolet driver to win a race in 1997. Jeff Gordon had all of the other wins for Chevrolet in 1997.
• Last top-5 finish for Ernie Irvan
• Last Talladega race to be broadcast by CBS. The network's acquisition of the AFC broadcasting rights for 1998, coupled with NASCAR's shifting the second Talladega race from July to October, meant that CBS's 22 year relationship with Talladega came to an end after the 1997 running.
• This was the last time the DieHard brand sponsored the second Talladega race. Starting in 1998; DieHard and Winston, sponsor of the spring Winston 500 race, swapped race sponsorships.

  AC Delco 400

1. 43-Bobby Hamilton
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 25-Ricky Craven
4. 24-Jeff Gordon
5. 90-Dick Trickle
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 5-Terry Labonte
8. 3-Dale Earnhardt
9. 4-Sterling Marlin
10. 42-Joe Nemechek

Dura Lube 500 Presented by Kmart

1. 88-Dale Jarrett
2. 2-Rusty Wallace
3. 43-Bobby Hamilton
4. 33-Ken Schrader
5. 3-Dale Earnhardt
6. 6-Mark Martin
7. 30-Johnny Benson
8. 41-Steve Grissom
9. 44-Kyle Petty
10. 7-Geoffrey Bodine

NAPA 500

1. 18-Bobby Labonte
2. 88-Dale Jarrett
3. 6-Mark Martin
4. 29-Jeff Green
5. 36-Derrike Cope
6. 44-Kyle Petty
7. 43-Bobby Hamilton
8. 42-Joe Nemechek
9. 22-Ward Burton
10. 30-Johnny Benson

• Bobby Labonte won the first race on the new 1.54 mile configuration on Atlanta and became the first driver to win on both configurations of the track.
• Dale Jarrett and Mark Martin came into this race 77 and 87 points behind Jeff Gordon respectively. Jarrett finished 2nd, Martin 3rd, and Gordon 17th. Gordon ultimately hung on and won the title by only 14 points over Jarrett and 29 points over Martin, the closest 3-way points finish in Bob Latford's Winston Cup points system history.

  NASCAR Thunder Special — Suzuka

1. 31-Mike Skinner
2. 6-Mark Martin
3. 74-Randy LaJoie
4. 96-David Green
5. 21-Michael Waltrip
6. 09-Jim Richards
7. 72-Kenny Wallace
8. 38-Butch Gilliland
9. 5-Jack Sprague
10. 7-Geoffrey Bodine

• This was the final race for Ford Thunderbirds. Mark Martin ran a Thunderbird and finished 2nd.
• Bill France Jr suffered a mild heart attack during the trip to Japan. He recovered to live nearly another 10 years.
• Rain tires were used on Winston Cup cars for the first time ever during Qualifying and Practice sessions.

  Results and standings

Drivers' championship

Full Top 50

1. Jeff Gordon - 4710
2. Dale Jarrett - 4696
3. Mark Martin - 4681
4. Jeff Burton - 4285
5. Dale Earnhardt - 4216
6. Terry Labonte - 4177
7. Bobby Labonte - 4101
8. Bill Elliott - 3836
9. Rusty Wallace - 3598
10. Ken Schrader - 3576
11. Johnny Benson - 3575
12. Ted Musgrave - 3556
13. Jeremy Mayfield - 3547
14. Ernie Irvan - 3534
15. Kyle Petty - 3455
16. Bobby Hamilton - 3450
17. Ricky Rudd - 3330
18. Michael Waltrip - 3173
19. Ricky Craven - 3108
20. Jimmy Spencer - 3079
21. Steve Grissom - 3061
22. Geoffrey Bodine - 3046
23. John Andretti - 3019
24. Ward Burton - 2987
25. Sterling Marlin - 2954
26. Darrell Waltrip - 2942
27. Derrike Cope - 2901
28. Joe Nemechek - 2754
29. Brett Bodine - 2716
30. Mike Skinner ' - 2669
31. Dick Trickle - 2629
32. Rick Mast - 2569
33. Kenny Wallace - 2462
34. Hut Stricklin - 2423
35. Lake Speed - 2301
36. Chad Little - 2081
37. David Green ' - 2038
38. Morgan Shepherd - 2033
39. Jeff Green ' - 1624
40. Robby Gordon ' - 1495
41. Wally Dallenbach Jr. - 1475
42. Dave Marcis - 1405
43. Robert Pressley - 984
44. Gary Bradberry - 868
45. Greg Sacks - 778
46. Mike Wallace - 541
47. Bobby Hillin Jr. - 511
48. Lance Hooper - 402
49. Kenny Irwin Jr. - 390
50. Billy Standridge - 366

    [NASCAR Rookie of the Year]