1997 NASCAR RCA Cup Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1997 NASCAR RCA Cup Series was the 49th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 26th modern-era NASCAR Cup series. It began on January 26 and ended on November 16. Ernie Irvan of AK Racing won the Cup championship at the end of the season.
It was the last season until 2020 without Matt Kenseth.
==Teams, drivers, and manufacturers==
=== Manufacturers ===
Company 	Marquee 	Model 	Status
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Monte Carlo Z34 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Cavalier 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Camaro Z28 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	Malibu 	NEW, full factory support
General Motors 	Oldsmobile (RETURNING)	Cutlass 	RETURNING, full factory support
General Motors 	Pontiac 	Grand Prix 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Pontiac 	Bonneville 	Full factory support
General Motors 	Pontiac 	Firebird 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Thunderbird 	Full factory support (final year with support)
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Probe 	FINAL YEAR, full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Contour 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Crown Victoria 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Ford 	Mustang SVT Cobra	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Mercury 	Cougar 	Full factory support (final year with support)
Ford Motor Company 	Mercury 	Sable 	Full factory support
Ford Motor Company 	Mercury 	Grand Marquis 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Dodge 	Intrepid 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Dodge 	Stratus 	Full factory support
Chrysler Corporation	Dodge 	Avenger 	Full factory support
==== Manufacturer notes ====
After the stir caused by the unorthodox design of the Mercury Sable in 1996, manufacturers scrambled to match it. Both Chevrolet and Dodge began developing new generations of the Monte Carlo and Intrepid, respectively, to homologate for NASCAR competition, both doing so by 1999, while Ford worked hard to get the Sable's badge-engineering template, the Ford Taurus, into NASCAR. General Motors even went as far as to bring Oldsmobile back for the first time since 1992, taking advantage of the fact that the new model of Cutlass introduced in 1997 used the same platform as the Chevrolet Malibu already running in NASCAR, and that by 1998, they would have a car using the same platform as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix, the Oldsmobile Intrigue; it also helped that the Oldsmobile Aurora V8 developed for the Indy Racing League had been approved by NASCAR.
===Complete schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model 	Primary Sponsor
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt Inc. 	17 	Darrell Waltrip 	Jeff Hammond 	1997 Monte Carlo 	Parts America
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt Inc. 	38 	Kelley Earnhardt (R)	Philippe Lopez 	1997 Monte Carlo 	Pennzoil
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Terry Labonte 	Gary DeHart 	1997 Monte Carlo 	Kellogg's
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	24 	Jeff Gordon 	Ray Evernham 	1997 Monte Carlo 	DuPont
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Tim Richmond 	Phil Hammer
Andy Graves	1997 Monte Carlo 	Lowe's
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	52 	Ricky Craven 	Tim Brewer 	1997 Monte Carlo 	Skittles
Chevrolet 	Marcis Auto Racing 	71 	Dave Marcis 	Bob Marcis 	1997 Camaro 	RealTree Camouflage
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports 	4 	Kenny Wallace 	Robert Larkins 	1997 Cavalier 	Kodak Film
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	3 	Dale Earnhardt 	Larry McReynolds	1997 Monte Carlo 	GM Goodwrench
