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The1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the third season of theCraftsman Truck Series, the third higheststock car racing series sanctioned byNASCAR in the United States.Jack Sprague ofHendrick Motorsports won the title.
List of full-time teams at the start of 1997.
The inauguralChevy Trucks Challenge was held January 19 atWalt Disney World Speedway.Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #01-Billy Ogle, #04-Thomas Spangler, #08-Felix Giles, #9-Greg Marlowe, #19-Tony Raines, #22-David Smith, #23-T. J. Clark, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Andy Belmont, #27-Rob Rizzo, #39-Jeff Spraker, #41-Randy Renfrow, #45-Michael Cohen, #51-Perry Tripp, #52-Tobey Butler, #54-Jon Leavy, #56-Darin Brassfield, #59-Shane Doles, #61-Randy Tolsma, #64-Chad Dokken, #69-Jimmy Davis, #73-Bob Schacht, #88-Terry Cook, #92-Mark Kinser
TheNAPA 200 was held March 1 atTucson Raceway Park.Michael Dokken won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #07-Tammy Jo Kirk, #09-Tim Buckley, #9-Kevin Briscoe, #11-Mike Hurlbert, #15-Mike Cope, #23-T. J. Clark, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Andy Belmont, #31-Tony Roper, #32-Curtis Markham, #45-Michael Cohen, #52-Tobey Butler, #53-Scott Hansen, #54-Jon Leavy, #55-Lance Hooper, #56-Darin Brassfield, #63-Carlos Serrano, #65-Kenny Allen, #73-Scott Grissom, #88-Terry Cook, #90-Lance Norick
TheFlorida Dodge Dealers 400 was held March 16 atHomestead-Miami Speedway.Joe Ruttman won the pole. Tragedy struck during the closing laps of this race whenJohn Nemechek struck the wall in turn 2 on lap 144, suffering massive head injuries. He died five days later.[1]
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #00-Frank Kimmel, #10-Toby Porter, #23-T. J. Clark, #34-Bob Brevak, #45-Michael Cohen, #51-Terry McCarthy, #54-Jon Leavy, #55-Jim Bown, #61-Randy Tolsma, #62-Blaise Alexander, #68-Bobby Dotter, #68-Ronnie Newman, #73-Bob Schacht, #81-Jerry Glanville, #88-Terry Cook
TheChevy Desert Star Classic was held April 20 atPhoenix International Raceway.Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #13-Mike Colabucci, #19-Tony Raines, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Andy Belmont, #27-Rob Rizzo, #38-Doug Adams, #54-Jon Leavy, #55-Jim Bown, #61-Randy Tolsma, #92-Mark Kinser, #04-Tommy Spangler
TheCraftsman 200 was held May 3 atPortland Speedway.Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #10-Toby Porter, #23-T. J. Clark, #25-Andy Genzman, #56-Brandon Butler, #57-Brian Cunningham
TheNAPACARD 200 was held May 10 atEvergreen Speedway.Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #01-Dave Goulet, #4-Bill Sedgwick, #57-Brian Cunningham, #77-Lonnie Rush Jr., #87-Jim Bown, #92-Mark Kinser
TheWestern Auto/Parts America 200 was held May 24 atI-70 Speedway.Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #27-Rob Rizzo, #37-Scot Walters, #46-Marc Robe, #61-Randy Tolsma, #90-Lance Norick, #92-Mark Kinser
ThePennzoil Discount Center 200 was held May 31 atNew Hampshire International Speedway.Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #39-Jeff Spraker, #47-Danny Hieber
The inauguralPronto Auto Parts 400K was held June 6 atTexas Motor Speedway.Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: none
TheLoadhandler 200 was held June 21 atBristol Motor Speedway.Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #0-James Boulton, #01-Billy Ogle Jr., #11-Eddie Johnson, #22-Tommy Humphries, #25-Andy Genzman, #57-Brian Cunningham, #70-Joe Buford
TheNAPA AutoCare 200 was held June 29 atNazareth Speedway.Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: none
TheSears DieHard 200 was held July 5 atThe Milwaukee Mile.Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #4-Bill Sedgwick, #25-Andy Genzman, #63-Cindy Peterson, #73-Bob Schacht
TheLink-Belt Construction Equipment 225 was held July 12 atLouisville Motor Speedway.Jimmy Hensley won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #06-Billy Pauch, #11-Eddie Johnson, #22-Tommy Humphries, #39-Jeff Spraker, #41-Bill Sedgwick, #91-Gary Brooks
TheColorado 250 by Snap-On Tools was held July 19 atColorado National Speedway.Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: none
TheLund Look 275K was held July 27 atHeartland Park Topeka*.Joe Ruttman won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #5-Robbie Pyle, #45-Michael Cohen, #54-Jon Leavy, #82-Randy Nelson
