1997 Primestar 500

Fourth race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway 499.216 29.378 1.522 2.449 803.41 328 1997 Primestar 500 4 32 Performance Racing Network March 9 ABC Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons 88 Team SABCO Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing 253 Robby Gordon 132.731 mph km/h 1997 Primestar 500.jpeg The 1997 Primestar 500 program cover, featuring Ted Musgrave, Bobby Labonte, and Terry Labonte. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. The 1997 Primestar 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 38th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 9, 1997, in Hampton, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.522 mi km permanent asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 328 laps to complete. At race's end, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would dominate the majority of the race to take his ninth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first of the season.Poole David March 9, 1997 Jarrett finally leads at finish; Grissom OK http://www.thatsracin.com/97/docs/0309.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000815213610/http://www.thatsracin.com/97/docs/0309.htm August 15, 2000 September 23, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte ObserverBisher Furman March 10, 1997 Jarrett's first AMS win comes in a race junk dealers could love 28 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110051702/jarretts-first-ams-win-comes-in-a-race/ September 23, 2022 Newspapers.com To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan and Precision Products Racing driver Morgan Shepherd would finish second and third, respectively. The race was marred by a crash involving Larry Hedrick Motorsports driver Steve Grissom on lap 284. On the track's backstretch, Jimmy Spencer would spin in front of oncoming cars, causing Grissom to spin and fellow driver and rookie Mike Skinner to hit Spencer and become airborne. Grissom would proceed to spin towards an opening on the inside backstretch wall at over 180 mph km/h, eventually hitting the wall violently. Grissom's car would proceed to flip wildly, with the rear axle completely torn from the car and with the fuel cell ruptured, fuel would spill onto the track. Grissom was eventually determined to be OK from the accident, with Grissom only suffering a "skinned ankle" according to Grissom himself.Levine Al March 10, 1997 'Tough guy' Grissom only scratches ankle 28 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110052095/tough-guy-grissom-only-scratches-ankle/ September 23, 2022 Newspapers.com Background thumb|The layout of Atlanta Motor Speedway, the circuit where the race was held. Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960. The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54 mi km on where before it was 1.522 mi km on. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. Entry list (R) - denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake1Morgan ShepherdPrecision Products RacingPontiac2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord8Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord08Mike MillerMiller RacingChevrolet9Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord16Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord17Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac19Gary BradberryTriStar MotorsportsFord20Greg SacksRanier-Walsh RacingFord21Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord22Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac23Jimmy SpencerHaas-Carter MotorsportsFord24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet25Ricky CravenHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet28Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord29Robert PressleyDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet30Johnny Benson Jr.Bahari RacingPontiac31Mike Skinner (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet33Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet36Derrike CopeMB2 MotorsportsPontiac37Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord40Robby Gordon (R)Team SABCOChevrolet41Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet42Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet43Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac44Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac46Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet75Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord77Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord78Billy StandridgeTriad MotorsportsFord81Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord90Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord91Mike WallaceLJ RacingChevrolet94Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord95Ed BerrierSadler Brothers RacingChevrolet96David Green (R)American Equipment RacingChevrolet97Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac98John AndrettiCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord99Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord Qualifying Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 7, at 12:30 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 8, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.March 5, 1997 Primestar 500 schedule 37 The Atlanta Constitution https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110052214/primestar-500-schedule/ September 23, 2022 Newspapers.com 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. Robby Gordon, driving for Team SABCO, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.378 and an average speed of 186.507 mph km/h.Harris Mike March 8, 1997 Robby Gordon has Atlanta pole, even surprising himself 13 The Courier-Journal https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110052330/robby-gordon-has-atlanta-pole-even/ September 23, 2022 Newspapers.com Seven drivers would fail to qualify: Robert Pressley, Derrike Cope, Bobby Hillin Jr., Wally Dallenbach Jr., Ed Berrier, Dave Marcis, and Mike Miller. