1997 NASCAR Busch Series

The 1997 NASCAR Busch Series began February 15 and ended November 9. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports won the championship.

Complete schedule
List of full-time teams at the start of 1997.

Gargoyles 300
The Gargoyles 300 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 2) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 3) 21–Michael Waltrip
 * 4) 87–Joe Nemechek
 * 5) 63–Tracy Leslie
 * 6) 45–Greg Sacks
 * 7) 3–Steve Park
 * 8) 37–Mark Green
 * 9) 4–Jeff Purvis
 * 10) 10–Phil Parsons

Goodwrench Service 200
The Goodwrench Service 200 was held on February 22 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60–Mark Martin
 * 2) 32–Dale Jarrett
 * 3) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 4) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 5) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 6) 2–Ricky Craven
 * 7) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 8) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 9) 99–Glenn Allen Jr.
 * 10) 33–Tim Fedewa

Hardee's Fried Chicken 250
The Hardee's Fried Chicken 250 was held on March 1 at Richmond International Raceway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60–Mark Martin
 * 2) 8–Jeff Green
 * 3) 3–Steve Park
 * 4) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 5) 57–Jason Keller
 * 6) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 7) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 8) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 9) 94–Ron Barfield
 * 10) 44–Bobby Labonte

Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300
The Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300 was held on March 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tim Bender won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60–Mark Martin
 * 2) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 3) 44–Bobby Labonte
 * 4) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 5) 87–Joe Nemechek
 * 6) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 7) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 8) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 9) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 10) 5–Terry Labonte

Las Vegas 300
The inaugural Las Vegas 300 was held on March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 8–Jeff Green
 * 2) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 3) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 4) 21–Michael Waltrip
 * 5) 4–Tim Steele
 * 6) 45–Greg Sacks
 * 7) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 8) 3–Steve Park
 * 9) 99–Glenn Allen Jr.
 * 10) 72–Mike Dillon

Diamond Hill Plywood 200
The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 was held on March 22 at Darlington Raceway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 2) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 3) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 4) 60–Mark Martin
 * 5) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 6) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 7) 47–Jeff Fuller
 * 8) 8–Jeff Green
 * 9) 63–Tracy Leslie
 * 10) 36–Todd Bodine

Galaxy Foods 300
The Galaxy Foods 300 was held on March 29 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Todd Bodine won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 2) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 3) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 4) 8–Jeff Green
 * 5) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 6) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 7) 57–Jason Keller
 * 8) 39–Elliott Sadler
 * 9) 37–Mark Green
 * 10) 34–Mike McLaughlin

Coca-Cola 300
The inaugural Coca-Cola 300 was held on April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.


 * 1) 60–Mark Martin
 * 2) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 3) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 4) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 5) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 6) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 7) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 8) 88–Kevin Lepage
 * 9) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 10) 63–Tracy Leslie

Moore's Snacks 250
The Moore's Snacks 250 was held on April 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 2) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 3) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 4) 21–Michael Waltrip
 * 5) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 6) 3–Steve Park
 * 7) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 8) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 9) 57–Jason Keller
 * 10) 00–Buckshot Jones

BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320
The BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320 was held on April 19 at Nashville Speedway USA. Mike McLaughlin won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 3–Steve Park
 * 2) 8–Jeff Green
 * 3) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 4) 28–Jeff Purvis
 * 5) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 6) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 7) 1–Hermie Sadler
 * 8) 88–Kevin Lepage
 * 9) 43–Dennis Setzer
 * 10) 00–Buckshot Jones

Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K
The Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K was held on April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60–Mark Martin
 * 2) 3–Steve Park
 * 3) 8–Jeff Green
 * 4) 49–Kyle Petty
 * 5) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 6) 4–Tim Steele
 * 7) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 8) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 9) 94–Ron Barfield
 * 10) 64–Dick Trickle

United States Cellular 200
The United States Cellular 200 was held on May 10 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 2) 3–Steve Park
 * 3) 47–Jeff Fuller
 * 4) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 5) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 6) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 7) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 8) 80–Mark Krogh
 * 9) 76–Tom Bolles
 * 10) 4–Dale Shaw

