# 1997 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400

The 1997 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 was the 24th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 40th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 6, 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. Within the closing laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would manage to pass the mainly dominant driver of the day, Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton to take his 13th NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Burton and Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.
The race served as the series debut for future Winston Cup Series driver Kenny Irwin Jr.

## Background

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

* (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 |
| 02 | Mike Bliss | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | Dickies |
| 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 Throwback |
| 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 | Tonka, Winner's Circle |
| 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 |
| 91 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | Spam |
| 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's Mac Tonight |
| 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, September 5. 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, September 6. 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.
Bill Elliott, driving for Bill Elliott Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 21.648 and an average speed of 124.723 miles per hour (200.722 km/h).

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 21.648 | 124.723 |
| 2 | 27 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 21.656 | 124.677 |
| 3 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.671 | 124.590 |
| 4 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.681 | 124.533 |
| 5 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 21.684 | 124.516 |
| 6 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 21.697 | 124.441 |
| 7 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.722 | 124.298 |
| 8 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 21.734 | 124.229 |
| 9 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 21.740 | 124.195 |
| 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.760 | 124.081 |
| 11 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.797 | 123.870 |
| 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 21.800 | 123.853 |
| 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.803 | 123.836 |
| 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 21.811 | 123.791 |
| 15 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.815 | 123.768 |
| 16 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 21.819 | 123.745 |
| 17 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 21.828 | 123.694 |
| 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.832 | 123.672 |
| 19 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 21.833 | 123.666 |
| 20 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.845 | 123.598 |
| 21 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.846 | 123.592 |
| 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 21.850 | 123.570 |
| 23 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 21.860 | 123.513 |
| 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.861 | 123.508 |
| 25 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.861 | 123.508 |
| 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 21.866 | 123.479 |
| 27 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 21.867 | 123.474 |
| 28 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 21.877 | 123.417 |
| 29 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 21.892 | 123.333 |
| 30 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 21.894 | 123.321 |
| 31 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 21.902 | 123.276 |
| 32 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 21.909 | 123.237 |
| 33 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.913 | 123.215 |
| 34 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 21.929 | 123.125 |
| 35 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 21.953 | 122.990 |
| 36 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 21.969 | 122.900 |
| 37 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 21.987 | 122.800 |
| 38 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 21.995 | 122.755 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 1 | Lance Hooper | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 42 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 44 | 02 | Mike Bliss | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 91 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 46 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 47 | 77 | Morgan Shepherd | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 23 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 400 | 39 | running | 180 | $91,490 |
| 2 | 11 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 400 | 235 | running | 180 | $70,240 |
| 3 | 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 0 | running | 165 | $52,355 |
| 4 | 31 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 400 | 0 | running | 160 | $40,005 |
| 5 | 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 400 | 2 | running | 160 | $39,050 |
| 6 | 7 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 400 | 23 | running | 155 | $29,325 |
| 7 | 12 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 399 | 0 | running | 146 | $29,325 |
| 8 | 2 | 27 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 399 | 12 | running | 147 | $17,825 |
| 9 | 38 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 138 | $30,725 |
| 10 | 16 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 399 | 0 | running | 134 | $24,125 |
| 11 | 27 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 398 | 0 | running | 130 | $27,625 |
| 12 | 33 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 127 | $27,325 |
| 13 | 37 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 124 | $27,125 |
| 14 | 9 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 121 | $26,825 |
| 15 | 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 118 | $33,775 |
| 16 | 19 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 398 | 0 | running | 115 | $19,520 |
| 17 | 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 0 | running | 112 | $37,320 |
| 18 | 21 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 397 | 0 | running | 109 | $26,270 |
| 19 | 6 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 106 | $19,145 |
| 20 | 17 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 397 | 0 | running | 103 | $20,870 |
| 21 | 39 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 100 | $25,870 |
| 22 | 32 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 97 | $25,745 |
| 23 | 20 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 397 | 0 | running | 94 | $30,470 |
| 24 | 5 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 91 | $25,545 |
| 25 | 13 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 396 | 1 | running | 93 | $30,395 |
| 26 | 30 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 0 | running | 85 | $25,370 |
| 27 | 15 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 82 | $25,345 |
| 28 | 35 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 395 | 0 | running | 79 | $30,320 |
| 29 | 40 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 0 | running | 76 | $17,800 |
| 30 | 1 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 395 | 43 | running | 78 | $32,290 |
| 31 | 25 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 70 | $15,280 |
| 32 | 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 394 | 0 | running | 67 | $22,270 |
| 33 | 41 | 1 | Lance Hooper | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 64 | $22,260 |
| 34 | 34 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 393 | 0 | running | 61 | $30,225 |
| 35 | 29 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 393 | 0 | running | 58 | $22,215 |
| 36 | 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 393 | 3 | running | 60 | $15,205 |
| 37 | 8 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 | running | 52 | $15,195 |
| 38 | 3 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 347 | 42 | rear end | 54 | $31,685 |
| 39 | 36 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 335 | 0 | running | 46 | $31,185 |
| 40 | 42 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 309 | 0 | running | 43 | $15,185 |
| 41 | 28 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 224 | 0 | brakes | 40 | $15,185 |
| 42 | 4 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | engine | 37 | $22,185 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 44 | | 02 | Mike Bliss | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 91 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 47 | | 77 | Morgan Shepherd | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||