Chevrolet 	Richard Childress Racing 	31 	Mike Skinner (R) 	Kevin Hamlin 	1997 Monte Carlo 	Budweiser
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	Alan Kulwicki 	Paul Andrews 	1997 Avenger 	Walmart
Dodge 	AK Racing 	11 	Ernie Irvan 	 	1997 Avenger 	Burger King
Dodge 	Bahari Racing 	30 	Johnny Benson 	Doug Hewitt 	1997 Intrepid 	Pennzoil
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Bobby Labonte 	Chris Hussey 	1997 Intrepid 	Sprite
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Ward Burton 	TBA 	1997 Intrepid 	MBNA America
Dodge 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Dick Trickle 	Bob Johnson 	1997 Stratus 	Heilig-Meyers
Dodge 	Donlavey Racing 	90 	Dorsey Schroeder 	Bob Johnson 	1997 Stratus 	Heilig-Meyers
Dodge 	Elliott-Melling Racing 	9 	Bill Elliott 	Mike Beam 	1997 Thunderbird 	Coors Light
Dodge 	Elliott-Melling Racing 	94 	Casey Elliott 	 	1997 Thunderbird 	Super 8 Motels
Dodge 	Moroso Racing 	20 	Rob Moroso 	Tommy Baldwin 	1997 Stratus 	NAPA Auto Parts
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Bobby Hamilton 	Robbie Loomis 	1997 Intrepid 	STP
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Richard Petty 	Robbie Loomis 	1997 Intrepid 	STP
Dodge 	Precision Products Racing 	1 	Morgan Shepherd 	Michael McSwain 	1997 Avenger 	Delco Remy America
Dodge 	Precision Products Racing 	1 	Jerry Nadeau 	Michael McSwain 	1997 Avenger 	Delco Remy America
Dodge 	Precision Products Racing 	1 	Mike Wallace 	Michael McSwain 	1997 Avenger 	Delco Remy America
Dodge 	Precision Products Racing 	1 	Lance Hooper 	Michael McSwain 	1997 Avenger 	Delco Remy America
Dodge 	Team SABCO 	40 	Shawna Robinson 	Mike Hillman 	1997 Intrepid 	Kmart
Dodge 	Team SABCO 	42 	Kyle Petty 	Tony Glover 	1997 Intrepid 	Mello Yello
Dodge 	Team SABCO 	45 	Patty Moise 	 	1997 Intrepid 	Barbie
Ford 	Brett Bodine Racing 	27 	Brett Bodine 	Donnie Richeson 	1997 Thunderbird 	McDonald's
Ford 	FILMAR Racing 	82 	Ted Musgrave 	Newt Moore 	1997 Mustang 	Square D
Ford 	Penske Racing South 	2 	Rusty Wallace 	Robin Pemberton 	1997 Thunderbird 	Miller Lite
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	28 	Davey Allison 	Marc Reno 	1997 Thunderbird 	Texaco/Havoline
Ford 	Robert Yates Racing 	88 	Sterling Marlin 	Todd Parrott 	1997 Thunderbird 	Ford Quality Care
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	Mark Martin 	Jimmy Fennig 	1997 Probe 	Valvoline
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Tammy Jo Kirk 	James Ince 	1997 Probe 	Family Channel/PrimeStar
Ford 	Roush Racing 	99 	Jeff Burton 	Buddy Parrott 	1997 Probe 	Exide Batteries
Ford 	Travis Carter Enterprises 	32 	Jimmy Spencer 	Donnie Wingo 	1997 Contour 	Camel Cigarettes
Ford 	Triad Motorsports 	78 	Billy Standridge 	Bill Hayes
Bob Johnson	1997 Contour 	Hanes
Ford 	Triad Motorsports 	78 	Tom Hubert 	Bill Hayes
Bob Johnson	1997 Contour 	Hanes
Ford 	Triad Motorsports 	78 	Bobby Hillin Jr. 	Bill Hayes
Bob Johnson	1997 Contour 	Hanes
Ford 	Triad Motorsports 	78 	Gary Bradberry 	Bill Hayes
Bob Johnson	1997 Contour 	Hanes
Mercury 	Cale Yarborough Motorsports 	98 	Jeremy Mayfield 	Tony Furr 	1997 Sable 	RCA
Mercury 	Jasper Motorsports 	77 	Bobby Hillin Jr. 	Terry Whooten 	1997 Cougar 	Jasper Engines/Federal Mogul
Mercury 	Jasper Motorsports 	77 	Morgan Shepherd 	Terry Whooten 	1997 Cougar 	Jasper Engines/Federal Mogul
Mercury 	Jasper Motorsports 	77 	Robert Pressley 	Terry Whooten 	1997 Cougar 	Jasper Engines/Federal Mogul
Mercury 	Kranefuss-Haas Racing 	37 	John Andretti 	Paul Andrews 	1997 Grand Marquis	RC Cola
Mercury 	Orr Motorsports 	57 	Rodney Orr 	 	1997 Sable 	Craftsman
Mercury 	Rudd Performance Motorsports	10 	Ricky Rudd 	Jim Long 	1997 Sable 	Tide
Mercury 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	8 	Hut Stricklin 	Bill Ingle 	1997 Cougar 	Circuit City
Mercury 	Stavola Brothers Racing 	84 	Clifford Allison 	 	1997 Cougar 	Circuit City