TheCummins 200 was held July 31 atIndianapolis Raceway Park.Jimmy Hensley won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #9-Greg Marlowe, #26-Jerry Robertson, #39-Jeff Spraker, #47-Danny Hieber, #58-Chris Horn, #71-Gary St. Amant, #73-Bob Schacht, #77-Eliseo Salazar
TheStevens Beil/Genuine Parts 200 was held August 9 atFlemington Speedway.Terry Cook won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #02-Eric Norris, #06-Billy Pauch, #11-Eddie Johnson, #12-Andy Genzman, #47-Danny Hieber
TheFederated Auto Parts 250 was held August 16 atNashville Speedway USA.Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #00-Frank Kimmel, #02-Eric Norris, #4-Bill Sedgwick, #13-Mike Colabucci, #57-Brian Cunningham, #62-Blaise Alexander, #77-Doug George
TheParts America 150 was held August 24 atWatkins Glen International.Ron Fellows won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #12-Andy Genzman, #26-Doug George, #28-Lou Gigliotti, #54-Jon Leavy, #72-Tammy Jo Kirk, #88-Terry Cook, #90-Lance Norick
TheVirginia Is For Lovers 200 was held September 4 atRichmond International Raceway.Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #02-Eric Norris, #05-John Blewett, #12-Greg Marlowe, #22-Tom Baldwin, #27-Rob Rizzo, #39-Jeff Spraker, #42-Mike Ewanitsko, #55-Kevin Grubb, #65-Andy Houston, #70-Joe Buford, #75-Kevin Harvick, #81-Philip Morris, #87-Robert Huffman, #88-Terry Cook, #92-Doug George, #93-Dana Dorman
TheHanes 250 was held September 27 atMartinsville Speedway.Rich Bickle won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #03-Kirk Shelmerdine, #11-Ronnie Newman, #22-Tom Baldwin, #25-Andy Genzman, #26-Jerry Robertson, #39-Jeff Spraker, #40-Bill Sedgwick, #41-Randy Renfrow, #42-Mike Ewanitsko, #45-Michael Cohen, #55-Kevin Grubb, #62-Blaise Alexander, #72-Tammy Jo Kirk, #75-Rick Markle, #83-Joe Gaita, #88-Terry Cook, #90-Lance Norick
TheKragen/Exide 151 was held October 5 atSears Point Raceway.Dave Rezendes won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #4-Bill Sedgwick, #40-Bo Lemler, #83-Joe Huffaker, #85-Milan Garrett
TheDodge California Truckstop 300 was held October 12 atMesa Marin Raceway.Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: none
The Inaugural No Fear Challenge was held October 18 atCalifornia Speedway.Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #9-Ron Esau, #46-Joe Bean, #63-Ricky Johnson, #82-Randy Nelson
TheGM Goodwrench Delco 300 was held November 1 atPhoenix International Raceway.Mike Bliss won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #06-Billy Pauch, #27-Kenny Hendrick, #40-Eddie Sharp, #77-Rob Morgan, #82-Randy Nelson, #84-Billy Wilburn, #85-Milan Garrett, #90-Lance Norick
TheCarquest Auto Parts 420K was held November 9 atLas Vegas Motor Speedway.Jack Sprague won the pole.
Top ten results
Failed to qualify: #01-Dave Goulet, #02-Rick McCray, #4-Tim Buckley, #11-Brett Bodine, #12-Tony Toste, #15-Rob Morgan, #18-Kevin Cywinski, #22-Kenny Hendrick, #23-T. J. Clark, #26-Perry Tripp, #27-Tammy Jo Kirk, #36-Jerry Robertson, #40-Eddie Sharp, #46-Joe Bean, #58-Wayne Jacks, #60-Tobey Butler, #65-Andy Houston, #69-Jimmy Davis, #82-Randy Nelson, #84-Billy Wilburn, #85-Milan Garrett, #88-Terry Cook
(key)Bold – Pole position awarded by time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings. * – Most laps led.
 | This articleis missing information about Drivers outside Top 60. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on thetalk page.(May 2022) |
Rookie of the Year[edit]Formersprint car driverKenny Irwin Jr., driving the #98 forLiberty Racing, took home Rookie of the Year honors in 1997, winning two of the first nine races of the season, and finishing tenth in points. Runner-up wasRick Crawford, who had made his debut in a major NASCAR series that season and posted ten top-tens, whileStacy Compton finished 92 points behind him in the newImpact Motorsports ride.Tony Raines finished 15th in points and picked up a win as well, whileTony Roper had two top-tens, andTammy Jo Kirk became the first female to make a start in the series. The rest of the candidates only made part-time bids at the award, the most notable beingRandy Tolsma, who scored the lone victory of this group atMesa Marin Raceway See also[edit]
References[edit]
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