# 1997 CMT 300

The 1997 CMT 300 was the 25th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the inaugural iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 14, 1997, in Loudon, New Hampshire, at New Hampshire International Speedway, a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) permanent, oval-shaped, low-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 300 laps to complete. At race's end, a fuel-only call by Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon late in the race would manage to help him propel to his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his 10th and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan and Petty Enterprises driver Bobby Hamilton would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road course, which includes much of the oval. The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

### 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 |
| 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 |
| 14 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Burger King |
| 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 |
| 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 | Kevin Lepage | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | LJ Racing |
| 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 12, at 4:00 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, September 13, at 11:00 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.
Ken Schrader, driving for Andy Petree Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.484 and an average speed of 129.182 miles per hour (207.898 km/h).
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Lance Hooper, Steve Park, and Kevin Lepage.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 29.484 | 129.182 |
| 2 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.672 | 128.363 |
| 3 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.683 | 128.316 |
| 4 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.827 | 127.696 |
| 5 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 29.837 | 127.654 |
| 6 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.854 | 127.581 |
| 7 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 29.871 | 127.508 |
| 8 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.898 | 127.393 |
| 9 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 29.905 | 127.363 |
| 10 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 29.921 | 127.295 |
| 11 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 29.928 | 127.265 |
| 12 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 29.929 | 127.261 |
| 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.940 | 127.214 |
| 14 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 29.941 | 127.210 |
| 15 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.944 | 127.197 |
| 16 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 29.947 | 127.185 |
| 17 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.969 | 127.091 |
| 18 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 29.974 | 127.070 |
| 19 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 29.978 | 127.053 |
| 20 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 29.981 | 127.040 |
| 21 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 29.984 | 127.028 |
| 22 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.990 | 127.002 |
| 23 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.008 | 126.926 |
| 24 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 30.019 | 126.880 |
| 25 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 30.026 | 126.850 |
| 26 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.852 | 127.589 |
| 27 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.887 | 127.440 |
| 28 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 29.888 | 127.436 |
| 29 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 29.961 | 127.125 |
| 30 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.962 | 127.121 |
| 31 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 30.032 | 126.825 |
| 32 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 30.037 | 126.804 |
| 33 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 30.120 | 126.454 |
| 34 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 30.135 | 126.391 |
| 35 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 30.151 | 126.324 |
| 36 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.234 | 125.977 |
| 37 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 30.248 | 125.919 |
| 38 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 30.290 | 125.744 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 39 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 40 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 41 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 42 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 43 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 1 | Lance Hooper | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 45 | 14 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 46 | 91 | Kevin Lepage | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| 1 | 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 300 | 137 | running | 185 | $188,625 |
| 2 | 40 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 300 | 5 | running | 175 | $111,425 |
| 3 | 2 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 300 | 62 | running | 170 | $84,925 |
| 4 | 23 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 300 | 0 | running | 160 | $63,225 |
| 5 | 6 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 300 | 91 | running | 160 | $62,425 |
| 6 | 19 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 150 | $52,125 |
| 7 | 16 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 300 | 1 | running | 151 | $47,725 |
| 8 | 30 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 300 | 0 | running | 142 | $49,025 |
| 9 | 17 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 300 | 1 | running | 143 | $47,025 |
| 10 | 25 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 134 | $47,325 |
| 11 | 10 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 130 | $42,125 |
| 12 | 11 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 300 | 0 | running | 127 | $33,225 |
| 13 | 29 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 300 | 0 | running | 124 | $33,725 |
| 14 | 39 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 121 | $46,025 |
| 15 | 12 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 300 | 0 | running | 118 | $45,925 |
| 16 | 14 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 115 | $38,825 |
| 17 | 5 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 112 | $38,000 |
| 18 | 9 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 300 | 0 | running | 109 | $30,300 |
| 19 | 20 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 300 | 0 | running | 106 | $37,000 |
| 20 | 7 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 300 | 1 | running | 108 | $36,700 |
| 21 | 33 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 299 | 0 | crash | 100 | $42,975 |
| 22 | 28 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 299 | 0 | running | 97 | $29,175 |
| 23 | 35 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 299 | 0 | running | 94 | $25,875 |
| 24 | 26 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 299 | 0 | running | 91 | $37,575 |
| 25 | 27 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 299 | 0 | running | 88 | $27,285 |
| 26 | 24 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 299 | 0 | running | 85 | $27,975 |
| 27 | 34 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 298 | 0 | running | 82 | $34,750 |
| 28 | 38 | 97 | Chad Little | Roush Racing | Pontiac | 298 | 0 | running | 79 | $27,050 |
| 29 | 32 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 298 | 0 | running | 76 | $24,350 |
| 30 | 21 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 297 | 0 | running | 73 | $31,150 |
| 31 | 8 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | running | 70 | $23,950 |
| 32 | 15 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 297 | 0 | running | 67 | $30,750 |
| 33 | 3 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 295 | 0 | running | 64 | $32,050 |
| 34 | 31 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Triad Motorsports | Ford | 295 | 0 | running | 61 | $23,350 |
| 35 | 4 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 295 | 0 | running | 58 | $23,150 |
| 36 | 22 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | crash | 55 | $29,950 |
| 37 | 1 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 291 | 2 | running | 57 | $36,250 |
| 38 | 36 | 29 | Jeff Green (R) | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 287 | 0 | running | 49 | $22,400 |
| 39 | 41 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 282 | 0 | running | 46 | $38,400 |
| 40 | 18 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 274 | 0 | running | 43 | $22,400 |
| 41 | 43 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 264 | 0 | crash | 40 | $44,000 |
| 42 | 37 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 233 | 0 | crash | 37 | $37,400 |
| 43 | 42 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 185 | 0 | crash | 34 | $22,400 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 1 | Lance Hooper | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 14 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 46 | | 91 | Kevin Lepage | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||