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1997 Southern 500
NASCAR Cup Series Race 23 of 32
Race InformationTrack Information
Total Purse:$1,202,356Race Date:Apr 30, 2026Darlington Raceway
Margin of Victory:.144 SecondsRace Duration:4Hr 8Min 17Sec.Darlington, South Carolina
Lead Changes:9 Among / 7 DriversAverage Speed:121.149 MPH1.366 Mile Oval
No. of Cars:43No. of Cautions:11 For 67 Laps

Winner, Pole and Manufacturer Information
Winner InformationPole InformationManufacturer Points
Driver: Jeff Gordon J. GordonDriver: Bobby Labonte B. LabonteChevrolet:9
Car No.:#24 ChevroletCar No.:#18 PontiacFord:0
Team:Hendrick MotorsportsTeam:Joe Gibbs RacingPontiac:0
Crew Chief:Ray EvernhamCrew Chief:Jimmy Makar 
Laps Led:116 of 367Pole Speed:170.661 MPH

◄  View Crew Chiefs  View Teams ►

Official 1997 Southern 500 Results
FinishStartNumDriverSponsorStatusMfgPointsLapsLed
1724 Jeff GordonJeff GordonDuPontRunning180367116
21699 Jeff BurtonJeff BurtonExide BatteriesRunning17536724
3388 Dale JarrettDale JarrettQuality Care / Ford CreditRunning17036738
4294 Bill ElliottBill ElliottMcDonald'sRunning170367181
52110 Ricky RuddRicky RuddTideRunning1553670
6175 Terry LabonteTerry LabonteKellogg's Corn FlakesRunning1503670
7118 Bobby LabonteBobby LabonteInterstate BatteriesRunning1513672
846 Mark MartinMark MartinValvolineRunning1423670
91421 Michael WaltripMichael WaltripCITGORunning1433672
10533 Ken SchraderKen SchraderSkoal BanditRunning1343660
113797 Chad LittleChad LittleJohn DeereRunning1303660
12127 Geoffrey BodineGeoffrey BodineQVCRunning1273660
13890 Dick TrickleDick TrickleHeilig-Meyers / SimmonsRunning1243660
142436 Derrike CopeDerrike CopeSkittlesRunning1213650
151111 Brett BodineBrett BodineClose Call Phone CardRunning1183650
161937 Jeremy MayfieldJeremy MayfieldKmart / RC ColaRunning1153650
1768 Hut StricklinHut StricklinCircuit CityRunning1123650
18239 Lake SpeedLake SpeedMelling Auto PartsRunning1093650
191830 Johnny Benson, Jr.Johnny Benson, Jr.PennzoilRunning1063650
204043 Bobby HamiltonBobby HamiltonSTPRunning1033650
212941 Steve GrissomSteve GrissomKodiakRunning1003650
223440 Robby Gordon (R)Robby GordonCoors LightRunning973630
232073 Joe NemechekJoe NemechekBellSouthRunning943590
242581 Kenny WallaceKenny WallaceSquare DRunning913540
252778 Gary BradberryGary BradberryChild Support Recovery InternationalRunning883540
263817 Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripParts AmericaHandling853530
271322 Ward BurtonWard BurtonMBNA AmericaHandling823500
283023 Jimmy SpencerJimmy SpencerCamel CigarettesRunning793410
291516 Ted MusgraveTed MusgraveThe Family Channel / PRIMESTARHandling812964
30363 Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtGMGoodwrench ServiceRunning732820
313125 Ricky CravenRicky CravenBudweiserEngine702360
323944 Kyle PettyKyle PettyHot WheelsEngine672020
331028 Ernie IrvanErnie IrvanTexaco / HavolineEngine641830
342875 Rick MastRick MastRemington ArmsAccident611770
35411 Lance Hooper (R)Lance HooperR+L CarriersAccident581750
363331 Mike Skinner (R)Mike SkinnerLowe'sAccident551300
373298 John AndrettiJohn AndrettiRCAAccident521170
382212 Jeff PurvisJeff PurvisOpryland USAAccident491140
394229 Jeff Green (R)Jeff GreenCartoon NetworkElectrical461040
4094 Sterling MarlinSterling MarlinKodak FilmsEngine431020
412646 Wally Dallenbach, Jr.Wally Dallenbach, Jr.First UnionRadiator40850
423596 Todd BodineTodd BodineCaterpillarAccident3750
43432 Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceMiller LiteAccident3450
(R) Denotes Rookie  ◄► (I) Driver is Ineligible For Points
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