1997 Winston Cup Series

1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Jeff Gordon won his second Winston Cup Series Championship.
Duration	February 16, 1997 through November 16, 1997
TV	CBS/TNN/TBS; ESPN/ABC
Season statistics
No. of races	32
First race	1997 Daytona 500
Last race	1997 NAPA 500
Drivers' champion	Jeff Gordon
Manufacturers' champion
Rookie of the Year	Mike Skinner
Most popular driver	Bill Elliott
Previous	1996
Next	1998

The 1997 Winston Cup Series was the 49th season of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The season began with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16 and ended with the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 16.

Jeff Gordon won his second NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in his fifth full time season, with 10 wins. He won his first Daytona 500 during the season, becoming the youngest Daytona 500 winner at the time, and became the second driver to win the Winston Million by winning three of the four 'crown jewel' races during the season.

1997 was the first season without North Wilkesboro Speedway on the schedule, and saw the debut of Texas Motor Speedway and California Speedway. A second race was scheduled at New Hampshire.

There were a number of major driver/team switches that occurred prior to the season, with Ken Schrader leaving Hendrick Motorsports after nine seasons to join Andy Petree Racing, and Kyle Petty leaving Team SABCO to form his own team, PE2. Schrader was replaced at Hendrick by Ricky Craven, and Robby Gordon replaced Petty at Team SABCO.

Darrell Waltrip celebrated his 25th NASCAR season by running a series of special paint schemes throughout the season, honoring significant past liveries.

Teams Competing

Car No.	Driver	Sponsor	Make	Team
1	Morgan Shepherd (20) Lance Hooper (6) Jerry Nadeau (5)	Delco Remy		Precision Products Racing
2	Rusty Wallace	Miller Lite		Roger Penske
3	Dale Earnhardt	GM Goodwrench		Richard Childress
4	Sterling Marlin	Kodak		Morgan-McClure Motorsports
5	Terry Labonte	Kellogg's		Rick Hendrick
6	Mark Martin	Valvoline		Jack Roush
7	Geoffrey Bodine	QVC		Geoffrey Bodine
8	Hut Stricklin	Circuit City		Stavola Brothers
9	Lake Speed (25)			Melling Racing
10	Ricky Rudd	Tide		Ricky Rudd
11	Brett Bodine	Close Call		Brett Bodine
16	Ted Musgrave	Family Channel/Primestar		Jack Roush
17	Darrell Waltrip	Western Auto		Darrell Waltrip
18	Bobby Labonte	Interstate Batteries		Joe Gibbs
19	Gary Bradberry (12) Loy Allen, Jr (2)			TriStar Motorsports
21	Michael Waltrip	Citgo		Wood Brothers Racing
22	Ward Burton	MBNA		Bill Davis
23	Jimmy Spencer	Camel		Travis Carter
24	Jeff Gordon	Dupont		Rick Hendrick
25	Ricky Craven	Budweiser		Rick Hendrick
28	Ernie Irvan	Texaco Havoline		Robert Yates
29	Jeff Green # (22) Robert Pressley (10)	Cartoon Network		Diamond Ridge Motorsports
30	Johnny Benson, Jr	Pennzoil		Bahari Racing
31	Mike Skinner #	Lowe's		Richard Childress
33	Ken Schrader	Skoal		Andy Petree
36	Derrike Cope	Skittles		MB2 Motorsports
37	Jeremy Mayfield	Kmart/RC Cola		Kranefuss-Haas Racing
40	Robby Gordon # (21) Greg Sacks (7)	Coors Light		Felix Sabates
41	Steve Grissom	Kodiak		Larry Hedrick
42	Joe Nemechek	BellSouth		Felix Sabates
43	Bobby Hamilton	STP		Petty Enterprises
44	Kyle Petty	Hot Wheels		Kyle Petty
46	Wally Dallenbach, Jr	First Union		Felix Sabates
71	Dave Marcis	Realtree		Dave Marcis
75	Rick Mast	Remington Arms		Butch Mock
77	Bobby Hillin, Jr (13) Morgan Shepherd (11) Robert Pressley (8)	Jasper Engines		Jasper Racing
78	Billy Standridge (16) Gary Bradberry (12) Bobby Hillin, Jr	Hanes		Triad Motorsports
81	Kenny Wallace	Square D		FILMAR Racing
88	Dale Jarrett	Quality Care/Ford Credit		Robert Yates
90	Dick Trickle	Heilig Meyers		Junie Donlavey
91	Mike Wallace (15) Kevin Lepage (4) Greg Sacks (2)			Joe Falk
94	Bill Elliott	McDonalds		Bill Elliott
95	Ed Berrier (12) Gary Bradberry (2)			Sadler Brothers Racing
96	David Green #	Caterpillar		American Equipment Racing
97	Chad Little	John Deere		Mark Rypien
98	John Andretti	RCA		Cale Yarborough
99	Jeff Burton	Exide Batteries		Jack Roush

