1997 Daytona 500

Date— Sunday, Feb. 16 , 1997, at Daytona International Speedway. Distance— 500 miles; Course— 2.5 miles; Field— 42 cars; Average speed— 148.295 mph; Margin of victory— under caution; Time of race— 3 hours, 22 minutes, 18 seconds; Caution flags— 8 for 29 laps; Lead changes— 12 among 9 drivers; Lap leaders— M. Martin (52 laps), D. Earnhardt (48), J. Gordon (40), B. Elliott (30), E. Irvan (13), S. Marlin (8), M. Waltrip (8), G. Sacks (3), M. Skinner (1); Pole sitter— Mike Skinner at 189.813 mph; Attendance— 150,000 (estimated); TV Rating— 8.6/23 share (CBS). Note that (r) indicates circuit rookie driver.

	Driver (start pos.)	Team	Car	Laps	Ended	Earnings
1	Jeff Gordon (6)	DuPont Refinishes	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	$456,999
2	Terry Labonte (18)	Kellogg's Corn Flakes	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	194,925
3	Rick Craven (40)	Budweiser	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	155,625
4	Bill Elliott (8)	McDonald's	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	133,200
5	Sterling Marlin (9)	Kodak Film	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	121,080
6	Jeremy Mayfield (21)	Kmart/RC Cola	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	100,355
7	Mark Martin (11)	Valvoline	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	105,515
8	Ward Burton (17)	MBNA America	Pontiac Grand Prix	200	Running	82,390
9	Rick Rudd (13)	Tide	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	88,590
10	Darrell Waltrip (22)	Western Auto	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	78,840
11	Jeff Burton (23)	Exide Batteries	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	79,040
12	r-Mike Skinner (1)	Lowe's	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	77,615
13	Ted Musgrave (41)	Family Channel/PRIMESTAR	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	76,570
14	Kyle Petty (30)	Hot Wheels	Pontiac Grand Prix	200	Running	62,080
15	Bobby Hamilton (39)	STP	Pontiac Grand Prix	200	Running	77,415
16	r-Robby Gordon (20)	Coors Light	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	76,570
17	Dave Marcis (24)	Realtree	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	200	Running	69,545
18	Brett Bodine (37)	Close Call Phone Card	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	61,225
19	Hut Stricklin (28)	Circuit City	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	67,155
20	Ernie Irvan (5)	Texaco-Havoline	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	72,325
21	Bobby Labonte (15)	Interstate Batteries	Pontiac Grand Prix	200	Running	69,445
22	Kenny Wallace (36)	Square D	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	65,465
23	Dale Jarrett (3)	Ford Quality Care	Ford Thunderbird	200	Running	70,510
24	Lake Speed (35)	Melling Engine Parts	Ford Thunderbird	199	Running	64,405
25	John Andretti (32)	RCA	Ford Thunderbird	198	Running	63,325
26	Loy Allen (33)	Child Support Recovery	Ford Thunderbird	198	Running	55,570
27	Joe Nemechek (38)	BellSouth	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	196	Accident	52,240
28	Johnny Benson (16)	Pennzoil	Pontiac Grand Prix	195	Accident	61,935
29	Morgan Shepherd (42)	Delco Remy America	Pontiac Grand Prix	195	Accident	61,655
30	Dick Trickle (27)	Heilig-Meyers	Ford Thunderbird	195	Accident	53,900
31	Dale Earnhardt (4)	GM Goodwrench	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	195	Running	72,945
32	Michael Waltrip (12)	Citgo	Ford Thunderbird	188	Running	57,990
33	Ken Schrader (10)	Skoal	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	173	Running	57,790
34	Geoff Bodine (25)	QVC	Ford Thunderbird	148	Accident	57,605
35	Jimmy Spencer (7)	Camel Cigarettes	Ford Thunderbird	145	Running	57,300
36	Derrike Cope (29)	Skittles	Pontiac Grand Prix	124	Handling	50,145
37	Greg Sacks (34)	Hardee's	Ford Thunderbird	120	Accident	50,040
38	Bobby Hillin (31)	Jasper Engines	Ford Thunderbird	111	Engine	49,605
39	Robert Pressley (19)	Cartoon Network	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	91	Accident	49,605
40	Steve Grissom (2)	Kodiak	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	88	Accident	57,565
41	Rusty Wallace (14)	Miller Lite	Ford Thunderbird	47	Engine	66,605
42	Wally Dallenbach (26)	First Union	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	32	Engine	49,605