The 1997 NASCAR Busch Series began February 15 and ended November 9. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports won the championship.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule List of full-time teams at the start of 1997.
TeamCar(s)Driver(s)Listed owner(s) Akins-Sutton Motorsports Ford Thunderbird38 Elton Sawyer Bob Sutton BACE Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo33 Tim Fedewa Barbara Baumgardner74 Randy LaJoie Bill Baumgardner Bill Elliott Racing Ford Thunderbird94 Ron Barfield Bill Elliott Brewco Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo37 Mark Green Clarence Brewer Buckshot Racing Pontiac Grand Prix00 Buckshot Jones Billy Jones Crestinger Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo20 Jimmy Spencer Allen CrestingerDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet Monte Carlo3 Steve Park (R)Dale Earnhardt31 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo1 Hermie Sadler Gary Bechtel8 Jeff Green29 Elliott Sadler Donald Laird Racing Ford Thunderbird96 Stevie Reeves Donald Laird Ridling Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo43 Dennis Setzer David Ridling88 Kevin Lepage Hensley Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo63 Tracy Leslie Hubert Hensley DAJ Racing Ford Thunderbird32 Dale Jarrett Horace Isenhower J&J Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo99 Glenn Allen Jr. Bill Papke Joe Bessey Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo6 Joe Bessey Nancy Bessey KEL Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo57 Jason Keller Joe Keller Key Motorsports Ford Thunderbird11 Jimmy Foster (R) Curtis KeyLabonte MotorsportsPontiac Grand Prix Chevrolet Monte Carlo 44 Bobby Labonte Bobby LabonteTerry Labonte Tony Stewart 5 Andy Hillenburg Terry Labonte Brad Leighton Steve Grissom Jeff Fuller Laughin Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo45 Greg Sacks Mike Laughlin Michael Waltrip Racing Ford Thunderbird21 Michael Waltrip Buffy Waltrip NorthStar Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo89 Johnny Chapman (R) Meredith Ruark Parker Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo72 Mike Dillon Ron Parker Phil Parsons Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo10 Phil Parsons Marcia Parsons Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo4 Dale Shaw James Finch Porter Racing Ford Thunderbird48 Randy Porter James Porter PRW Racing Ford Thunderbird77 Jeff McClure (R) John Walsh Reiser Enterprises Chevrolet Monte Carlo17 Tim Bender Robbie Reiser Robbie Reiser Matt Kenseth (R) Roush Racing Ford Thunderbird9 Jeff Burton Jack Roush60 Mark Martin Shoemaker Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo64 Dick Trickle Dennis Shoemaker ST Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo47 Jeff Fuller Tad Geschickter Stegall Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo85 Shane Hall Don Stegall Taylor Motorsports Ford Thunderbird40Jerry Robertson Doug Taylor Team 34 Chevrolet Monte Carlo34 Mike McLaughlin Frank Cicci Pontiac Grand Prix36 Todd Bodine Scott WelliverWellrich MotorsportsChevrolet Monte Carlo7 Mike Wallace Ed Whitaker Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Part-time schedule Driver Make Team 1996 result2 Ricky Craven Chevrolet Ricky Craven Racing 29th22 Scott Lagasse Chevrolet Super Sports Racing new team24 David Hutto Chevrolet Hutto Racing 104th49 Kyle Petty Chevrolet Shaver Racing 72nd51 Jim Bown Chevrolet Bown Racing 33rd68 Jamie Aube Chevrolet Wegner Motorsports none70 Dale Fischlein Chevrolet Mike Stegall Racing 61st81 Stanton Barrett Chevrolet Pro Tech Motorsports 3rd87 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet NEMCO Motorsports 34th91 Doug Reid III (R) Chevrolet Barney Walker Motorsports, Inc. new team