Schedule

Round	Date	Race Name	Track	TV
	February 9, 1997	Busch Clash	Daytona International Speedway	CBS
	February 13, 1997	Gatorade 125s	Daytona International Speedway	CBS
1	February 16, 1997	Daytona 500	Daytona International Speedway	CBS
2	February 23, 1997	Goodwrench Service 400	North Carolina Speedway	TNN
3	March 2, 1997	Pontiac Excitement 400	Richmond International Raceway	ESPN
4	March 9, 1997	PRIMESTAR 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway	ABC
5	March 23, 1997	TranSouth Financial 400	Darlington Raceway	ESPN
6	April 6, 1997	Interstate Batteries 500	Texas Motor Speedway	CBS
7	April 13, 1997	Food City 500	Bristol Motor Speedway	ESPN
8	April 20, 1997	Goody's Headache Powder 500	Martinsville Speedway	ESPN
9	May 4, 1997	Save Mart Supermarkets 300	Sears Point Raceway	ESPN
10	May 10, 1997	Winston 500	Talladega Superspeedway	ESPN
	May 17, 1997	The Winston	Charlotte Motor Speedway	TNN
11	May 25, 1997	Coca-Cola 600	Charlotte Motor Speedway	TBS
12	June 1, 1997	Miller 500	Dover Downs International Speedway	TNN
13	June 8, 1997	Pocono 500	Pocono Raceway	TNN
14	June 15, 1997	Miller 400	Michigan Speedway	CBS
15	June 22, 1997	California 500 Presented by NAPA	California Speedway	ABC
16	July 5, 1997	Pepsi 400	Daytona International Speedway	ESPN
17	July 13, 1997	Jiffy Lube 300	New Hampshire International Speedway	TNN
18	July 20, 1997	Pennsylvania 500	Pocono Raceway	TBS
19	August 2, 1997	Brickyard 400	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	ABC
20	August 10, 1997	The Bud At The Glen	Watkins Glen International	ESPN
21	August 17, 1997	DeVilbiss 400	Michigan Speedway	ESPN
22	August 23, 1997	Goody's Headache Powder 500	Bristol Motor Speedway	ESPN
23	August 31, 1997	Mountain Dew Southern 500	Darlington Raceway	ESPN
24	September 6, 1997	Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400	Richmond International Raceway	ESPN
25	September 14, 1997	CMT 300	New Hampshire International Speedway	TNN
26	September 21, 1997	MBNA 400	Dover Downs International Speedway	TNN
27	September 29, 1997	Hanes 500	Martinsville Speedway	ESPN
28	October 5, 1997	UAW-GM Quality 500	Lowe's Motor Speedway	TBS
29	October 12, 1997	DieHard 500	Talladega Superspeedway	CBS
30	October 27, 1997	ACDelco 400	North Carolina Speedway	TNN
31	November 2, 1997	Dura Lube 500 Presented by Kmart	Phoenix International Raceway	TNN
32	November 16, 1997	NAPA 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway	ESPN
	November 23, 1997	NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka	Suzuka Circuit	TBS

