The 1997 Miller 500 was the 12th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 1, 1997, in Dover, Delaware at Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Ricky Rudd, driving for his owner-driver team Rudd Performance Motorsports, would manage to take advantage of mishaps from numerous different dominant cars to take his 18th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. [1][2] To fill out the top three, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, both drivers for Roush Racing, would finish second and third, respectively.

1997 Miller 500
Race details
Race 12 of 32 in the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1997 Miller 500 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace and Miles the Monster. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
The 1997 Miller 500 program cover, featuring Rusty Wallace and Miles the Monster. Artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date June 1, 1997
Official name 29th Annual Miller 500
Location Dover, Delaware, Dover International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 500 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Scheduled Distance 500 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Average speed 114.635 miles per hour (184.487 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 23.562
Most laps led
Driver Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing
Laps 255
Winner
No. 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Eli Gold, Dick Berggren, Buddy Baker
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of Dover International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac R+L Carriers, Cruisin' America Phone Card
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 Mattei Motorsports Ford QVC
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Close Call Phone Card
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
19 Gary Bradberry TriStar Motorsports Ford Child Support Recovery
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, Scooby-Doo
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 Wally Dallenbach Jr. 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
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Realtree
75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Federal-Mogul
78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford Diamond Rio, 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 Mike Wallace LJ Racing Chevrolet Spam
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's
95 Ed Berrier Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet Feed the Children
96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Mark Rypien Motorsports Pontiac John Deere
98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, May 30, at 3:00 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 31, at 1:00 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[3] 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.

Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 23.562 and an average speed of 152.788 miles per hour (245.888 km/h).[4]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Billy Standridge and Ed Berrier.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 23.562 152.788
2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.709 151.841
3 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 23.732 151.694
4 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 23.767 151.471
5 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 23.791 151.318
6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.795 151.292
7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 23.840 151.007
8 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 23.844 150.981
9 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 23.848 150.956
10 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 23.865 150.849
11 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 23.880 150.754
12 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 23.910 150.565
13 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 23.911 150.558
14 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 23.946 150.338
15 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 23.948 150.326
16 97 Chad Little Mark Rypien Motorsports Pontiac 23.957 150.269
17 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 23.969 150.194
18 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 23.982 150.113
19 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.009 149.944
20 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 24.010 149.938
21 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 24.013 149.919
22 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 24.031 149.806
23 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 24.040 149.750
24 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 24.043 149.732
25 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 24.043 149.732
26 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 23.662 152.143
27 29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 23.797 151.280
28 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23.835 151.038
29 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 23.888 150.703
30 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 23.923 150.483
31 40 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 23.953 150.294
32 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 24.023 149.856
33 91 Mike Wallace LJ Racing Chevrolet 24.032 149.800
34 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 24.044 149.726
35 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 24.046 149.713
36 1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac 24.051 149.682
37 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 24.070 149.564
38 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 24.074 149.539
Provisionals
39 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac -* -*
40 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
41 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford -* -*
42 19 Gary Bradberry TriStar Motorsports Ford -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford -* -*
45 95 Ed Berrier Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official qualifying results

*Time unavailable.

Race results

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Fin[5] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 500 31 running 180 $95,255
2 7 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 500 1 running 175 $52,405
3 34 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 1 running 170 $53,155
4 25 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 500 0 running 160 $37,090
5 3 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 500 6 running 160 $31,820
6 11 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 499 2 running 155 $34,515
7 24 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 499 0 running 146 $32,265
8 12 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 499 0 running 142 $31,765
9 40 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 498 0 running 138 $24,815
10 26 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 498 0 running 134 $39,615
11 17 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 498 0 running 130 $29,540
12 30 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 498 0 running 127 $28,940
13 19 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 498 0 running 124 $28,450
14 21 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 497 0 running 121 $38,940
15 4 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 497 0 running 118 $22,690
16 43 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 497 0 running 115 $33,265
17 39 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 497 0 running 112 $31,780
18 8 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 496 0 running 109 $16,665
19 14 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 496 0 running 106 $27,140
20 15 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 495 0 running 103 $22,440
21 29 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 495 1 running 105 $26,840
22 22 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 493 0 running 97 $26,690
23 33 91 Mike Wallace LJ Racing Chevrolet 493 0 running 94 $16,340
24 28 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 492 0 running 91 $26,490
25 5 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 492 0 running 88 $19,540
26 2 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 490 18 running 90 $33,470
27 41 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 485 0 handling 82 $26,090
28 37 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 482 1 running 84 $26,040
29 23 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 482 0 running 76 $25,490
30 10 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 471 151 crash 78 $35,940
31 16 97 Chad Little Mark Rypien Motorsports Pontiac 468 0 rear end 70 $15,890
32 6 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 463 255 engine 77 $44,130
33 20 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 453 0 ignition 64 $22,780
34 9 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 435 0 running 61 $15,730
35 42 19 Gary Bradberry TriStar Motorsports Ford 398 0 clutch 58 $15,530
36 31 40 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 364 0 electrical 55 $22,515
37 27 29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 356 0 suspension 52 $15,485
38 36 1 Morgan Shepherd Precision Products Racing Pontiac 323 2 crash 54 $22,485
39 18 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 316 0 engine 46 $32,485
40 1 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 283 29 running 48 $36,485
41 32 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 238 0 crash 40 $15,485
42 35 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 237 2 crash 42 $22,485
43 38 77 Bobby Hillin Jr. Jasper Motorsports Ford 234 0 crash 34 $15,485
Failed to qualify
44 78 Billy Standridge Triad Motorsports Ford
45 95 Ed Berrier Sadler Brothers Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (June 1, 1997). "Trouble opens path to victory for Rudd". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  2. ^ McCollister, Tom (June 2, 1997). "Martin unable to pass Rudd". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 25. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Miller 500". The Charlotte Observer. May 30, 1997. p. 30. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Bobby Labonte tops qualifying for Miller 500". The Orlando Sentinel. May 31, 1997. p. 74. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "1997 Miller 500 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
Previous race:
1997 Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1997 season
Next race:
1997 Pocono 500