Schedule No. Race title Track Date1Gargoyles 300Daytona International Speedway, Daytona BeachFebruary 152GM Goodwrench Service 200North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamFebruary 223Hardee's Fried Chicken 250Richmond International Raceway, RichmondMarch 14Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300Atlanta Motor Speedway, HamptonMarch 85Las Vegas 300Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las VegasMarch 166Diamond Hill Plywood 200Darlington Raceway, DarlingtonMarch 227Galaxy Foods 300Hickory Motor Speedway, HickoryMarch 298Coca-Cola 300Texas Motor Speedway, Fort WorthApril 59Moore's Snacks 250Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolApril 1210BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320Nashville Speedway USA, NashvilleApril 1911Birmingham Auto Dealers Easycare 500kTalladega Superspeedway, TalladegaApril 2612United States Cellular 200New Hampshire International Speedway, LoudonMay 1013CoreStates Advantage 200Nazareth Speedway, NazarethMay 1814Carquest Auto Parts 300Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordMay 2415GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverMay 3116Winston Motorsports 300South Boston Speedway, South BostonJune 1317Lysol 200Watkins Glen International, Watkins GlenJune 2918Sears Auto Center 250The Milwaukee Mile, West AllisJuly 619Advance Auto Parts 250Myrtle Beach Speedway, Myrtle BeachJuly 1220Gateway 300Gateway International Raceway, MadisonJuly 2621Kroger NASCAR 200 Presented by ZiplocIndianapolis Raceway Park, BrownsburgAugust 122Detroit Gasket 200Michigan Speedway, BrooklynAugust 1623Food City 250Bristol Motor Speedway, BristolAugust 2224Dura Lube 200 Presented by Trak AutomotiveDarlington Raceway, DarlingtonAugust 3025Autolite Platinum 250Richmond International Raceway, RichmondSeptember 526MBNA 200Dover Downs International Speedway, DoverSeptember 2027All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordOctober 428Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300California Speedway, FontanaOctober 1929AC Delco 200North Carolina Motor Speedway, RockinghamOctober 2530Jiffy Lube Miami 300Homestead Motorsports Complex, HomesteadNovember 9
Races
Gargoyles 300
The Gargoyles 300 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
74–Randy LaJoie 36–Todd Bodine 21–Michael Waltrip 87–Joe Nemechek 63–Tracy Leslie 45–Greg Sacks 3–Steve Park 37–Mark Green 4–Jeff Purvis 10–Phil Parsons
Goodwrench Service 200
The Goodwrench Service 200 was held on February 22 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
60–Mark Martin 32–Dale Jarrett 74–Randy LaJoie 10–Phil Parsons 29–Elliott Sadler 2–Ricky Craven 36–Todd Bodine 34–Mike McLaughlin 99–Glenn Allen Jr. 33–Tim Fedewa
Hardee's Fried Chicken 250
The Hardee's Fried Chicken 250 was held on March 1 at Richmond International Raceway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
60–Mark Martin 8–Jeff Green 3–Steve Park 10–Phil Parsons 57–Jason Keller 9–Jeff Burton 36–Todd Bodine 74–Randy LaJoie 94–Ron Barfield 44–Bobby Labonte
Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300
The Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300 was held on March 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tim Bender won the pole.
Top ten results
60–Mark Martin 38–Elton Sawyer 44–Bobby Labonte 00–Buckshot Jones 87–Joe Nemechek 36–Todd Bodine 33–Tim Fedewa 10–Phil Parsons 29–Elliott Sadler 5–Terry Labonte
Las Vegas 300
The inaugural Las Vegas 300 was held on March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.
Top ten results
8–Jeff Green 64–Dick Trickle 36–Todd Bodine 21–Michael Waltrip 4–Tim Steele 45–Greg Sacks 10–Phil Parsons 3–Steve Park 99–Glenn Allen Jr. 72–Mike Dillon
Diamond Hill Plywood 200
The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 was held on March 22 at Darlington Raceway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
74–Randy LaJoie 9–Jeff Burton 64–Dick Trickle 60–Mark Martin 10–Phil Parsons 00–Buckshot Jones 47–Jeff Fuller 8–Jeff Green 63–Tracy Leslie 36–Todd Bodine
Galaxy Foods 300
The Galaxy Foods 300 was held on March 29 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Todd Bodine won the pole.
Top ten results
64–Dick Trickle 74–Randy LaJoie 33–Tim Fedewa 8–Jeff Green 36–Todd Bodine 38–Elton Sawyer 57–Jason Keller 39–Elliott Sadler 37–Mark Green 34–Mike McLaughlin
Coca-Cola 300
The inaugural Coca-Cola 300 was held on April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.
60–Mark Martin 20–Jimmy Spencer 9–Jeff Burton 36–Todd Bodine 34–Mike McLaughlin 10–Phil Parsons 00–Buckshot Jones 88–Kevin Lepage 74–Randy LaJoie 63–Tracy Leslie
Moore's Snacks 250
The Moore's Snacks 250 was held on April 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
9–Jeff Burton 34–Mike McLaughlin 74–Randy LaJoie 21–Michael Waltrip 64–Dick Trickle 3–Steve Park 33–Tim Fedewa 10–Phil Parsons 57–Jason Keller 00–Buckshot Jones
BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320
The BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320 was held on April 19 at Nashville Speedway USA. Mike McLaughlin won the pole.
