1997 NASCAR Busch Series
| 1997 NASCAR Busch Series season | |||
| Previous: | 1996 | Next: | 1998 |
The 1997 NASCAR Busch Series season began February 15 and ended November 9. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports won the championship.
1997 team chart
List of full-time teams at the start of 1997.
Part-time teams
| # | Driver | Make | Team | 1996 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Chevrolet | Terry Labonte Inc. | 76th |
| 22 | Scott Lagasse | Chevrolet | Super Sports Racing | new team |
| 24 | David Hutto | Chevrolet | Hutto Racing | 104th |
| 49 | Kyle Petty | Chevrolet | Shaver Racing | 72nd |
| 51 | Jim Bown | Chevrolet | Bown Racing | 33rd |
| 68 | Jamie Aube | Chevrolet | Wegner Motorsports | none |
| 70 | Dale Fischlein | Chevrolet | Mike Stegall Racing | 61st |
| 81 | Stanton Barrett | Chevrolet | Pro Tech Motorsports | 64th |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet | NEMCO Motorsports | 34th |
| 91 | Doug Reid III (R) | Chevrolet | Barney Walker Motorsports Inc. | new team |
Gargoyles 300
The Gargoyles 300 was held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 21-Michael Waltrip
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 63-Tracy Leslie
- 45-Greg Sacks
- 3-Steve Park
- 37-Mark Green
- 4-Jeff Purvis
- 10-Phil Parsons
Goodwrench Service 200
The Goodwrench Service 200 was held February 22 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 60-Mark Martin
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 2-Ricky Craven
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
- 33-Tim Fedewa
Hardee's Fried Chicken 250
The Hardee's Fried Chicken 250 was held March 1 at Richmond International Raceway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
- 60-Mark Martin
- 8-Jeff Green
- 3-Steve Park
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 57-Jason Keller
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 94-Ron Barfield
- 44-Bobby Labonte
Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300
The Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300 was held March 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tim Bender won the pole.
Top ten results
- 60-Mark Martin
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 5-Terry Labonte
Las Vegas 300
The inaugural Las Vegas 300 was held March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.
Top ten results
- 8-Jeff Green
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 21-Michael Waltrip
- 4-Tim Steele
- 45-Greg Sacks
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 3-Steve Park
- 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
- 72-Mike Dillon
Diamond Hill Plywood 200
The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 was held March 22 at Darlington Raceway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 60-Mark Martin
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 47-Jeff Fuller
- 8-Jeff Green
- 63-Tracy Leslie
- 36-Todd Bodine
Galaxy Foods 300
The Galaxy Foods 300 was held March 29 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Todd Bodine won the pole.
Top ten results
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 8-Jeff Green
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 57-Jason Keller
- 39-Elliott Sadler
- 37-Mark Green
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
Coca-Cola 300
The inaugural Coca-Cola 300 was held April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway.
- 60-Mark Martin
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 88-Kevin Lepage
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 63-Tracy Leslie
Moore's Snacks 250
The Moore's Snacks 250 was held April 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 21-Michael Waltrip
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 3-Steve Park
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 57-Jason Keller
- 00-Buckshot Jones
BellSouth Mobility / Opryland 320
The BellSouth Mobility / Opryland 320 was held April 19 at Nashville Speedway USA. Mike McLaughlin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Steve Park
- 8-Jeff Green
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 28-Jeff Purvis
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 1-Hermie Sadler
- 88-Kevin Lepage
- 43-Dennis Setzer
- 00-Buckshot Jones
Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K
The Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K was held May 6 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.
Top ten results
- 60-Mark Martin
- 3-Steve Park
- 8-Jeff Green
- 49-Kyle Petty
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 4-Tim Steele
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 94-Ron Barfield
- 64-Dick Trickle
United States Cellular 200
The United States Cellular 200 was held May 10 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 3-Steve Park
- 47-Jeff Fuller
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 80-Mark Krogh
- 76-Tom Bolles
- 4-Dale Shaw
Core States Advantage 200
The Core States Advantage 200 was held May 18 at Nazareth Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 8-Jeff Green
- 4-Dale Shaw
- 6-Joe Bessey
- 57-Jason Keller
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 43-Dennis Setzer
Carquest Auto Parts 300
The Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 88-Kevin Lepage
- 60-Mark Martin
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 34-Todd Bodine
- 57-Jason Keller
- 1-Hermie Sadler
- 74-Randy LaJoie
GM Goodwrench/Delco Batteries 200
The GM Goodwrench/Delco Batteries 200 was held May 31 at Dover International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.
Top ten results
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 88-Kevin Lepage
- 3-Steve Park
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 5-Terry Labonte
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 21-Michael Waltrip
Winston Motorsports 300
The Winston Motorsports 300 was held June 13 at South Boston Speedway. Shane Hall won the pole.
Top ten results
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 4-Dale Shaw
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 88-Kevin Lepage
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 57-Jason Keller
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 6-Joe Bessey
Lysol 200
The Lysol 200 was held June 29 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.
Top ten results
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 5-Terry Labonte
- 3-Steve Park
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 1-Hermie Sadler
- 85-Shane Hall
Sears Auto Center 250
The Sears Auto Center 250 was held July 6 at The Milwaukee Mile. Tim Fedewa won the pole.
Top ten results
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 1-Hermie Sadler
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 3-Steve Park
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 4-Dale Shaw
- 63-Tracy Leslie
- 33-Tim Fedewa
Advance Auto Parts 250
The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held July 12 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 72-Mike Dillon
- 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
- 28-Jeff Purvis
- 3-Steve Park
- 00-Buckshot Jones
Gateway 300
The Gateway 300 was held July 26 at Gateway International Raceway. Joe Bessey won the pole.