Mercury 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Michael Waltrip 	Leonard Wood 	1997 Sable 	Citgo
Oldsmobile 	American Equipment Racing 	96 	David Green (R) 	Sammy Johns 	1997 Cutlass 	Caterpillar
Oldsmobile 	Andy Petree Racing 	33 	Ken Schrader 	Andy Petree 	1997 Cutlass 	Skoal Bandit
Oldsmobile 	Diamond Ridge Motorsports 	29 	Robert Pressley 	Wes Ward 	1997 Cutlass 	Cartoon Network
Oldsmobile 	Diamond Ridge Motorsports 	29 	Jeff Green 	Wes Ward 	1997 Cutlass 	Cartoon Network
Pontiac 	Larry Hedrick Motorsports 	41 	Steve Grissom 	Charley Pressley	1997 Bonneville 	Kodiak
Pontiac 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Dale Jarrett 	Jimmy Makar 	1997 Grand Prix 	Interstate Batteries
Pontiac 	Mark Rypien Motorsports 	97 	Chad Little 	Harold Holly 	1997 Firebird 	John Deere
Pontiac 	MB2 Motorsports 	36 	Derrike Cope 	Ryan Pemberton 	1997 Grand Prix 	Jimmy Dean
===Limited schedule===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 	26 	Rich Bickle 	Dave McCarty 	1997 Malibu
Chevrolet 	LAR Motorsports 	12 	Jeff Purvis 	Philippe Lopez 	1996 Beretta
Chevrolet 	T.R.I.X. Racing 	79 	Randy MacDonald 	 	1995 Caprice
Dodge 	A.J. Foyt Enterprises 	50 	A.J. Foyt 	 	1997 Avenger
Dodge 	Barkdoll Racing 	73 	Joe Nemechek 	 	1997 Intrepid
Dodge 	Barkdoll Racing 	73 	Phil Barkdoll 	 	1997 Intrepid
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Bobby Hamilton 	 	1997 Intrepid
Dodge 	Ultra Motorsports 	02 	Mike Bliss 	 	1996 Stratus
Dodge 	Team SABCO 	46 	Wally Dallenbach Jr.	Terry Shirley 	1997 Intrepid
Ford 	Bill Elliott Racing 	89 	Ron Barfield 	 	1997 Thunderbird
Ford 	Bud Moore Engineering 	15 	Larry Pearson 	 	1996 Escort
Ford 	Bud Moore Engineering 	15 	Greg Sacks 	 	1996 Escort
Ford 	H.S. Die Racing Team 	61 	Tim Steele 	 	1996 Thunderbird
Ford 	Melling Racing 	92 	Lake Speed 	Jeff Buice 	1997 Thunderbird
Ford 	Melling Racing 	92 	Jeff Davis 	Jeff Buice 	1997 Thunderbird
Ford 	Ranier-Lundy Racing 	83 	Greg Sacks 	Tommy Baldwin, Jr.	1997 Thunderbird
Ford 	Ranier-Lundy Racing 	83 	Lance Hooper 	Tommy Baldwin, Jr.	1997 Thunderbird
Ford 	Sadler Brothers Racing	95 	Gary Bradberry 	Lee Leslie 	1996 Mustang
Ford 	Sadler Brothers Racing	95 	Billy Standridge 	Lee Leslie 	1996 Mustang
Mercury 	Dave Blair Motorsports	27 	Rick Wilson 	Slugger Labbe 	1996 Sable
Mercury 	Dave Blair Motorsports	27 	Kenny Irwin Jr. 	Slugger Labbe 	1996 Sable
Mercury 	H.L. Waters Racing 	0 	Delma Cowart 	 	1996 Cougar
Mercury 	Standridge Motorsports	47 	Billy Standridge 	 	1997 Sable
Mercury 	TriStar Motorsports 	19 	Loy Allen Jr. 	 	1995 Grand Marquis
Mercury 	TriStar Motorsports 	19 	Gary Bradberry 	 	1995 Grand Marquis
Oldsmobile 	BACE Motorsports 	74 	Randy LaJoie 	 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	Buckshot Racing 	00 	Buckshot Jones 	Ricky Pearson 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	Ken Schrader Racing 	52 	Jack Sprague 	 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	LJ Racing 	91 	Mike Wallace 	Doug Richert 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	LJ Racing 	91 	Loy Allen Jr. 	Doug Richert 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	LJ Racing 	91 	Greg Sacks 	Doug Richert 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	LJ Racing 	91 	Ron Hornaday Jr. 	Doug Richert 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	LJ Racing 	91 	Kevin Lepage 	Doug Richert 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	Miller Racing 	08 	Mike Miller 	 	1997 Cutlass
Oldsmobile 	Norm Benning Racing 	84 	Norm Benning 	 	1997 Cutlass
Pontiac 	Bailey Racing 	66 	H.B. Bailey 	 	1995 Sunfire
Pontiac 	ISM Racing 	35 	Todd Bodine 	 	1996 Grand Prix
== Technical changes ==
1997 saw the return of Oldsmobile to the sport, coinciding with its program in the USAC Gold Crown Series. For this year, the only model run was the Cutlass.