CoreStates Advantage 200
The CoreStates Advantage 200 was held on May 18 at Nazareth Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 2) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 3) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 4) 8–Jeff Green
 * 5) 4–Dale Shaw
 * 6) 6–Joe Bessey
 * 7) 57–Jason Keller
 * 8) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 9) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 10) 43–Dennis Setzer

Carquest Auto Parts 300
The Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held on May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 87–Joe Nemechek
 * 2) 88–Kevin Lepage
 * 3) 60–Mark Martin
 * 4) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 5) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 6) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 7) 34–Todd Bodine
 * 8) 57–Jason Keller
 * 9) 1–Hermie Sadler
 * 10) 74–Randy LaJoie

GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200
The GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 was held on May 31 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 44–Bobby Labonte
 * 2) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 3) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 4) 88–Kevin Lepage
 * 5) 3–Steve Park
 * 6) 32–Dale Jarrett
 * 7) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 8) 5–Terry Labonte
 * 9) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 10) 21–Michael Waltrip

Winston Motorsports 300
The Winston Motorsports 300 was held on June 13 at South Boston Speedway. Shane Hall won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 2) 4–Dale Shaw
 * 3) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 4) 88–Kevin Lepage
 * 5) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 6) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 7) 57–Jason Keller
 * 8) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 9) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 10) 6–Joe Bessey

Lysol 200
The Lysol 200 was held on June 29 at Watkins Glen International. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 2) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 3) 87–Joe Nemechek
 * 4) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 5) 5–Terry Labonte
 * 6) 3–Steve Park
 * 7) 44–Bobby Labonte
 * 8) 32–Dale Jarrett
 * 9) 1–Hermie Sadler
 * 10) 85–Shane Hall

Sears Auto Center 250
The Sears Auto Center 250 was held on July 6 at The Milwaukee Mile. Tim Fedewa won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 2) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 3) 1–Hermie Sadler
 * 4) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 5) 3–Steve Park
 * 6) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 7) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 8) 4–Dale Shaw
 * 9) 63–Tracy Leslie
 * 10) 33–Tim Fedewa

Advance Auto Parts 250
The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held on July 12 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 2) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 3) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 4) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 5) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 6) 72–Mike Dillon
 * 7) 99–Glenn Allen Jr.
 * 8) 28–Jeff Purvis
 * 9) 3–Steve Park
 * 10) 00–Buckshot Jones

Gateway 300
The inaugural Gateway 300 was held on July 26 at Gateway International Raceway. Joe Bessey won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 2) 57–Jason Keller
 * 3) 4–Dale Shaw
 * 4) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 5) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 6) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 7) 45–Jeff Fuller
 * 8) 37–Mark Green
 * 9) 6–Joe Bessey
 * 10) 43–Dennis Setzer

Kroger 200 presented by Ziploc
The Kroger 200 presented by Ziploc was held on August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 2) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 3) 38–Elton Sawyer
 * 4) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 5) 83–Wayne Grubb
 * 6) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 7) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 8) 3–Steve Park
 * 9) 56–Jeff Krogh
 * 10) 57–Jason Keller

Detroit Gasket 200
The Detroit Gasket 200 was held on August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 3–Steve Park
 * 2) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 3) 44–Bobby Labonte
 * 4) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 5) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 6) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 7) 31–Dale Earnhardt Jr.
 * 8) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 9) 10–Phil Parsons
 * 10) 4–Dale Shaw

Failed to qualify: Mark Day (#16), Lyndon Amick (#35), Greg Sacks (#50), Nathan Buttke (#78), Ron Barfield (#94), Doug Reid III (#97)

Food City 250
The Food City 250 was held on August 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Buckshot Jones, who finished 26th, received a 50–point penalty after intentionally trying to wreck Randy LaJoie.

