# 1997 Hanes 500

The 1997 Hanes 500 was the 27th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 49th iteration of the event. The race was originally scheduled to held on Sunday, September 28, 1997, but was postponed until Monday, September 29 due to inclement weather. The race took place in Ridgeway, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent oval-shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the late stages of the race, Roush Racing driver Jeff Burton would manage to take advantage of a penalty-stricken Rusty Wallace to take his third career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Richard Childress Racing driver Dale Earnhardt and Petty Enterprises driver Bobby Hamilton would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Morgan Shepherd | 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 | Brett Bodine Racing |
| 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 |
| 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 | Steve Park | 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 | Robert Pressley | 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 |
| 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 26. 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 27. 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.
Ward Burton, driving for Bill Davis Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 20.272 and an average speed of 93.410 miles per hour (150.329 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Gary Bradberry, Morgan Shepherd, and Dave Marcis.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 20.272 | 93.410 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.284 | 93.354 |
| 3 | 27 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 20.328 | 93.152 |
| 4 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.329 | 93.148 |
| 5 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 20.347 | 93.065 |
| 6 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 20.359 | 93.010 |
| 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 20.363 | 92.992 |
| 8 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 20.394 | 92.851 |
| 9 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 20.399 | 92.828 |
| 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.408 | 92.787 |
| 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.428 | 92.696 |
| 12 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 20.435 | 92.665 |
| 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.439 | 92.646 |
| 14 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.445 | 92.619 |
| 15 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 20.453 | 92.583 |
| 16 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 20.457 | 92.565 |
| 17 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 20.459 | 92.556 |
| 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.473 | 92.493 |
| 19 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 20.478 | 92.470 |
| 20 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 20.485 | 92.438 |
| 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 20.496 | 92.389 |
| 22 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.500 | 92.371 |
| 23 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 20.521 | 92.276 |
| 24 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 20.525 | 92.258 |
| 25 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.527 | 92.249 |
| 26 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 20.369 | 92.965 |
| 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 20.431 | 92.683 |
| 28 | 40 | Steve Park | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 20.472 | 92.497 |
| 29 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 20.487 | 92.429 |
| 30 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 20.492 | 92.407 |
| 31 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 20.525 | 92.258 |
| 32 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 20.531 | 92.231 |
| 33 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.535 | 92.213 |
| 34 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 20.544 | 92.173 |
| 35 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 20.557 | 92.115 |
| 36 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.572 | 92.047 |
| 37 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 20.589 | 91.971 |
| 38 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 20.592 | 91.958 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 42 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 43 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 44 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 45 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 10 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 92 | running | 180 | $78,675 |
| 2 | 13 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 170 | $65,800 |
| 3 | 22 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 500 | 65 | running | 170 | $40,075 |
| 4 | 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 21 | running | 165 | $40,225 |
| 5 | 16 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 155 | $34,775 |
| 6 | 6 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $27,875 |
| 7 | 1 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 61 | running | 151 | $35,275 |
| 8 | 36 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $26,050 |
| 9 | 9 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $25,345 |
| 10 | 30 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $33,345 |
| 11 | 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 34 | running | 135 | $34,485 |
| 12 | 21 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 127 | $28,800 |
| 13 | 5 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 124 | $27,065 |
| 14 | 24 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 121 | $15,865 |
| 15 | 7 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 500 | 226 | running | 128 | $39,065 |
| 16 | 4 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 115 | $23,065 |
| 17 | 41 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 112 | $22,365 |
| 18 | 39 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 109 | $16,770 |
| 19 | 26 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 499 | 0 | running | 106 | $21,365 |
| 20 | 32 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 103 | $15,915 |
| 21 | 23 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 100 | $20,465 |
| 22 | 25 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 97 | $31,515 |
| 23 | 38 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 94 | $20,265 |
| 24 | 18 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 91 | $20,115 |
| 25 | 8 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 88 | $12,965 |
| 26 | 29 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 498 | 0 | running | 85 | $12,815 |
| 27 | 20 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 82 | $24,665 |
| 28 | 37 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 490 | 0 | running | 79 | $19,615 |
| 29 | 15 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 489 | 0 | running | 76 | $19,565 |
| 30 | 33 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 464 | 0 | running | 73 | $12,015 |
| 31 | 19 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 453 | 0 | suspension | 70 | $9,465 |
| 32 | 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 444 | 1 | crash | 72 | $16,440 |
| 33 | 12 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 428 | 0 | rear end | 64 | $16,415 |
| 34 | 35 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 401 | 0 | running | 61 | $9,390 |
| 35 | 34 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 394 | 0 | running | 58 | $9,365 |
| 36 | 42 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 289 | 0 | engine | 55 | $9,340 |
| 37 | 3 | 27 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | David Blair Motorsports | Ford | 257 | 0 | fuel pump | 52 | $9,325 |
| 38 | 17 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 240 | 0 | engine | 49 | $7,075 |
| 39 | 14 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 239 | 0 | crash | 46 | $23,075 |
| 40 | 40 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | overheating | 43 | $14,075 |
| 41 | 28 | 40 | Steve Park | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | engine | 40 | $14,075 |
| 42 | 31 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 145 | 0 | crash | 37 | $7,075 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 43 | | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| 44 | | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||