Results

Round	Race	Pole Winner	Winner	Make	Cautions	Caution Laps	Average Speed	Number of Lead Changes
	1997 Busch Clash	Terry Labonte	Jeff Gordon		1	0	185.376	2
	1997 Gatorade 125 (Race #1)	Mike Skinner	Dale Jarrett		1	1	166.113	3
	1997 Gatorade 125 (Race #2)	Steve Grissom	Dale Earnhardt		1	4	162.749	2
1	1997 Daytona 500	Mike Skinner	Jeff Gordon		8	29	148.295	12
2	1997 Goodwrench Service 400	Mark Martin	Jeff Gordon		7	47	121.371	9
3	1997 Pontiac Excitement 400	N/A	Rusty Wallace		3	12	108.499	15
4	1997 PRIMESTAR 500	Robby Gordon	Dale Jarrett		7	45	132.731	16
5	1997 TranSouth Financial 400	Dale Jarrett	Dale Jarrett		10	60	121.162	15
6	1997 Interstate Batteries 500	N/A	Jeff Burton		10	73	125.111	19
7	1997 Food City 500	Rusty Wallace	Jeff Gordon		20	132	75.035	13
8	1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Martinsville)	Kenny Wallace	Jeff Gordon		11	99	70.347	4
9	1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300	Mark Martin	Mark Martin		3	9	75.788	6
10	1997 Winston 500	John Andretti	Mark Martin		0	0	188.354	26
	1997 The Winston	Bill Elliott	Jeff Gordon		3	5	157.895	8
11	1997 Coca-Cola 600	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon		7	50	136.745	27
12	1997 Miller 500	Bobby Labonte	Ricky Rudd		8	54	114.635	23
13	1997 Pocono 500	Bobby Hamilton	Jeff Gordon		4	22	155.012	21
14	1997 Miller 400	Dale Jarrett	Ernie Irvan		3	18	153.338	26
15	1997 California 500 Presented by NAPA	Joe Nemechek	Jeff Gordon		4	22	155.012	21
16	1997 Pepsi 400	Mike Skinner	John Andretti		4	16	157.791	16
17	1997 Jiffy Lube 300	Ken Schrader	Jeff Burton		2	10	117.134	14
18	1997 Pennsylvania 500	Joe Nemechek	Dale Jarrett		4	18	142.068	23
19	1997 Brickyard 400	Ernie Irvan	Ricky Rudd		6	25	130.814	19
20	1997 The Bud At The Glen	Todd Bodine	Jeff Gordon		5	11	91.294	10
21	1997 DeVilbiss 400	Johnny Benson, Jr.	Mark Martin		3	46	126.883	18
22	1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)	Kenny Wallace	Dale Jarrett		12	97	80.013	12
23	1997 Mountain Dew Southern 500	Bobby Labonte	Jeff Gordon		11	67	121.149	9
24	1997 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400	Bill Elliott	Dale Jarrett		3	16	109.047	10
25	1997 CMT 300	Ken Schrader	Jeff Gordon		8	49	100.364	15
26	1997 MBNA 400	Mark Martin	Mark Martin		1	11	132.719	10
27	1997 Hanes 500	Ward Burton	Jeff Burton		11	83	73.072	15
28	1997 UAW-GM Quality 500	Geoffrey Bodine	Dale Jarrett		4	33	144.323	20
29	1997 DieHard 500	Ernie Irvan	Terry Labonte		4	22	156.601	32
30	1997 ACDelco 400	Bobby Labonte	Bobby Hamilton		5	40	121.730	20
31	1997 Dura Lube 500 Presented by Kmart	Bobby Hamilton	Dale Jarrett		4	23	110.824	13
32	1997 NAPA 500	Geoffrey Bodine	Bobby Labonte		4	25	159.904	24
	1997 NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka	Mark Martin	Mike Skinner		5	18	74.537	7