==Schedule==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Save Mart Supermarkets 300 	Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma 	January 26 	WBC
 	Busch Clash 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 9 	WBC
 	Gatorade 125s 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 13 	WBC
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 16 	WBC
3 	Goodwrench Service 400 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	February 23 	TNN
4 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	March 2 	ESPN
5 	Primestar 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 9 	WBC
6 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 16 	WBC
7 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 23 	ESPN
8 	Interstate Batteries 500 	Texas World Speedway, Fort Worth 	April 6 	WBC
9 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	April 13 	ESPN
10 	Goody's Headache Powder 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville 	April 20 	ESPN
11 	Coors 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	April 27 	WBC
12 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	May 4 	WBC
13 	Dodge 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	May 10 	ESPN
 	RCA Open 	Ascot Park, Gardena 	May 17 	TNN
 	RCA All-Star Challenge XIII 	Ascot Park, Gardena 	May 17 	TNN
14 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 25 	WBC
15 	Miller 500 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	June 1 	TNN
16 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 8 	WBC
17 	Chrysler 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 15 	TNN
18 	California 500 presented by NAPA 	California Speedway, Fontana 	June 22 	WBC
19 	Music City USA 420 	Nashville Speedway USA, Nashville 	June 29 	TNN
20 	Pepsi 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 5 	ESPN
21 	Jiffy Lube 300 	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon 	July 13 	TNN
22 	Pennsylvania 500 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	July 20 	WBC
23 	Denver Post 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	July 27 	WBC
24 	Brickyard 400 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	August 3 	WBC
25 	The Bud at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 10 	ESPN
26 	DeVilbiss 400 	Michigan Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 17 	ESPN
27 	Goody's Headache Powder 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 23 	ESPN
28 	Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	August 31 	ESPN
29 	Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond 	September 6 	ESPN
30 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 14	ESPN
31 	MBNA 400 	Dover Downs International Speedway, Dover 	September 21	TNN
32 	Hanes 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	September 28	ESPN
33 	UAW-GM Quality 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 5 	WBC
34 	Sears DieHard 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 12 	WBC
35 	Cisco Systems 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	October 19 	WBC
36 	AC Delco 400 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham 	October 27 	TNN
37 	Dura Lube 500 presented by Kmart 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 2 	TNN
38 	NAPA 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	November 9 	ESPN
39 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	November 16 	WBC
 	NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special * 	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 	November 23 	WBC
* * - The NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special was cancelled due to a driver boycott in the aftermath of the 1996 Honda turbocharger cheating scandal, in which Honda snuck a turbocharger into its HRH engine used in the 1996 USAC Gold Crown Series, causing speeds to spiral out of control and ultimately lead to the death of rookie driver Jeff Krosnoff and a volunteer track marshal at Toronto. The boycott came due to Suzuka being owned by Honda.
