1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300

Ninth race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series February 2025 NASWINSTON The 1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace. Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons Motor Racing Network ESPN Mark Martin Roush Racing Roush Racing Mark Martin Mark Martin Roush Racing 69 75.788 mph km/h May 4 32 Sonoma, California, Sears Point Raceway 9 6 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 4.06 300.11 74 2.52 1997 1:37.751 186.48 9th Annual Save Mart Supermarkets 300 1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300.jpeg The 1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 was the ninth stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the third race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series, and the ninth iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, May 4, 1997, in Sonoma, California, at the Grand Prix layout of Sears Point Raceway, a 2.52 mi km permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 74 laps to complete. At race's end, Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would dominate the majority of the race to take his 19th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season.Green Jr. Ron May 4, 1997 Martin finds road to victory http://www.thatsracin.com/97/docs/0504.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000815213536/http://www.thatsracin.com/97/docs/0504.htm August 15, 2000 September 26, 2022 That's Racin' The Charlotte ObserverMay 5, 1997 Martin finally breaks dry spell https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110209298/the-daily-news-leader/ September 26, 2022 The Daily News Leader 9 Newspapers.com To fill out the top three, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte, both driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively. Background thumb|The layout of Sears Point Raceway used by NASCAR at the time. Sears Point Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Sears Point Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 mi km long;Sears Point http://www.gt-racing.co.uk/circuits/northamerica/searspoint.html 2021-11-13 www.gt-racing.co.uk the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 mi km. The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.2011-06-07 Passing is tough in Chute chronicle.augusta.com http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/06/28/oth_232051.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20110607182441/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/06/28/oth_232051.shtml 2011-06-07 2021-11-13 In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 mi km.2007-09-29 SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest http://www.racingwest.com/news/story.php3/2094/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20070929002246/http://www.racingwest.com/news/story.php3/2094/index.htm 2007-09-29 2021-11-13 Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. #DriverTeamMake00WScott GaylordOliver RacingChevrolet1Morgan ShepherdPrecision Products RacingPontiac2Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord3Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet5Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7Geoff BodineMattei MotorsportsFord07Sean WoodsideGolden West MotorsportsPontiac8Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord9Jeff DavisMelling RacingFord09WR. K. SmithSmith RacingPontiac10Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord11Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord15WRick ScribnerScribner RacingChevrolet16Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord16WBill McAnallyBill McAnally RacingChevrolet17Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet18Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac19Gary BradberryTriStar MotorsportsFord20Lance HooperRanier-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 RacingChevrolet35Larry GunselmanRace Stuff MotorsportsFord36Derrike CopeMB2 MotorsportsPontiac37Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord38Butch GillilandStroppe MotorsportsFord40Robby Gordon (R)Team SABCOChevrolet41Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet42Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet43Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac44Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac45WGary SmithStrauser RacingChevrolet46Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet71Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet75Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord77Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord78Tom HubertTriad MotorsportsFord78WChuck PruettGolden Gate RacingChevrolet81Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord88Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord89WWayne JacksJacks MotorsportsPontiac90Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord91Mike WallaceLJ RacingChevrolet94Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord96David 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, May 3, at 6:00 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, May 4, at 1:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.May 2, 1997 Save Mart 300 17 The Charlotte Observer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110209530/save-mart-300/ September 26, 2022 Newspapers.com 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. Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 1:37.751 and an average speed of 92.807 mph km/h.May 4, 1997 Martin can break drought at Sears Point 12 Messenger-Inquirer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110209717/martin-can-break-drought-at-sears-point/ September 26, 2022 Newspapers.com 13 drivers would fail to qualify: Rick Mast, Joe Nemechek, R. K. Smith, Robert Pressley, Chad Little, Gary Smith, David Green, Dick Trickle, Chuck Pruett, Bill McAnally, Scott Gaylord, Wayne Jacks, and Rick Scribner. Full qualifying results Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed16Mark MartinRoush RacingFord1:37.75192.80722Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord1:38.04192.533324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1:38.10692.47145Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1:38.14792.533511Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord1:38.36392.230621Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord1:38.54592.05977Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord1:38.59792.011888Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord1:38.63191.979946Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet1:38.67091.9431010Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord1:38.73591.8821144Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac1:38.78591.8361216Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord1:38.84991.7761394Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord1:38.95591.6781422Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac1:38.95691.6771533Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet1:39.05891.583164Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet1:39.09291.5511798John AndrettiCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord1:39.11591.5301840Robby Gordon (R)Team SABCOChevrolet1:39.31291.3481931Mike Skinner (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet1:39.38991.2782099Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord1:39.39091.2772136Derrike CopeMB2 MotorsportsPontiac1:39.49991.177228Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord1:39.55291.1282343Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac1:39.58991.0942428Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord1:39.59491.0902523Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord1:39.63691.0512617Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet1:38.44692.1522778Tom HubertTriad MotorsportsFord1:38.76391.8562838Butch GillilandStroppe MotorsportsFord1:38.89891.7312918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac1:38.98491.6513071Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet1:39.23491.4203177Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord1:39.24791.408323Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1:39.31791.3443341Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet1:39.33591.3273491Mike WallaceLJ RacingChevrolet1:39.57791.1053530Johnny Benson Jr.Bahari RacingPontiac1:39.61091.0753681Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord1:39.69690.9973720Lance HooperRanier-Walsh RacingFord1:39.88290.8273819Gary BradberryTriStar MotorsportsFord1:39.88790.823Winston Cup provisionals3937Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord -* -*4025Ricky CravenHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet -* -*411Morgan ShepherdPrecision Products RacingPontiac -* -*429Jeff DavisMelling RacingFord -* -*Winston West provisionals4307Sean WoodsideGolden West MotorsportsPontiac -* -*4435Larry GunselmanRace Stuff MotorsportsFord -* -*Failed to qualify4575Rick MastButch Mock MotorsportsFord -* -*4642Joe NemechekTeam SABCOChevrolet -* -*4709WR. K. SmithSmith RacingPontiac -* -*4829Robert PressleyDiamond Ridge MotorsportsChevrolet -* -*4997Chad LittleMark Rypien MotorsportsPontiac -* -*5045WGary SmithStrauser RacingChevrolet -* -*5196David Green (R)American Equipment RacingChevrolet -* -*5290Dick TrickleDonlavey RacingFord -* -*5378WChuck PruettGolden Gate RacingChevrolet -* -*5416WBill McAnallyBill McAnally RacingChevrolet -* -*5500WScott GaylordOliver RacingChevrolet -* -*5689WWayne JacksJacks MotorsportsPontiac -* -*5715WRick ScribnerScribner RacingChevrolet -* -*Official qualifying results *Time not available. Race results Fin1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 - The Third Turn https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1997_Save_Mart_Supermarkets_300 September 25, 2022 The Third Turn enSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings116Mark MartinRoush RacingFord7469running185$113,9952324Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet740running170$66,065345Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet741running170$63,7004888Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFord742running165$50,13552617Darrell WaltripDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet740running155$35,9206511Brett BodineBrett Bodine RacingFord740running150$40,7957621Michael WaltripWood Brothers RacingFord740running146$37,34582428Ernie IrvanRobert Yates RacingFord740running142$40,14592099Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFord740running138$39,595101422Ward BurtonBill Davis RacingPontiac740running134$32,440111216Ted MusgraveRoush RacingFord740running130$34,88012323Dale EarnhardtRichard Childress RacingChevrolet740running127$39,580131144Kyle PettyPetty EnterprisesPontiac740running124$22,980142523Jimmy SpencerTravis Carter EnterprisesFord740running121$33,68015946Wally Dallenbach Jr.Team SABCOChevrolet740running118$23,930161931Mike Skinner (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet740running115$22,830173341Steve GrissomLarry Hedrick MotorsportsChevrolet740running112$32,855182136Derrike CopeMB2 MotorsportsPontiac740running109$21,705192343Bobby HamiltonPetty EnterprisesPontiac740running106$36,680202918Bobby LabonteJoe Gibbs RacingPontiac740running103$41,105213530Johnny Benson Jr.Bahari RacingPontiac740running100$32,555223491Mike WallaceLJ RacingChevrolet740running97$23,50523411Morgan ShepherdPrecision Products RacingPontiac740running94$32,280242838Butch GillilandStroppe MotorsportsFord740running91$21,410253071Dave MarcisMarcis Auto RacingChevrolet740running88$25,35026164Sterling MarlinMorgan–McClure MotorsportsChevrolet740running85$37,380273937Jeremy MayfieldKranefuss-Haas RacingFord730running82$24,965282778Tom HubertTriad MotorsportsFord730running79$21,35029228Hut StricklinStavola Brothers RacingFord730running76$31,840301798John AndrettiCale Yarborough MotorsportsFord730running73$31,710311533Ken SchraderAndy Petree RacingChevrolet730running70$31,290321394Bill ElliottBill Elliott RacingFord700running67$31,140334307Sean WoodsideGolden West MotorsportsPontiac690running64$20,905341010Ricky RuddRudd Performance MotorsportsFord660running61$45,890353177Bobby Hillin Jr.Jasper MotorsportsFord640running58$23,965363681Kenny WallaceFILMAR RacingFord610accident55$30,85037429Jeff DavisMelling RacingFord600accident52$30,745384435Larry GunselmanRace Stuff MotorsportsFord600rear end49$20,720394025Ricky CravenHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet580running46$30,2204022Rusty WallacePenske Racing SouthFord472engine48$38,720411840Robby Gordon (R)Team SABCOChevrolet430engine40$27,720423720Lance HooperRanier-Walsh RacingFord400engine37$21,820433819Gary BradberryTriStar MotorsportsFord310engine34$20,7204477Geoff BodineGeoff Bodine RacingFord100engine31$29,220Official race results References 1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Martinsville) 1997 Winston 500 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston West Series 1997 1997 Winston 200 1997 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 200 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 Category:NASCAR races at Sonoma Raceway Save Mart Supermarkets 300 Save Mart Supermarkets 300