# 1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)

The 1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 was the 22nd stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 37th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 23, 1997, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to take the lead with 30 laps to go and pull away to take his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fourth of the season. To fill out the top three, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin and Donlavey Racing driver Dick Trickle would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Lance Hooper | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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, 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 |
| 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | First Union |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Morgan Shepherd | 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 Mac Tonight |
| 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Feed the Children |
| 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

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 22, at 5:30 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, August 23, at 12:30 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. 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.
Kenny Wallace, driving for FILMAR Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.595 and an average speed of 123.039 miles per hour (198.012 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Morgan Shepherd, Robby Gordon, and Dave Marcis.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 15.595 | 123.039 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.616 | 122.874 |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.634 | 122.733 |
| 4 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 15.634 | 122.733 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.640 | 122.685 |
| 6 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 15.645 | 122.646 |
| 7 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.657 | 122.552 |
| 8 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 15.659 | 122.537 |
| 9 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.664 | 122.497 |
| 10 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 15.669 | 122.458 |
| 11 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 15.674 | 122.419 |
| 12 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.687 | 122.318 |
| 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.697 | 122.240 |
| 14 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.700 | 122.217 |
| 15 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.700 | 122.217 |
| 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.704 | 122.185 |
| 17 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 15.716 | 122.092 |
| 18 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 15.719 | 122.069 |
| 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.722 | 122.046 |
| 20 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 15.724 | 122.030 |
| 21 | 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 15.727 | 122.007 |
| 22 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 15.741 | 121.898 |
| 23 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.742 | 121.890 |
| 24 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 15.757 | 121.774 |
| 25 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 15.773 | 121.651 |
| 26 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 15.711 | 122.131 |
| 27 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 15.777 | 121.620 |
| 28 | 1 | Lance Hooper | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 15.780 | 121.597 |
| 29 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 15.781 | 121.589 |
| 30 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.784 | 121.566 |
| 31 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.790 | 121.520 |
| 32 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.792 | 121.505 |
| 33 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.793 | 121.497 |
| 34 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.794 | 121.489 |
| 35 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.796 | 121.474 |
| 36 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 15.803 | 121.420 |
| 37 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 15.812 | 121.351 |
| 38 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 15.814 | 121.336 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 77 | Morgan Shepherd | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 45 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 3 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 210 | running | 185 | $101,550 |
| 2 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 84 | running | 175 | $46,775 |
| 3 | 4 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 165 | $42,625 |
| 4 | 13 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 7 | running | 165 | $40,875 |
| 5 | 35 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 155 | $37,125 |
| 6 | 6 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $29,465 |
| 7 | 19 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 146 | $39,440 |
| 8 | 38 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $32,530 |
| 9 | 15 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $28,615 |
| 10 | 7 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 134 | $37,665 |
| 11 | 20 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 130 | $27,915 |
| 12 | 16 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 127 | $33,415 |
| 13 | 14 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 124 | $27,465 |
| 14 | 34 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 121 | $32,515 |
| 15 | 12 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 118 | $28,710 |
| 16 | 36 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 115 | $28,860 |
| 17 | 10 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 112 | $26,610 |
| 18 | 22 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 496 | 0 | running | 109 | $26,460 |
| 19 | 39 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 496 | 0 | running | 106 | $30,750 |
| 20 | 37 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 103 | $21,760 |
| 21 | 30 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 493 | 0 | running | 100 | $19,985 |
| 22 | 29 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 492 | 0 | running | 97 | $30,435 |
| 23 | 42 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 489 | 0 | running | 94 | $25,785 |
| 24 | 28 | 1 | Lance Hooper | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 483 | 0 | running | 91 | $25,610 |
| 25 | 33 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 476 | 0 | running | 88 | $18,465 |
| 26 | 11 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 475 | 0 | running | 85 | $14,840 |
| 27 | 17 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 468 | 11 | running | 87 | $24,930 |
| 28 | 21 | 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 465 | 0 | rear end | 79 | $14,820 |
| 29 | 25 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 465 | 0 | running | 76 | $17,810 |
| 30 | 18 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 460 | 0 | running | 73 | $17,800 |
| 31 | 40 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 457 | 0 | running | 70 | $24,290 |
| 32 | 9 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 440 | 0 | running | 67 | $14,780 |
| 33 | 41 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 429 | 0 | running | 64 | $21,770 |
| 34 | 31 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 418 | 0 | crash | 61 | $14,760 |
| 35 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 365 | 188 | crash | 63 | $33,955 |
| 36 | 24 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 362 | 0 | running | 55 | $14,735 |
| 37 | 26 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 346 | 0 | crash | 52 | $15,217 |
| 38 | 27 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 341 | 0 | running | 49 | $14,700 |
| 39 | 1 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 277 | 0 | crash | 46 | $26,700 |
| 40 | 8 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 256 | 0 | crash | 43 | $14,700 |
| 41 | 32 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 189 | 0 | overheating | 40 | $29,700 |
| 42 | 23 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | crash | 37 | $21,700 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 77 | Morgan Shepherd | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||