The 1997 Dura Lube 500 was the 31st and penultimate stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 10th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, November 2, Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent low-banked tri-oval race track. The race took the scheduled 312 laps to complete. At race's end, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett, despite being one lap down earlier in the race, would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 15th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his seventh and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace and Petty Enterprises driver Bobby Hamilton would finish second and third, respectively.

1997 Dura Lube 500
Race details
Race 31 of 32 in the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1997 Dura Lube 500 program cover.
The 1997 Dura Lube 500 program cover.
Date November 2, 1997
Official name 10th Annual Dura Lube 500
Location Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix International Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Scheduled Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 110.824 miles per hour (178.354 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Andy Petree Racing
Time 27.360
Most laps led
Driver Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South
Laps 117
Winner
No. 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Eli Gold, Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Going into the final race of the season, the 1997 NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a tight battle between the three mathematical eligible drivers for the championship, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, and Mark Martin was set. Gordon had 4,598 points, 77 points ahead of Jarrett and 87 points ahead of Martin. If Gordon was able to finish 18th or higher in the race, Gordon would automatically win the championship.[3]

Background

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The layout of Phoenix International Raceway, the venue where the race was held.

Phoenix International Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac R+L Carriers
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 Geoff Bodine Racing Ford QVC
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Advantage Camo
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Commander Produce
14 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Burger King
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
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
27 Kenny Irwin Jr. David Blair Motorsports Ford Action Performance Collectibles
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Cartoon Network, Tom and Jerry, Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken
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
40 Greg Sacks 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
46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet First Union
52 Jack Sprague Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser, ACDelco
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Realtree
75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Federal-Mogul
78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 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
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Roush Racing 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 split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, October 31, at 3:30 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, November 1, at 1:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[4] Positions 26-38 would be decided on time, and depending on who needed it, the 39th thru either the 42nd, 43rd, or 44th position would be based on provisionals. Four spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The fifth is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the field would be limited to 42 cars. If a champion needed it, the field would expand to 43 cars. If the race was a companion race with the NASCAR Winston West Series, four spots would be determined by NASCAR Winston Cup Series provisionals, while the final two spots would be given to teams in the Winston West Series, leaving the field at 44 cars.

Bobby Hamilton, driving for Petty Enterprises, would win the pole, setting a time of 27.360 and an average speed of 131.579 miles per hour (211.756 km/h).[5]

In an obscure ruling, Hendrick Motorsports driver Ricky Craven would earn the 43rd spot based on an owner's points provisional, a spot which at the time was usually reserved to a driver who is a past champion who had not otherwise qualified into the field. At the time, if a champion did not need the spot, the field was only limited to 42 cars. Despite Craven using up all of his seven owner's provisionals within the 1997 season, he had placed the car within the top 38 within the owner's points, thus qualifying himself on an owner's points provisional.[6]

Four drivers would fail to qualify: Wally Dallenbach Jr., Jack Sprague, Morgan Shepherd, and Gary Bradberry.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 27.360 131.579
2 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 27.495 130.933
3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 27.566 130.596
4 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 27.633 130.279
5 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 27.647 130.213
6 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 27.651 130.194
7 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.661 130.147
8 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 27.684 130.039
9 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.688 130.020
10 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 27.690 130.011
11 27 Kenny Irwin Jr. David Blair Motorsports Ford 27.705 129.940
12 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.714 129.898
13 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 27.716 129.889
14 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 27.755 129.706
15 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 27.757 129.697
16 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 27.765 129.660
17 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 27.767 129.650
18 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 27.785 129.566
19 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 27.789 129.548
20 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.790 129.543
21 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 27.790 129.543
22 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 27.799 129.501
23 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 27.802 129.487
24 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 27.820 129.403
25 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 27.821 129.399
26 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 27.833 129.343
27 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 27.835 129.334
28 40 Greg Sacks Team SABCO Chevrolet 27.865 129.194
29 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.868 129.180
30 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 27.870 129.171
31 14 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 27.888 129.088
32 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.889 129.083
33 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 27.900 129.032
34 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 27.916 128.958
35 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 27.917 128.954
36 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 27.959 128.760
37 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 27.980 128.663
38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 27.998 128.581
Provisionals
39 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford -* -*
40 29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
41 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet -* -*
42 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Pontiac -* -*
Owner's Points Provisional
43 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet -* -*
45 52 Jack Sprague Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
46 1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac -* -*
47 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford -* -*
Official qualifying results

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 9 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 312 73 running 180 $99,830
2 3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 312 117 running 180 $63,355
3 1 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 312 91 running 170 $47,225
4 6 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 312 0 running 160 $38,588
5 7 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 312 1 running 160 $39,300
6 14 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 312 0 running 150 $33,265
7 8 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 312 3 running 151 $29,015
8 20 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 0 running 142 $27,505
9 34 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 311 0 running 138 $19,905
10 17 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 311 2 running 139 $29,905
11 29 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 0 running 130 $36,105
12 19 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 311 0 running 127 $25,205
13 37 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 311 7 running 129 $30,705
14 2 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 311 3 running 126 $24,605
15 36 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 311 0 running 118 $25,330
16 16 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 311 0 running 115 $16,580
17 12 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 310 0 running 112 $29,880
18 25 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 310 0 running 109 $27,555
19 22 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 310 0 running 106 $16,155
20 11 27 Kenny Irwin Jr. David Blair Motorsports Ford 310 0 running 103 $12,170
21 28 40 Greg Sacks Team SABCO Chevrolet 310 0 running 100 $15,745
22 23 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 310 0 running 97 $22,620
23 4 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 310 0 running 94 $27,095
24 18 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 310 0 running 91 $15,445
25 42 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Pontiac 310 0 running 88 $15,320
26 30 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 310 0 running 85 $22,195
27 26 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 310 15 running 87 $27,970
28 32 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 309 0 running 79 $16,045
29 41 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 309 0 running 76 $14,920
30 33 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 309 0 running 73 $21,895
31 5 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 309 0 running 70 $21,370
32 40 29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 309 0 running 67 $11,595
33 15 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 309 0 running 64 $18,570
34 38 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 309 0 running 61 $11,545
35 21 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 308 0 running 58 $18,520
36 39 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 308 0 running 55 $26,495
37 10 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 307 0 running 52 $11,450
38 24 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 302 0 running 49 $11,390
39 35 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 299 0 running 46 $18,390
40 13 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 294 0 ignition 43 $11,390
41 31 14 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 240 0 engine 40 $11,390
42 27 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 128 0 crash 37 $18,390
43 43 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 0 crash 34 $18,390
Failed to qualify
44 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet
45 52 Jack Sprague Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
46 1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac
47 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (November 2, 1997). "Jarrett battles for points position". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2001. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Harris, Mike (November 3, 1997). "Jarrett wins Dura-Lube, chases Winston". The Daily Journal. p. 20. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Jarrett charge at Dura-Lube closes gap in points race". Tampa Bay Times. November 3, 1997. p. 59. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Dura-Lube 500". The Charlotte Observer. October 31, 1997. p. 32. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Harris, Mike (November 1, 1997). "Hamilton wins Phoenix pole". The Stuart News. p. 42. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "Craven added to field". The Courier-Journal. November 2, 1997. p. 36. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
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1997 AC Delco 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1997 season
Next race:
1997 NAPA 500