1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series - Save Mart Supermarkets 300

Save Mart Supermarkets 300

The Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was held May 5 at Sears Point International Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.

Top Ten Results

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

Failed to Qualify:

42-Joe Nemechek, 75-Rick Mast, 78w-Chuck Pruitt, 90-Dick Trickle, 96-David Green, 09-R.K. Smith

• 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 Ultra Shield-sponsored 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 2.52-mile (4.06 km) configuration at Sears Point Raceway. 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 Hanes/Diamond Rio-sponsored Ford for Triad Motorsports tapped Tom Hubert, a crew member for Bahari Racing, to qualify the #78 in 2nd round qualifying. When Hubert (who had some road racing experience in other classes) 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.