Top ten results


 * 1) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 2) 3–Steve Park
 * 3) 47–Robert Pressley
 * 4) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 5) 75–Rick Wilson
 * 6) 44–Bobby Labonte
 * 7) 96–Stevie Reeves
 * 8) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 9) 45–Jeff Fuller
 * 10) 88–Kevin Lepage

Dura Lube 200 presented by Trak Automotive
The Dura Lube 200 presented by Trak Automotive was held on August 30 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. This was the first race run at the racetrack after the start-finish line was moved to the back straightaway.

Top ten results


 * 1) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 2) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 3) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 4) 44–Bobby Labonte
 * 5) 3–Steve Park
 * 6) 60–Mark Martin
 * 7) 1–Hermie Sadler
 * 8) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 9) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 10) 2–Ricky Craven

Autolite Platinum 250
The Autolite Platinum 250 was held on September 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 3–Steve Park
 * 2) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 3) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 4) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 5) 00–Buckshot Jones
 * 6) 4–Dale Shaw
 * 7) 57–Jason Keller
 * 8) 60–Mark Martin
 * 9) 33–Tim Fedewa
 * 10) 1–Hermie Sadler

MBNA 200
The MBNA 200 was held on September 20 at Dover International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 6–Joe Bessey
 * 2) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 3) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 4) 72–Mike Dillon
 * 5) 3–Steve Park
 * 6) 29–Elliott Sadler
 * 7) 63–Tracy Leslie
 * 8) 99–Glenn Allen Jr.
 * 9) 5–Terry Labonte
 * 10) 34–Mike McLaughlin


 * This would be the first and only win of Bessey's career.

All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300
The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held on October 4 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 2) 60–Mark Martin
 * 3) 44–Tony Stewart
 * 4) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 5) 37–Mark Green
 * 6) 3–Steve Park
 * 7) 32–Dale Jarrett
 * 8) 87–Joe Nemechek
 * 9) 18–Bobby Labonte
 * 10) 00–Buckshot Jones

Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300
The inaugural Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300 was held on October 19 at California Speedway. Steve Park won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 2) 3–Steve Park
 * 3) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 4) 21–Michael Waltrip
 * 5) 47–Robert Pressley
 * 6) 72–Mike Dillon
 * 7) 99–Glenn Allen Jr.
 * 8) 43–Dennis Setzer
 * 9) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 10) 74–Randy LaJoie

AC Delco 200
The AC Delco 200 was held on October 25 at North Carolina Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 60–Mark Martin
 * 2) 64–Dick Trickle
 * 3) 2–Ricky Craven
 * 4) 9–Jeff Burton
 * 5) 1–Hermie Sadler
 * 6) 3–Steve Park
 * 7) 34–Mike McLaughlin
 * 8) 37–Mark Green
 * 9) 44–Tony Stewart
 * 10) 47–Robert Pressley

Jiffy Lube Miami 300
The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held on November 9 at Homestead Motorsports Complex. Mike McLaughlin won the pole.

Top ten results


 * 1) 87–Joe Nemechek
 * 2) 74–Randy LaJoie
 * 3) 60–Mark Martin
 * 4) 99–Glenn Allen Jr.
 * 5) 20–Jimmy Spencer
 * 6) 17–Matt Kenseth
 * 7) 36–Todd Bodine
 * 8) 88–Kevin Schwantz
 * 9) 6–Joe Bessey
 * 10) 33–Tim Fedewa


 * This was a very emotional win for Nemechek, as his brother lost his life at HMS just 8 months earlier.

Full Drivers' Championship
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points. * – Most laps led.


 * 1) Jason Keller made an illegal driver change before the start of the race and thus was not awarded any points or money.

Rookie of the Year
Steve Park was the only rookie candidate to compete full-time in 1997, picking up three wins and finishing 3rd in points. Matt Kenseth was the top runner-up, despite replacing fellow candidate Tim Bender several races into the season. Johnny Chapman began the year with NorthStar Motorsports, but was released with several races to go in the season. Brothers Jeff and Mark Krogh came in from the Northwest driving for their family-owned team, each posting one top-ten apiece. Lyndon Amick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were the only other rookie contenders in 1997.