# 1997 TranSouth Financial 400

The 1997 TranSouth Financial 400 was the fifth stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 23, 1997, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 293 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would fiercely defend his lead against Roush Racing driver Ted Musgrave to take his tenth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his second victory of the season, and his second consecutive victory. To fill out the top three, Musgrave and Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Delco-Remy, 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 |
| 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 |
| 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | Hardee's |
| 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 | Robert Pressley | 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
*Replaced by Phil Parsons in order for Joe Nemechek to mourn his brother John Nemechek, who had died in a racing accident.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 21, 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, March 22, at 11:30 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, while positions 39-43 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 next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.
Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.742 and an average speed of 171.095 miles per hour (275.351 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dick Trickle, Billy Standridge, and Steve Grissom.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.742 | 171.095 |
| 2 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.750 | 171.047 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 28.773 | 170.910 |
| 4 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 28.801 | 170.744 |
| 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.831 | 170.566 |
| 6 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 28.897 | 170.177 |
| 7 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 28.928 | 169.994 |
| 8 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 28.946 | 169.889 |
| 9 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.949 | 169.871 |
| 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.961 | 169.801 |
| 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 28.980 | 169.689 |
| 12 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 28.993 | 169.613 |
| 13 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.002 | 169.561 |
| 14 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 29.042 | 169.327 |
| 15 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 29.063 | 169.205 |
| 16 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 29.094 | 169.025 |
| 17 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 29.130 | 168.816 |
| 18 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 29.134 | 168.792 |
| 19 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.135 | 168.787 |
| 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 29.140 | 168.758 |
| 21 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.142 | 168.746 |
| 22 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 29.145 | 168.729 |
| 23 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 29.155 | 168.671 |
| 24 | 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | 29.155 | 168.671 |
| 25 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.158 | 168.654 |
| 26 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 29.176 | 168.549 |
| 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.191 | 168.463 |
| 28 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.210 | 168.353 |
| 29 | 42 | Phil Parsons | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.211 | 168.348 |
| 30 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 29.234 | 168.215 |
| 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.239 | 168.186 |
| 32 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 29.251 | 168.117 |
| 33 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 29.268 | 168.020 |
| 34 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.276 | 167.974 |
| 35 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.287 | 167.911 |
| 36 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 29.289 | 167.899 |
| 37 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 29.330 | 167.665 |
| 38 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.343 | 167.590 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 40 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Elliott Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 45 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 46 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 293 | 171 | running | 185 | $142,860 |
| 2 | 21 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 170 | $54,330 |
| 3 | 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 16 | running | 170 | $56,240 |
| 4 | 6 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 49 | running | 165 | $34,420 |
| 5 | 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 155 | $38,275 |
| 6 | 15 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 150 | $32,825 |
| 7 | 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 146 | $26,545 |
| 8 | 13 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 142 | $26,815 |
| 9 | 4 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 138 | $25,210 |
| 10 | 36 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 134 | $28,805 |
| 11 | 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 130 | $24,150 |
| 12 | 23 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 127 | $23,820 |
| 13 | 12 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 124 | $34,235 |
| 14 | 30 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 121 | $23,230 |
| 15 | 43 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 118 | $28,625 |
| 16 | 18 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 115 | $22,755 |
| 17 | 19 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 112 | $15,500 |
| 18 | 40 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Elliott Racing | Pontiac | 292 | 0 | running | 109 | $15,265 |
| 19 | 42 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 106 | $22,020 |
| 20 | 25 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 292 | 0 | running | 103 | $13,890 |
| 21 | 8 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 291 | 36 | running | 105 | $28,070 |
| 22 | 26 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,500 |
| 23 | 16 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 94 | $26,055 |
| 24 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 91 | $21,135 |
| 25 | 33 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 88 | $21,165 |
| 26 | 7 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 291 | 6 | running | 90 | $20,700 |
| 27 | 32 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 290 | 0 | running | 82 | $10,610 |
| 28 | 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 290 | 0 | running | 79 | $13,550 |
| 29 | 24 | 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | 289 | 0 | running | 76 | $10,440 |
| 30 | 34 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 289 | 8 | running | 78 | $10,405 |
| 31 | 29 | 42 | Phil Parsons | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 289 | 0 | running | 70 | $12,845 |
| 32 | 9 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 278 | 0 | running | 67 | $26,310 |
| 33 | 28 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 264 | 0 | running | 64 | $10,220 |
| 34 | 38 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 232 | 0 | crash | 61 | $17,185 |
| 35 | 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 224 | 0 | oil leak | 58 | $17,150 |
| 36 | 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | transmission | 55 | $17,115 |
| 37 | 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 183 | 0 | oil pump | 52 | $25,101 |
| 38 | 14 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 169 | 0 | running | 49 | $9,954 |
| 39 | 35 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 7 | crash | 51 | $9,954 |
| 40 | 2 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 0 | crash | 43 | $17,100 |
| 41 | 22 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 69 | 0 | crash | 40 | $9,954 |
| 42 | 37 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 62 | 0 | oil leak | 37 | $9,954 |
| 43 | 17 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | crash | 34 | $9,954 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 46 | | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||