1997 California 500
NASCAR Cup Series Race 15 of 32
Race InformationTrack Information
Total Purse:$1,697,250Race Date:Apr 30, 2026Auto Club Speedway
Margin of Victory:1.074 SecondsRace Duration:3Hr 13Min 32Sec.Fontana, California
Lead Changes:21 Among / 12 DriversAverage Speed:155.025 MPH2 Mile Paved D-Shaped Oval
No. of Cars:42No. of Cautions:4 For 22 Laps

Winner, Pole and Manufacturer Information
Winner InformationPole InformationManufacturer Points
Driver: Jeff Gordon J. GordonDriver: Joe Nemechek J. NemechekChevrolet:9
Car No.:#24 ChevroletCar No.:#73 ChevroletFord:0
Team:Hendrick MotorsportsTeam:Team SabcoPontiac:0
Crew Chief:Ray EvernhamCrew Chief: 
Laps Led:113 of 250Pole Speed:183.015 MPH
Official 1997 California 500 Results
FinishStartNumDriverSponsorStatusMfgPointsLapsLed
1324 Jeff GordonJeff GordonDuPontRunning185250113
2105 Terry LabonteTerry LabonteKellogg's Corn FlakesRunning17525041
33910 Ricky RuddRicky RuddTideRunning1652500
42016 Ted MusgraveTed MusgraveThe Family Channel / PRIMESTARRunning1602500
51923 Jimmy SpencerJimmy SpencerCamel CigarettesRunning1602504
61518 Bobby LabonteBobby LabonteInterstate BatteriesRunning1502500
7729 Jeff Green (R)Jeff GreenCartoon NetworkRunning1462500
8988 Dale JarrettDale JarrettQuality Care / Ford CreditRunning14725049
91125 Ricky CravenRicky CravenBudweiserRunning1432508
10126 Mark MartinMark MartinValvolineOut of Fuel13924911
111821 Michael WaltripMichael WaltripCITGORunning1302490
122137 Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldKmart / RC ColaRunning1272490
131330 Johnny Benson, Jr.Johnny Benson, Jr.PennzoilRunning1242490
14162 Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceMiller LiteRunning1212490
15817 Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripParts AmericaRunning1232492
16143 Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtGM Goodwrench ServiceRunning1152490
174141 Steve GrissomSteve GrissomKodiakRunning1122490
18173 Joe NemechekJoe NemechekBellSouthRunning1142481
192497 Chad LittleChad LittleJohn DeereRunning1062480
20229 Lake SpeedLake SpeedMelling Auto PartsRunning1032480
213598 John AndrettiJohn AndrettiRCARunning1002480
224290 Dick TrickleDick TrickleHeilig-Meyers / SimmonsRunning972480
233043 Bobby HamiltonBobby HamiltonSTPRunning942470
24311 Morgan ShepherdMorgan ShepherdJasper Engines / Federal-MogulRunning912470
253496 David Green (R)David GreenCaterpillarRunning882470
263611 Brett BodineBrett BodineClose Call Phone CardRunning902471
272620 Greg SacksGreg SacksCoors LightRunning822460
284022 Ward BurtonWard BurtonMBNA AmericaRunning792460
292336 Derrike CopeDerrike CopeSkittlesRunning762450
302599 Jeff BurtonJeff BurtonExide BatteriesRunning732440
313844 Kyle PettyKyle PettyHot WheelsRunning702430
321794 Bill ElliottBill ElliottMcDonald'sOut of Fuel672410
332831 Mike Skinner (R)Mike SkinnerLowe'sRunning642250
34533 Ken SchraderKen SchraderSkoal BanditEngine662198
3567 Geoffrey BodineGeoffrey BodineQVCEngine582150
36294 Sterling MarlinSterling MarlinKodak FilmsEngine552060
37228 Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanTexaco / HavolineEngine572026
38331 Jerry NadeauJerry NadeauR+L CarriersRunning491740
39446 Wally Dallenbach, Jr.Wally Dallenbach, Jr.First UnionElectrical511736
403271 Dave MarcisDave MarcisRealtree CamouflageEngine431460
413775 Rick MastRick MastRemington ArmsEngine40940
42278 Hut StricklinHut StricklinCircuit CityAccident37280

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