# 1997 Miller 400

The 1997 Miller 400 was the 14th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 15, 1997, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In a comeback victory, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan would manage to dominate the late stages of the race to take his 15th and final career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his only victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Bill Elliott Racing driver Bill Elliott and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Jerry Nadeau | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | R+L Carriers, 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, Tony the Tiger |
| 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 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | Child Support Recovery |
| 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 | Rick Wilson | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | David Blair Motorsports |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Jeff Green (R) | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Feed the Children |
| 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

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, June 13, 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, June 14, at 10:45 AM 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.
Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 39.201 and an average speed of 183.669 miles per hour (295.587 km/h).

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.201 | 183.669 |
| 2 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 39.263 | 183.379 |
| 3 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.303 | 183.192 |
| 4 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.410 | 182.695 |
| 5 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.474 | 182.399 |
| 6 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 39.482 | 182.362 |
| 7 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 39.512 | 182.223 |
| 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 39.526 | 182.159 |
| 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.547 | 182.062 |
| 10 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 39.580 | 181.910 |
| 11 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 39.611 | 181.768 |
| 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.616 | 181.745 |
| 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 39.630 | 181.681 |
| 14 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.647 | 181.603 |
| 15 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 39.681 | 181.447 |
| 16 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.687 | 181.420 |
| 17 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 39.687 | 181.420 |
| 18 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.693 | 181.392 |
| 19 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 39.709 | 181.319 |
| 20 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.713 | 181.301 |
| 21 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.715 | 181.292 |
| 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.739 | 181.182 |
| 23 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 39.739 | 181.182 |
| 24 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 39.773 | 181.027 |
| 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 39.787 | 180.964 |
| 26 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 39.303 | 183.192 |
| 27 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 39.384 | 182.815 |
| 28 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 39.493 | 182.311 |
| 29 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 39.529 | 182.145 |
| 30 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 39.538 | 182.103 |
| 31 | 27 | Rick Wilson | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 39.559 | 182.007 |
| 32 | 1 | Jerry Nadeau | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 39.566 | 181.974 |
| 33 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 39.610 | 181.772 |
| 34 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 39.625 | 181.703 |
| 35 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 39.702 | 181.351 |
| 36 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 39.710 | 181.315 |
| 37 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 39.730 | 181.223 |
| 38 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 39.735 | 181.200 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 45 | 77 | Morgan Shepherd | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 47 | 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 48 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 20 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 33 | running | 180 | $93,830 |
| 2 | 26 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 200 | 46 | running | 175 | $73,830 |
| 3 | 11 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 23 | running | 170 | $48,805 |
| 4 | 5 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 68 | running | 170 | $42,200 |
| 5 | 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 155 | $47,425 |
| 6 | 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $46,525 |
| 7 | 22 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 146 | $41,375 |
| 8 | 42 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 142 | $33,475 |
| 9 | 8 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 3 | running | 143 | $36,125 |
| 10 | 7 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $33,625 |
| 11 | 36 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 130 | $23,975 |
| 12 | 15 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 132 | $23,400 |
| 13 | 34 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $33,750 |
| 14 | 9 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 126 | $33,300 |
| 15 | 10 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $26,750 |
| 16 | 38 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $28,525 |
| 17 | 4 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 1 | running | 117 | $33,650 |
| 18 | 3 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 8 | running | 114 | $33,365 |
| 19 | 35 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 106 | $27,550 |
| 20 | 6 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 103 | $16,635 |
| 21 | 31 | 27 | Rick Wilson | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 100 | $16,415 |
| 22 | 37 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 97 | $26,900 |
| 23 | 17 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $19,665 |
| 24 | 43 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 1 | running | 96 | $26,455 |
| 25 | 23 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $19,220 |
| 26 | 39 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $18,960 |
| 27 | 30 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 82 | $25,800 |
| 28 | 29 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 79 | $15,640 |
| 29 | 19 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 197 | 13 | out of gas | 81 | $32,505 |
| 30 | 41 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 197 | 0 | running | 73 | $25,440 |
| 31 | 14 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 70 | $18,310 |
| 32 | 24 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | running | 67 | $30,240 |
| 33 | 28 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 195 | 0 | running | 64 | $15,135 |
| 34 | 25 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 189 | 0 | running | 61 | $17,565 |
| 35 | 27 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 188 | 0 | running | 58 | $21,995 |
| 36 | 32 | 1 | Jerry Nadeau | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 186 | 0 | running | 55 | $21,950 |
| 37 | 40 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 174 | 0 | running | 52 | $21,890 |
| 38 | 21 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 162 | 0 | running | 49 | $21,780 |
| 39 | 18 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 135 | 0 | handling | 46 | $37,880 |
| 40 | 13 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 121 | 0 | engine | 43 | $21,780 |
| 41 | 2 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 69 | 0 | engine | 40 | $15,780 |
| 42 | 16 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 | 0 | crash | 37 | $21,780 |
| 43 | 33 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 1 | 0 | engine | 34 | $21,780 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 45 | | 77 | Morgan Shepherd | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 47 | | 40 | Greg Sacks | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||

## Media
### Television

The Miller 400 was covered by CBS in the United States for the sixteenth straight year. Ken Squier, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Ned Jarrett and 1979 race winner Buddy Baker called the race from the broadcast booth. Mike Joy, Dick Berggren and Ralph Sheheen handled pit road for the television side.
CBS :
| Booth announcers | Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap | Color-commentators | Pit reporters |
| Ken Squier | Ned Jarrett Buddy Baker | Mike Joy Dick Berggren Ralph Sheheen |