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed140Robby Gordon (R)Team SABCOChevrolet29.378186.50726Mark MartinRoush RacingFord29.471185.918317Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet29.564185.334490Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord29.607185.06458Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord29.620184.98369Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord29.640184.858716Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord29.655184.76587Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord29.670184.671988Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord29.675184.6401081Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord29.710184.4231178Billy StandridgeTriad MotorsportsFord29.731184.2921223Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord29.735184.2681325Ricky CravenHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.747184.1931437Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord29.759184.1191594Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord29.761184.1071675Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord29.764184.0881728Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord29.772184.0391843Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac29.784183.9651996David Green (R)American Equipment RacingChevrolet29.802183.853204Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet29.806183.829211Morgan ShepherdPrecision Products RacingPontiac29.812183.792225Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.813183.7862324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet29.830183.6812431Mike Skinner (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet29.835183.6502510Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord29.837183.638263Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet29.828183.6932799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord29.840183.6192820Greg SacksRanier-Walsh RacingFord29.860183.4962918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac29.885183.3433044Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac29.889183.3183121Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord29.905183.2203297Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac29.906183.2143398John AndrettiCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord29.928183.0793419Gary BradberryTriStar MotorsportsFord29.945182.9753533Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet29.960182.8843622Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac29.968182.8353791Mike WallaceLJ RacingChevrolet29.974182.798382Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord29.978182.774Provisionals3941Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet30.383180.3384030Johnny Benson Jr.Bahari RacingPontiac30.028182.4704111Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord29.982182.7504242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet30.347180.552Failed to qualify4329Robert PressleyDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet -* -*4436Derrike CopeMB2 MotorsportsPontiac -* -*4577Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord -* -*4646Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet -* -*4795Ed BerrierSadler Brothers RacingChevrolet -* -*4871Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet -* -*4908Mike MillerMiller RacingChevrolet 30.531 179.463Official qualifying results *Time not available. Race results Fin1997 PRIMESTAR 500 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1997_PRIMESTAR_500 September 23, 2022 The Third Turn enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings1988Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord328253running185$137,65021728Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord32810running175$73,0003211Morgan ShepherdPrecision Products RacingPontiac32810running170$59,40042918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac3283running165$46,00052799Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord3280running155$41,000626Mark MartinRoush RacingFord3289running155$45,90073121Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord3280running146$34,8258263Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3280running142$40,9759225Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3281running143$43,275101843Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac3280running134$41,375114030Johnny Benson Jr.Bahari RacingPontiac3280running130$33,925123622Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac3270running127$24,425133044Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac3270running124$19,90514140Robby Gordon (R)Team SABCOChevrolet32742running126$42,935153398John AndrettiCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord3270running118$31,80516317Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet3270running115$30,495171675Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord3270running112$30,185184111Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord3260running109$29,965193297Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac3240running106$18,4352087Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord3240running103$32,035212431Mike Skinner (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet3230running100$18,9252269Lake SpeedMelling RacingFord3230running97$29,36523204Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet3230running94$34,755241996David Green (R)American Equipment RacingChevrolet3230running91$18,620253533Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet3210running88$29,165263791Mike WallaceLJ RacingChevrolet3110running85$18,460272820Greg SacksRanier-Walsh RacingFord3050running82$18,35028490Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord3040engine79$21,575291081Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord2990crash76$28,335302510Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord2930running73$32,97531382Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord2840crash70v34,915321223Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord2820crash67$27,955333941Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet2810crash64$28,76034716Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord2670crash61$27,725351325Ricky CravenHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2660crash58$27,190361178Billy StandridgeTriad MotorsportsFord2610engine55$17,665371437Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord2600engine52$17,650381594Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord2530engine49$24,570394242Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet2520crash46$17,570403419Gary BradberryTriStar MotorsportsFord2520crash43$17,5704158Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord2260engine40$24,570422324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet590engine37$34,770Official race results Media Television The race was aired live on ABC in the United States. Bob Jenkins and 1984 race winner Benny Parsons called the race from the broadcast booth. Jerry Punch, Bill Weber and Jack Arute handled pit road for the television side. ABC Booth announcers Pit reporters Lap-by-lap Color-commentators Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons Jerry Punch Bill Weber Jack Arute References 1997 Pontiac Excitement 400 1997 TranSouth Financial 400 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Category:NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway Category:March 1997 sports events in the United States Category:1997 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state)