Final Points Standings

Pos.	Driver	Races	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Poles	Points	Difference
1	Jeff Gordon	32	10	22	23	1	4710
2	Dale Jarrett	32	7	20	23	2	4696	-14
3	Mark Martin	32	4	16	24	3	4681	-29
4	Jeff Burton	32	3	13	18	0	4285	-425
5	Dale Earnhardt	32	0	7	16	0	4216	-494
6	Terry Labonte	32	1	8	20	0	4177	-533
7	Bobby Labonte	32	1	9	18	3	4101	-609
8	Bill Elliott	32	0	5	14	1	3836	-874
9	Rusty Wallace	32	1	8	12	1	3598	-1,112
10	Ken Schrader	32	0	2	8	2	3576	-1,134
11	Johnny Benson, Jr.	32	0	0	8	1	3575	-1,135
12	Ted Musgrave	32	0	5	8	0	3556	-1,154
13	Jeremy Mayfield	32	0	3	8	0	3547	-1,163
14	Ernie Irvan	32	1	5	13	2	3534	-1,176
15	Kyle Petty	32	0	2	9	0	3455	-1,255
16	Bobby Hamilton	32	1	6	8	2	3450	-1,260
17	Ricky Rudd	32	2	6	11	0	3330	-1,380
18	Michael Waltrip	32	0	0	6	0	3173	-1,537
19	Ricky Craven	30	0	4	7	0	3108	-1,602
20	Jimmy Spencer	32	0	1	4	0	3079	-1,631
21	Steve Grissom	31	0	3	6	0	3061	-1,649
22	Geoffrey Bodine	29	0	3	10	2	3046	-1,664
23	John Andretti	32	1	3	3	1	3019	-1,691
24	Ward Burton	31	0	0	7	1	2987	-1,723
25	Sterling Marlin	32	0	2	6	0	2954	-1,756
26	Darrell Waltrip	31	0	1	4	0	2942	-1,768
27	Derrike Cope	31	0	1	2	0	2901	-1,809
28	Joe Nemechek	30	0	0	3	2	2754	-1,956
29	Brett Bodine	31	0	0	2	0	2716	-1,994
30	Mike Skinner	31	0	0	3	2	2669	-2,041
31	Dick Trickle	28	0	2	2	0	2629	-2,081
32	Rick Mast	29	0	0	2	0	2569	-2,141
33	Kenny Wallace	31	0	0	2	2	2462	-2,248
34	Hut Stricklin	29	0	0	1	0	2423	-2,287
35	Lake Speed	25	0	0	0	0	2301	-2,409
36	Chad Little	27	0	0	1	0	2081	-2,629
37	David Green	26	0	0	0	0	2038	-2,672
38	Morgan Shepherd	23	0	1	3	0	2033	-2,677
39	Jeff Green	20	0	1	2	0	1624	-3,086
40	Robby Gordon	20	0	1	1	1	1495	-3,215
41	Wally Dallenbach, Jr.	22	0	0	1	0	1475	-3,235
42	Dave Marcis	19	0	0	0	0	1405	-3,305
43	Robert Pressley	14	0	0	0	0	984	-3,726
44	Gary Bradberry	16	0	0	0	0	868	-3,842
45	Greg Sacks	12	0	0	0	0	778	-3,932
46	Mike Wallace	7	0	0	0	0	541	-4,169
47	Bobby Hillin, Jr.	10	0	0	0	0	511	-4,199
48	Lance Hooper	6	0	0	0	0	402	-4,308
49	Kenny Irwin, Jr.	4	0	0	1	0	390	-4,320
50	Billy Standridge	6	0	0	0	0	366	-4,344

Complete statistics can be found at Racing-Reference.info.

Rookie of the Year

Mike Skinner won the Rookie of the Year award for 1997.

Rookie of the Year Standings

Position	Driver	Points	Race Wins
1	Mike Skinner	257	0
2	Robby Gordon	227	0
3	David Green	214	0
4	Jeff Green	208	0

Manufacturer's Championship

With 19 wins, Ford won the 1997 Manufacturer's Championship.

Position	Make	Points	Race Wins
1		245	19
2		209	11
3		154	2