The1997 NASCAR Busch Series began February 15 and ended November 9.Randy LaJoie ofBACE Motorsports won the championship.

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

TheGargoyles 300 was held on February 15 atDaytona 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

TheGoodwrench Service 200 was held on February 22 atNorth 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

TheHardee's Fried Chicken 250 was held on March 1 atRichmond 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

TheStihl Outdoor Power Tools 300 was held on March 8 atAtlanta 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

The inauguralLas Vegas 300 was held on March 16 atLas 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

TheDiamond Hill Plywood 200 was held on March 22 atDarlington 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

TheGalaxy Foods 300 was held on March 29 atHickory 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

The inauguralCoca-Cola 300 was held on April 5 atTexas 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

TheMoore's Snacks 250 was held on April 12 atBristol 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

TheBellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320 was held on April 19 atNashville 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

TheBirmingham Auto Dealers 500K was held on April 26 atTalladega 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

TheUnited States Cellular 200 was held on May 10 atNew 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

TheCoreStates Advantage 200 was held on May 18 atNazareth 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

TheCarquest Auto Parts 300 was held on May 24 atCharlotte 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

TheGM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 was held on May 31 atDover 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

TheWinston Motorsports 300 was held on June 13 atSouth 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

TheLysol 200 was held on June 29 atWatkins 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

TheSears Auto Center 250 was held on July 6 atThe 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

TheAdvance Auto Parts 250 was held on July 12 atMyrtle 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

The inauguralGateway 300 was held on July 26 atGateway 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

TheKroger 200 presented by Ziploc was held on August 1 atIndianapolis 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

TheDetroit Gasket 200 was held on August 16 atMichigan 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)

TheFood City 250 was held on August 22 atBristol 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

TheDura Lube 200 presented by Trak Automotive was held on August 30 atDarlington 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

TheAutolite Platinum 250 was held on September 5 atRichmond 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

TheMBNA 200 was held on September 20 atDover 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.

TheAll Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held on October 4 atCharlotte 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

The inauguralKenwood Home & Car Audio 300 was held on October 19 atCalifornia 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

TheAC Delco 200 was held on October 25 atNorth 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

TheJiffy Lube Miami 300 was held on November 9 atHomestead 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.

(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.

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 candidateTim Bender several races into the season.Johnny Chapman began the year withNorthStar Motorsports, but was released with several races to go in the season. BrothersJeff andMark Krogh came in from the Northwest driving for their family-owned team, each posting one top-ten apiece.Lyndon Amick andDale Earnhardt Jr. were the only other rookie contenders in 1997.

• 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
• 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
• 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series
• 1997 NASCAR Goody's Dash Series

• Busch Series standings and statistics for 1997

• 1997 in NASCAR
• NASCAR Xfinity Series seasons

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from October 2020