1997 Daytona 500

The 1997 Daytona 500 was run on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The #31 of Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.

Results

1. 24-Jeff Gordon, Led 40 of 200 Laps
2. 5-Terry Labonte
3. 25-Ricky Craven
4. 94-Bill Elliott, Led 30 Laps
5. 4-Sterling Marlin, Led 8 Laps
6. 37-Jeremy Mayfield
7. 6-Mark Martin, Led 52 Laps
8. 22-Ward Burton
9. 10-Ricky Rudd
10. 17-Darrell Waltrip
11. 99-Jeff Burton
12. 31-Mike Skinner*, Led 1 Lap
13. 16-Ted Musgrave
14. 44-Kyle Petty
15. 43-Bobby Hamilton
16. 40-Robby Gordon*
17. 71-Dave Marcis
18. 11-Brett Bodine
19. 8-Hut Stricklin
20. 28-Ernie Irvan, Led 13 Laps
21. 18-Bobby Labonte
22. 81-Kenny Wallace
23. 88-Dale Jarrett
24. 9-Lake Speed, 1 Lap down
25. 98-John Andretti, 2 Laps down
26. 19-Loy Allen, Jr., 2 Laps down
27. 73-Joe Nemechek, 196 Laps Completed (Accident)
28. 30-Johnny Benson, 195 Laps (Accident)
29. 1-Morgan Shepherd, 195 Laps (Accident)
30. 90-Dick Trickle, 195 Laps (Accident)
31. 3-Dale Earnhardt, 5 Laps down; Led 48 Laps
32. 21-Michael Waltrip, 12 Laps down; Led 5 Laps
33. 33-Ken Schrader, 27 Laps down
34. 7-Geoff Bodine, 52 Laps down
35. 23-Jimmy Spencer, 54 Laps down
36. 36-Derrike Cope, 124 Laps (Handling)
37. 20-Greg Sacks, 120 Laps (Accident); Led 3 Laps
38. 77-Bobby Hillin Jr., 111 Laps (Engine Failure)
39. 29-Robert Pressley, 91 Laps (Handling)
40. 41-Steve Grissom, 88 Laps (Accident)
41. 2-Rusty Wallace, 47 Laps (Engine Failure)
42. 46-Wally Dallenbach, Jr., 32 Laps (Engine Failure).

Failed to qualify: 91-Mike Wallace, 95-Gary Bradberry, 78-Billy Standridge, 15-Larry Pearson, 42-Joe Nemechek, 97-Chad Little, 75-Rick Mast, 96-David Green*, 0-Delma Cowart, and 84-Norm Benning.

Notes

• 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, Busch Series compeitor 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. Both Nemechek and his new sponsor Bellsouth went to the #73 for the 500.

• Remington Arms placed their sponsor logos on the #19 Ford driven by Loy Allen Jr. for Tri-Star Motorsports after Rick Mast failed to qualify the RahMoc car.

• Dale Earnhardt rolled his #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet in a crash with the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford of Ernie Irvan while in a four-way battle for the lead with 12 laps to go. During 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 race ended under caution after the Big One took place on lap 196, involving 13 cars.

• At age 25, Jeff Gordon became the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever. Richard Petty had previously been the youngest winner in 1964, when he won the 500 at age 26. Gordon's record was surpassed when Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500 at age 20.

• Hendrick Motorsports posted a 1-2-3 finish with Gordon winning the race, Terry Labonte finishing second, and Ricky Craven finishing in third.