== Season summary ==
== Results ==
No.	Race 	Pole Position 	Winner 	Make/Model
1 	Save Mart Supermarket 300 	Clifford Allison	Clifford Allison	Mercury Cougar
 	Busch Clash 	Terry Labonte 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
 	Gatorade 125s Race 1 	Mike Skinner 	Ernie Irvan 	Ford Thunderbird
 	Gatorade 125s Race 2 	Steve Grissom 	Dale Earnhardt 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2 	Daytona 500 	Mike Skinner 	Kelley Earnhardt	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
3 	Goodwrench Service 400 	Mark Martin 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
4 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Terry Labonte 	Rusty Wallace 	Ford Thunderbird
5 	Primestar 500 	Robby Gordon 	Dale Jarrett 	Pontiac Grand Prix
6 	San Jose 500 	David Green 	Rob Moroso 	Dodge Stratus
7 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Dale Jarrett 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
8 	Interstate Batteries 500 	Ernie Irvan 	Jeff Burton 	Ford Probe
9 	Food City 500 	Rusty Wallace 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte CArlo
10 	Goody's Headache Powder 500 	Kenny Wallace 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
11 	Coors 400 	Jeremy Mayfield 	Rodney Orr 	Mercury Sable
12 	Budweiser 400 	Mark Martin 	Mark Martin 	Ford Probe
13 	Dodge 500 	John Andretti 	Mark Martin 	Ford Probe
 	RCA Open 	Chad Little 	Tim Richmond 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
 	RCA All-Star Challenge XIII 	Bill Elliott 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
14 	Coca-Cola 600 	Jeff Gordon 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
15 	Miller 500 	Bobby Labonte 	Ricky Rudd 	Mercury Sable
16 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	Bobby Hamilton 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
17 	Chrysler 400 	Dale Jarrett 	Ernie Irvan 	Ford Thunderbird
18 	California 500 presented by NAPA 	Joe Nemechek 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
19 	Music City USA 420 	Alan Kulwicki 	Alan Kulwicki 	Dodge Avenger
20 	Pepsi 400 	Mike Skinner 	John Andretti 	Mercury Grand Marquis
21 	Jiffy Lube 300 	Ken Schrader 	Jeff Burton 	Ford Probe
22 	Pennsylvania 500 	Joe Nemechek 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
23 	Denver Post 400 	Jeff Gordon 	Ken Schrader 	Oldsmobile Cutlass
24 	Brickyard 400 	Ernie Irvan 	Ricky Rudd 	Mercury Sable
25 	The Bud at The Glen 	Todd Bodine 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
26 	DeVilbiss 400 	Johnny Benson 	Mark Martin 	Ford Probe
27 	Goody's Headache Powder 500 	Kenny Wallace 	Dale Jarrett 	Pontiac Grand Prix
28 	Southern 500 	Bobby Labonte 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
29 	Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400	Bill Elliott 	Ernie Irvan 	Ford Thunderbird
30 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	Ken Schrader 	Jeff Gordon 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
31 	MBNA 400 	Mark Martin 	Kyle Petty 	Dodge Intrepid
32 	Hanes 500 	Ward Burton 	Jeff Burton 	Ford Probe
33 	UAW-GM Quality 500 	Kelley Earnhardt	Dale Jarrett 	Pontiac Grand Prix
34 	Sears DieHard 500 	Ernie Irvan 	Terry Labonte 	Chevrolet Monte Carlo
35 	Cisco Systems 500 	Bill Elliott 	Kyle Petty 	Dodge Intrepid
36 	AC Delco 400 	Bobby Labonte 	Bobby Hamilton 	Dodge Intrepid
37 	Dura Lube 500 presented by Kmart 	Bobby Hamilton 	Davey Allison 	Ford Thunderbird
38 	NAPA 500 	Geoff Bodine 	Bobby Labonte 	Dodge Intrepid
39 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Bobby Hamilton 	Rodney Orr 	Mercury Sable
 	NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special 	race cancelled 	race cancelled 	race cancelled
==Cars used in 1997 (incomplete)==
File:1997 chevrolet monte carlo z34.jpg|Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34
File:1997 ford thunderbird.jpg|Ford Thunderbird (final year with factory support)
File:1997 dodge avenger.jpg|Dodge Avenger (NEW)
File:1997 pontiac grand prix.jpg|Pontiac Grand Prix
File:96-97 Mercury Sable.jpg|Mercury Sable (NEW)
File:1997 oldsmobile alero.jpg|Oldsmobile Alero (NEW)
Category:Johnsonverse