Winston 500
The Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway was originally scheduled for Sunday April 27, but rain forced the race to be postponed. On Monday April 28, rain continued, and washed out the race for a second day. Rather than hold the race mid-week, NASCAR re-scheduled the race for Saturday May 10, during an off weekend (Mother's Day weekend). John Andretti won the pole. The race was run caution-free, the first time in Talladega history. It also stands as the fastest 500-mile (800 km) race in NASCAR history (at 188.354 mph (303.126 km/h), a record that still stands). The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top Ten Results
- 6-Mark Martin
- 3-Dale Earnhardt
- 18-Bobby Labonte
- 98-John Andretti
- 24-Jeff Gordon
- 5-Terry Labonte
- 23-Jimmy Spencer
- 99-Jeff Burton
- 30-Johnny Benson
- 28-Ernie Irvan
Failed to Qualify:
19-Gary Bradberry, 42-Joe Nemechek*, 91-Mike Wallace
- Joe Nemechek drove the #40 Coors 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, 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 Hardees-sponsored #20 Ford for Ranier-Walsh Racing. The acquisition of Hardees 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 the 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing.
- The #9 of Lake Speed was running ACE Hardware decals on the car during this race. However, it was not a sponsorship. At the time, a made-for TV movie called Steel Chariots was being filmed and the #9 was the car driven by one of the movie's characters. Ironically, the movie's main character (D.J. Tucker) drove the #20 Hardees Ford. Steel Chariots was broadcast on September 23, 1997 on Fox.
Read more about this topic: 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series