# 1997 Miller 500

The 1997 Miller 500 was the 12th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 1, 1997, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Ricky Rudd, driving for his owner-driver team Rudd Performance Motorsports, would manage to take advantage of mishaps from numerous different dominant cars to take his 18th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. To fill out the top three, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, both drivers for Roush Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.
The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Morgan Shepherd | 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 |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Geoff Bodine | Mattei Motorsports | Ford | QVC |
| 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Circuit City |
| 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 |
| 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 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | 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 |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | 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, May 30, at 3:00 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, May 31, at 1:00 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.
Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.562 and an average speed of 152.788 miles per hour (245.888 km/h).
Two drivers would fail to qualify: Billy Standridge and Ed Berrier.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 23.562 | 152.788 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.709 | 151.841 |
| 3 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 23.732 | 151.694 |
| 4 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.767 | 151.471 |
| 5 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 23.791 | 151.318 |
| 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.795 | 151.292 |
| 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.840 | 151.007 |
| 8 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 23.844 | 150.981 |
| 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 23.848 | 150.956 |
| 10 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 23.865 | 150.849 |
| 11 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 23.880 | 150.754 |
| 12 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 23.910 | 150.565 |
| 13 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 23.911 | 150.558 |
| 14 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 23.946 | 150.338 |
| 15 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.948 | 150.326 |
| 16 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 23.957 | 150.269 |
| 17 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 23.969 | 150.194 |
| 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 23.982 | 150.113 |
| 19 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.009 | 149.944 |
| 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 24.010 | 149.938 |
| 21 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.013 | 149.919 |
| 22 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 24.031 | 149.806 |
| 23 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 24.040 | 149.750 |
| 24 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 24.043 | 149.732 |
| 25 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 24.043 | 149.732 |
| 26 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.662 | 152.143 |
| 27 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.797 | 151.280 |
| 28 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 23.835 | 151.038 |
| 29 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 23.888 | 150.703 |
| 30 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 23.923 | 150.483 |
| 31 | 40 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 23.953 | 150.294 |
| 32 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 24.023 | 149.856 |
| 33 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 24.032 | 149.800 |
| 34 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 24.044 | 149.726 |
| 35 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 24.046 | 149.713 |
| 36 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 24.051 | 149.682 |
| 37 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24.070 | 149.564 |
| 38 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 24.074 | 149.539 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time unavailable.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 31 | running | 180 | $95,255 |
| 2 | 7 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 | running | 175 | $52,405 |
| 3 | 34 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 | running | 170 | $53,155 |
| 4 | 25 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 160 | $37,090 |
| 5 | 3 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 500 | 6 | running | 160 | $31,820 |
| 6 | 11 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 2 | running | 155 | $34,515 |
| 7 | 24 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 146 | $32,265 |
| 8 | 12 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 142 | $31,765 |
| 9 | 40 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 138 | $24,815 |
| 10 | 26 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 134 | $39,615 |
| 11 | 17 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 130 | $29,540 |
| 12 | 30 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 127 | $28,940 |
| 13 | 19 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 124 | $28,450 |
| 14 | 21 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 121 | $38,940 |
| 15 | 4 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 118 | $22,690 |
| 16 | 43 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 | running | 115 | $33,265 |
| 17 | 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 497 | 0 | running | 112 | $31,780 |
| 18 | 8 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 109 | $16,665 |
| 19 | 14 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 496 | 0 | running | 106 | $27,140 |
| 20 | 15 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 103 | $22,440 |
| 21 | 29 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 495 | 1 | running | 105 | $26,840 |
| 22 | 22 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 493 | 0 | running | 97 | $26,690 |
| 23 | 33 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 0 | running | 94 | $16,340 |
| 24 | 28 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 | running | 91 | $26,490 |
| 25 | 5 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 | running | 88 | $19,540 |
| 26 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 490 | 18 | running | 90 | $33,470 |
| 27 | 41 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 485 | 0 | handling | 82 | $26,090 |
| 28 | 37 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 482 | 1 | running | 84 | $26,040 |
| 29 | 23 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 482 | 0 | running | 76 | $25,490 |
| 30 | 10 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 471 | 151 | crash | 78 | $35,940 |
| 31 | 16 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 468 | 0 | rear end | 70 | $15,890 |
| 32 | 6 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 463 | 255 | engine | 77 | $44,130 |
| 33 | 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 453 | 0 | ignition | 64 | $22,780 |
| 34 | 9 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 435 | 0 | running | 61 | $15,730 |
| 35 | 42 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 398 | 0 | clutch | 58 | $15,530 |
| 36 | 31 | 40 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 364 | 0 | electrical | 55 | $22,515 |
| 37 | 27 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 356 | 0 | suspension | 52 | $15,485 |
| 38 | 36 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 323 | 2 | crash | 54 | $22,485 |
| 39 | 18 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 316 | 0 | engine | 46 | $32,485 |
| 40 | 1 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 283 | 29 | running | 48 | $36,485 |
| 41 | 32 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 238 | 0 | crash | 40 | $15,485 |
| 42 | 35 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 237 | 2 | crash | 42 | $22,485 |
| 43 | 38 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 234 | 0 | crash | 34 | $15,485 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 95 | Ed Berrier | Sadler Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||