1997 TranSouth Financial 400 explained
The 1997 TranSouth Financial 400 was the fifth stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, March 23, 1997, in Darlington, South Carolina, at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366miles permanent egg-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 293 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett would fiercely defend his lead against Roush Racing driver Ted Musgrave to take his tenth career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, his second victory of the season, and his second consecutive victory.[1] [2] To fill out the top three, Musgrave and Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
*Replaced by
Phil Parsons in order for
Joe Nemechek to mourn his brother
John Nemechek, who had died in a racing accident.
[3] Qualifying
Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, March 21, 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, March 22, at 11:30 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[4] Positions 26-38 would be decided on time, while positions 39-43 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 next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.
Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 28.742 and an average speed of 171.095mph.[5]
Three drivers would fail to qualify: Dick Trickle, Billy Standridge, and Steve Grissom.
Full qualifying results
*Time not available.
Race results
| Fin[6] | St | | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
|---|
| 1 | 1 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 293 | 171 | running | 185 | $142,860 |
|---|
| 2 | 21 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 170 | $54,330 |
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| 3 | 10 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 16 | running | 170 | $56,240 |
|---|
| 4 | 6 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 293 | 49 | running | 165 | $34,420 |
|---|
| 5 | 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 155 | $38,275 |
|---|
| 6 | 15 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 150 | $32,825 |
|---|
| 7 | 27 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 146 | $26,545 |
|---|
| 8 | 13 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 142 | $26,815 |
|---|
| 9 | 4 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 293 | 0 | running | 138 | $25,210 |
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| 10 | 36 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 134 | $28,805 |
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| 11 | 41 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 293 | 0 | running | 130 | $24,150 |
|---|
| 12 | 23 | 1 | Morgan Shepherd | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 293 | 0 | running | 127 | $23,820 |
|---|
| 13 | 12 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 124 | $34,235 |
|---|
| 14 | 30 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 121 | $23,230 |
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| 15 | 43 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 292 | 0 | running | 118 | $28,625 |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 115 | $22,755 |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 112 | $15,500 |
|---|
| 18 | 40 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Elliott Racing | Pontiac | 292 | 0 | running | 109 | $15,265 |
|---|
| 19 | 42 | 75 | Rick Mast | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 292 | 0 | running | 106 | $22,020 |
|---|
| 20 | 25 | 36 | Derrike Cope | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 292 | 0 | running | 103 | $13,890 |
|---|
| 21 | 8 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 291 | 36 | running | 105 | $28,070 |
|---|
| 22 | 26 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 97 | $21,500 |
|---|
| 23 | 16 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 94 | $26,055 |
|---|
| 24 | 5 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 91 | $21,135 |
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| 25 | 33 | 98 | John Andretti | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 291 | 0 | running | 88 | $21,165 |
|---|
| 26 | 7 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 291 | 6 | running | 90 | $20,700 |
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| 27 | 32 | 97 | Chad Little | Mark Rypien Motorsports | Pontiac | 290 | 0 | running | 82 | $10,610 |
|---|
| 28 | 20 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 290 | 0 | running | 79 | $13,550 |
|---|
| 29 | 24 | 20 | Greg Sacks | Ranier-Walsh Racing | Ford | 289 | 0 | running | 76 | $10,440 |
|---|
| 30 | 34 | 31 | Mike Skinner (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 289 | 8 | running | 78 | $10,405 |
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| 31 | 29 | 42 | Phil Parsons | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 289 | 0 | running | 70 | $12,845 |
|---|
| 32 | 9 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 278 | 0 | running | 67 | $26,310 |
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| 33 | 28 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 264 | 0 | running | 64 | $10,220 |
|---|
| 34 | 38 | 40 | Robby Gordon (R) | Team SABCO | Chevrolet | 232 | 0 | crash | 61 | $17,185 |
|---|
| 35 | 31 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 224 | 0 | oil leak | 58 | $17,150 |
|---|
| 36 | 11 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 188 | 0 | transmission | 55 | $17,115 |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 183 | 0 | oil pump | 52 | $25,101 |
|---|
| 38 | 14 | 19 | Gary Bradberry | TriStar Motorsports | Ford | 169 | 0 | running | 49 | $9,954 |
|---|
| 39 | 35 | 29 | Robert Pressley | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 7 | crash | 51 | $9,954 |
|---|
| 40 | 2 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 0 | crash | 43 | $17,100 |
|---|
| 41 | 22 | 96 | David Green (R) | American Equipment Racing | Chevrolet | 69 | 0 | crash | 40 | $9,954 |
|---|
| 42 | 37 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 62 | 0 | oil leak | 37 | $9,954 |
|---|
| 43 | 17 | 91 | Mike Wallace | LJ Racing | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | crash | 34 | $9,954 |
|---|
| Failed to qualify |
|---|
| 44 | | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | |
|---|
| 45 | 78 | Billy Standridge | Triad Motorsports | Ford |
|---|
| 46 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
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| Official race results | |
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Notes and References
- Web site: Bonnell . Rick . March 23, 1997 . Jarrett's at the top of his game . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000815213606/http://www.thatsracin.com/97/docs/0323.htm . August 15, 2000 . September 23, 2022 . That's Racin' . The Charlotte Observer.
- News: McCollister . Tom . March 24, 1997 . Jarrett earns victory; Musgrave gets respect . 19 . . September 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
- News: March 22, 1997 . Truck racer John Nemcheck dies . 55 . The Courier-Journal . September 23, 2022.
- News: March 21, 1997 . TranSouth 400 . 29 . . September 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
- News: March 22, 1997 . Jarrett tops qualifying, Earnhardt 40th fastest . 12 . The Courier-Journal . September 23, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
- Web site: 1997 TranSouth Financial 400 - The Third Turn . September 23, 2022 . The Third Turn . en.
