1997 Pontiac Excitement 400

The 1997 Pontiac Excitement 400 was the third stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 2, 1997, in Richmond, Virginia, at Richmond International Raceway, a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) D-shaped oval. The race took the scheduled 400 laps to complete. In a controversial victory, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to hold off the field on the final restart with three to go, scoring his 47th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Geoff Bodine Racing driver Geoff Bodine and Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would finish second and third, respectively.

1997 Pontiac Excitement 400
Race details
Race 3 of 32 in the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1997 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
The 1997 Pontiac Excitement 400 program cover.
Date March 2, 1997
Official name 43rd Annual Pontiac Excitement 400
Location Richmond, Virginia, Richmond International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.21 km)
Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 400 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 108.499 miles per hour (174.612 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time Set by 1996 owner's points
Most laps led
Driver Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Laps 172
Winner
No. 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

In post-race technical inspection, Wallace's engine was found to had failed to "meet compression ratio specifications" according to NASCAR technical inspector Kevin Triplett. At the time, the engine compression ratio was 14:1.[1] On Monday, March 3, NASCAR would run another test. The official test results came to 14.001:1, which while slightly over, was within the guidelines and would allow Wallace to keep his victory.[3]

Background

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The layout of Richmond International Raceway, the venue where the race was at.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race, and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac Delco-Remy, Cruisin' America Phone Card
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Mattei Motorsports Ford QVC
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Melling Racing
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Close Call Phone Card
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar, The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Parts America
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Loy Allen Jr. TriStar Motorsports Ford Child Support Recovery
20 Greg Sacks Ranier-Walsh Racing Ford Hardee's
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Camel Cigarettes
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Cartoon Network, Scooby-Doo
30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Skoal
36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Skittles
37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Kmart, RC Cola
40 Robby Gordon (R) Team SABCO Chevrolet Coors Light
41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet BellSouth
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac Hot Wheels
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Realtree
75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Federal-Mogul
78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford Diamond Rio, Hanes
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford Square D
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
91 Mike Wallace LJ Racing Chevrolet Spam
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Mark Rypien Motorsports Pontiac John Deere
98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide

Qualifying

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Qualifying was originally scheduled to be held on Friday, February 28. However, due to rain, qualifying was cancelled. In 1997, NASCAR rules mandated that the top 33 spots were based on the 1996 owner's points, since the race was in the first four races of the season. The final 10 spots were based on postmarks on the official entry list. As a result, Terry Labonte, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win the pole.[4]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Billy Standridge, Greg Sacks, and Mike Wallace.

Full starting lineup

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Pos. # Driver Team Make
1 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford
4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford
6 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford
7 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford
8 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet
9 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac
10 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford
11 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac
12 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
13 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford
14 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford
15 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford
16 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford
17 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford
18 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford
19 1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac
20 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford
21 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford
23 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac
24 40 Robby Gordon (R) Team SABCO Chevrolet
25 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford
26 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford
27 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford
28 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet
29 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford
30 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet
31 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac
32 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet
33 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford
Set by time-dated postmarks on entry list
34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet
35 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford
36 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
37 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac
38 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac
39 29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet
40 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford
41 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet
42 97 Chad Little Mark Rypien Motorsports Pontiac
43 19 Gary Bradberry TriStar Motorsports Ford
Failed to qualify
44 78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford
45 20 Greg Sacks Ranier-Walsh Racing Ford
46 91 Mike Wallace LJ Racing Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race results

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Fin[5] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 7 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 400 135 running 180 $86,775
2 18 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 400 18 running 175 $56,875
3 3 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 172 running 175 $50,750
4 2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 65 running 165 $46,200
5 9 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 399 1 running 160 $35,595
6 6 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 399 0 running 150 $30,770
7 1 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 399 0 running 146 $35,845
8 11 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 399 1 running 147 $28,945
9 23 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 399 0 running 138 $25,745
10 37 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 398 0 running 134 $18,545
11 21 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 130 $24,345
12 26 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 398 0 running 127 $24,045
13 5 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 398 0 running 124 $23,870
14 12 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 121 $23,670
15 17 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 398 8 running 123 $25,330
16 30 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 398 0 running 115 $16,215
17 33 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 398 0 running 112 $15,415
18 20 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 398 0 running 109 $22,265
19 8 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 106 $27,540
20 16 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 397 0 running 103 $24,565
21 39 29 Robert Pressley Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 397 0 running 100 $16,965
22 15 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 397 0 running 97 $21,840
23 27 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 397 0 running 94 $21,665
24 31 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 397 0 running 91 $14,540
25 4 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 88 $27,940
26 36 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 397 0 running 85 $12,265
27 14 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 396 0 running 82 $21,340
28 24 40 Robby Gordon (R) Team SABCO Chevrolet 396 0 running 79 $21,215
29 40 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 395 0 running 76 $14,190
30 38 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 395 0 running 73 $11,160
31 22 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 395 0 running 70 $20,615
32 25 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 395 0 running 67 $18,090
33 41 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 395 0 running 64 $11,075
34 42 97 Chad Little Mark Rypien Motorsports Pontiac 395 0 running 61 $11,065
35 28 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 393 0 running 58 $18,065
36 10 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 391 0 crash 55 $26,065
37 34 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 391 0 running 52 $11,065
38 43 19 Gary Bradberry TriStar Motorsports Ford 389 0 running 49 $11,065
39 32 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 380 0 running 46 $11,065
40 29 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 376 0 engine 43 $18,065
41 35 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 336 0 rear end 40 $11,065
42 13 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 248 0 running 37 $19,065
43 19 1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac 131 0 engine 34 $11,965
Failed to qualify
44 78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford
45 20 Greg Sacks Ranier-Walsh Racing Ford
46 91 Mike Wallace LJ Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ a b Poole, David (March 2, 1997). "Wallace leaves questions". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Wallace's hard-fought victory not yet official at Pontiac 400". The Kansas City Star. March 3, 1997. p. 60. Retrieved September 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ McCollister, Tom (March 4, 1997). "Wallace declared Richmond winner". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 94. Retrieved September 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ D. Boggs, Johnny (March 2, 1997). "Rain forces Richmond race to start by standings, mail". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 59. Retrieved September 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "1997 Pontiac Excitement 400 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
Previous race:
1997 Goodwrench Service 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1997 season
Next race:
1997 Primestar 500