Top ten results
3–Steve Park 8–Jeff Green 33–Tim Fedewa 28–Jeff Purvis 36–Todd Bodine 74–Randy LaJoie 1–Hermie Sadler 88–Kevin Lepage 43–Dennis Setzer 00–Buckshot Jones
Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K
The Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K was held on April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.
Top ten results
60–Mark Martin 3–Steve Park 8–Jeff Green 49–Kyle Petty 33–Tim Fedewa 4–Tim Steele 17–Matt Kenseth 36–Todd Bodine 94–Ron Barfield 64–Dick Trickle
United States Cellular 200
The United States Cellular 200 was held on May 10 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
34–Mike McLaughlin 3–Steve Park 47–Jeff Fuller 38–Elton Sawyer 10–Phil Parsons 36–Todd Bodine 74–Randy LaJoie 80–Mark Krogh 76–Tom Bolles 4–Dale Shaw
CoreStates Advantage 200
The CoreStates Advantage 200 was held on May 18 at Nazareth Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
29–Elliott Sadler 36–Todd Bodine 74–Randy LaJoie 8–Jeff Green 4–Dale Shaw 6–Joe Bessey 57–Jason Keller 34–Mike McLaughlin 00–Buckshot Jones 43–Dennis Setzer
Carquest Auto Parts 300
The Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held on May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.
Top ten results
87–Joe Nemechek 88–Kevin Lepage 60–Mark Martin 20–Jimmy Spencer 10–Phil Parsons 00–Buckshot Jones 34–Todd Bodine 57–Jason Keller 1–Hermie Sadler 74–Randy LaJoie
GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200
The GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 was held on May 31 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.
Top ten results
44–Bobby Labonte 9–Jeff Burton 74–Randy LaJoie 88–Kevin Lepage 3–Steve Park 32–Dale Jarrett 36–Todd Bodine 5–Terry Labonte 38–Elton Sawyer 21–Michael Waltrip
Winston Motorsports 300
The Winston Motorsports 300 was held on June 13 at South Boston Speedway. Shane Hall won the pole.
Top ten results
74–Randy LaJoie 4–Dale Shaw 00–Buckshot Jones 88–Kevin Lepage 38–Elton Sawyer 17–Matt Kenseth 57–Jason Keller 34–Mike McLaughlin 36–Todd Bodine 6–Joe Bessey
Lysol 200
The Lysol 200 was held on June 29 at Watkins Glen International. Joe Nemechek won the pole.
Top ten results
34–Mike McLaughlin 36–Todd Bodine 87–Joe Nemechek 20–Jimmy Spencer 5–Terry Labonte 3–Steve Park 44–Bobby Labonte 32–Dale Jarrett 1–Hermie Sadler 85–Shane Hall
Sears Auto Center 250
The Sears Auto Center 250 was held on July 6 at The Milwaukee Mile. Tim Fedewa won the pole.
Top ten results
74–Randy LaJoie 29–Elliott Sadler 1–Hermie Sadler 00–Buckshot Jones 3–Steve Park 38–Elton Sawyer 10–Phil Parsons 4–Dale Shaw 63–Tracy Leslie 33–Tim Fedewa
Advance Auto Parts 250
The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held on July 12 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
29–Elliott Sadler 34–Mike McLaughlin 74–Randy LaJoie 36–Todd Bodine 38–Elton Sawyer 72–Mike Dillon 99–Glenn Allen Jr. 28–Jeff Purvis 3–Steve Park 00–Buckshot Jones
Gateway 300
The inaugural Gateway 300 was held on July 26 at Gateway International Raceway. Joe Bessey won the pole.
Top ten results
29–Elliott Sadler 57–Jason Keller 4–Dale Shaw 38–Elton Sawyer 34–Mike McLaughlin 33–Tim Fedewa 45–Jeff Fuller 37–Mark Green 6–Joe Bessey 43–Dennis Setzer
Kroger 200 presented by Ziploc
The Kroger 200 presented by Ziploc was held on August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole.
Top ten results
74–Randy LaJoie 29–Elliott Sadler 38–Elton Sawyer 33–Tim Fedewa 83–Wayne Grubb 17–Matt Kenseth 00–Buckshot Jones 3–Steve Park 56–Jeff Krogh 57–Jason Keller
Detroit Gasket 200
The Detroit Gasket 200 was held on August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole.
Top ten results
3–Steve Park 20–Jimmy Spencer 44–Bobby Labonte 9–Jeff Burton