Top ten results
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 57-Jason Keller
- 4-Dale Shaw
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 45-Jeff Fuller
- 37-Mark Green
- 6-Joe Bessey
- 43-Dennis Setzer
Kroger 200 Presented by Ziploc
The Kroger 200 Presented by Ziploc was held August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 38-Elton Sawyer
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 83-Wayne Grubb
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 3-Steve Park
- 56-Jeff Krogh
- 57-Jason Keller
Detroit Gasket 200
The Detroit Gasket 200 was held August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Steve Park
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 31-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 10-Phil Parsons
- 4-Dale Shaw
Failed to qualify: Mark Day (#16), Lyndon Amick (#35), Greg Sacks (#50), Nathan Buttke (#78), Ron Barfield (#94), Doug Reid III (#97)
Food City 250
The Food City 250 was held August 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Buckshot Jones, who finished 26th, received a 50-point penalty after intentionally trying to wreck Randy LaJoie.
Top ten results
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 3-Steve Park
- 47-Robert Pressley
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 75-Rick Wilson
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 96-Stevie Reeves
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 45-Jeff Fuller
- 88-Kevin Lepage
Dura Lube 200 Presented by Trak Automotive
The Dura Lube 200 Presented by Trak Automotive was held August 30 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. This was the first race run at the racetrack after the start-finish line was moved to the back straightaway.
Top ten results
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 44-Bobby Labonte
- 3-Steve Park
- 60-Mark Martin
- 1-Hermie Sadler
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 2-Ricky Craven
Autolite Platinum 250
The Autolite Platinum 250 was held September 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3-Steve Park
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 00-Buckshot Jones
- 4-Dale Shaw
- 57-Jason Keller
- 60-Mark Martin
- 33-Tim Fedewa
- 1-Hermie Sadler
MBNA 200
The MBNA 200 was held September 20 at Dover International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6-Joe Bessey
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 72-Mike Dillon
- 3-Steve Park
- 29-Elliott Sadler
- 63-Tracy Leslie
- 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
- 5-Terry Labonte
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- This would be the first and only win of Bessey's career.
All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300
The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held October 4 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.
Top ten results
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 60-Mark Martin
- 44-Tony Stewart
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 37-Mark Green
- 3-Steve Park
- 32-Dale Jarrett
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 18-Bobby Labonte
- 00-Buckshot Jones
Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300
The inaugural Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300 was held October 19 at California Speedway. Steve Park won the pole.
Top ten results
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 3-Steve Park
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 21-Michael Waltrip
- 47-Robert Pressley
- 72-Mike Dillon
- 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
- 43-Dennis Setzer
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 74-Randy LaJoie
AC Delco 200
The AC Delco 200 was held October 25 at North Carolina Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole.
Top ten results
- 60-Mark Martin
- 64-Dick Trickle
- 2-Ricky Craven
- 9-Jeff Burton
- 1-Hermie Sadler
- 3-Steve Park
- 34-Mike McLaughlin
- 37-Mark Green
- 44-Tony Stewart
- 47-Robert Pressley
Jiffy Lube Miami 300
The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held November 9 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mike McLaughlin won the pole.
Top ten results
- 87-Joe Nemechek
- 74-Randy LaJoie
- 60-Mark Martin
- 99-Glenn Allen, Jr.
- 20-Jimmy Spencer
- 17-Matt Kenseth
- 36-Todd Bodine
- 88-Kevin Schwantz
- 6-Joe Bessey
- 33-Tim Fedewa
This was a very emotional win for Nemechek, as his brother lost his life at HMS just 8 months earlier.
Final points standings
- Randy LaJoie - 4381
- Todd Bodine - 4115
- Steve Park - 4080
- Mike McLaughlin - 3614
- Elliott Sadler - 3534
- Phil Parsons - 3523
- Buckshot Jones - 3437
- Elton Sawyer - 3419
- Tim Fedewa - 3398
- Hermie Sadler - 3340
- Mark Green - 3261
- Kevin Lepage - 3248
- Jason Keller - 3242
- Dick Trickle - 3074
- Mike Dillon - 3008
- Glenn Allen, Jr. - 2969
- Tracy Leslie - 2880
- Joe Bessey - 2835
- Dennis Setzer - 2541
- Stevie Reeves - 2528
- Jeff Fuller - 2515
- Matt Kenseth - 2426
- Shane Hall - 2285
- Mark Martin - 2104
- Johnny Chapman - 2016
- Jeff Burton - 1948
- Bobby Labonte - 1912
- Jeff Green - 1898
- Michael Waltrip - 1738
- Jimmy Spencer - 1576
- Mark Krogh - 1481
- Robert Pressley - 1465
- Terry Labonte - 1455
- Greg Sacks - 1420
- Jeff Krogh - 1416
- Dale Jarrett - 1364
- Ron Barfield - 1362
- Randy Porter - 1320
- Dale Shaw - 1258
- Joe Nemechek - 1162
- Nathan Buttke - 1135
- Lyndon Amick - 1110
- Ricky Craven - 1063
- Jeff Purvis - 972
- Rodney Combs - 743
- Tim Steele - 736
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - 684
- Ed Berrier - 655
- Tim Bender - 620
- Rick Wilson - 617
Rookie of the Year
Steve Park was the only rookie candidate to compete full-time in 1997, picking up three wins and finishing 3rd in points. Matt Kenseth was the top runner-up, despite replacing fellow candidate Tim Bender several races into the season. Johnny Chapman began the year with NorthStar Motorsports, but was released with several races to go in the season. Brothers Jeff and Mark Krogh came in from the Northwest driving for their family-owned team, each posting one top-ten apiece. Lyndon Amick and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. were the only other rookie contenders in 1997.