- 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1997
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began on January 19 and ended on November 19.Jack Sprague ofHendrick Motorsports won the title.See also:
1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series ,1997 NASCAR Busch Series Chevy Trucks Challenge
The inaugural
Chevy Trucks Challenge was held January 19 atWalt Disney World Speedway .Jack Sprague won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Joe Ruttman
#Butch Miller
#Rich Bickle
#Jay Sauter
#Rick Carelli
#Jimmy Hensley
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Ron Barfield
#Curtis Markham
#Stacy Compton Failed to qualify:
Terry Cook (#88),Rob Rizzo (#27),Tony Raines (#19),Bob Schacht (#73),Greg Marlowe (#9),Randy Renfrow (#41),Chad Dokken (#64), T.J. Clark (#23),Perry Tripp (#51),Randy Tolsma (#61),Jon Leavy (#54),Mark Kinser (#92),Bob Brevak (#34),Andy Genzman (#25),Darin Brassfield (#56),Andy Belmont (#26),Jeff Spraker (#39), David Smith (#57),Billy Ogle (#01),Thomas Spangler (#54),Shane Doles (#59), Jimmy Davis (#69),Felix Giles (#08)NAPA 200
The
NAPA 200 was held March 1 atTucson Raceway Park .Michael Dokken won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Rich Bickle
#Jay Sauter
#Butch Miller
#Mike Bliss
#Rob Rizzo
#Jack Sprague
#Jimmy Hensley
#Chuck Bown
#Dave Rezendes Florida Dodge Dealers 400
The
Florida Dodge Dealers 400 was held March 16 atMiami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex .Joe Ruttman won the pole. Tragedy struck during this race, when on lap 144,John Nemechek struck the wall in turn 2, suffering massive head injuries. He died five days later.Top Ten Results
#
Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Mike Bliss
#Chuck Bown
#Mike Skinner
#Jack Sprague
#Ron Hornaday
#Dave Rezendes
#Rick Carelli
#Butch Miller
#Lance Norick Failed to qualify:
Frank Kimmel (#00),Jim Bown (#55),Terry Cook (#88), T. J. Clark (#23),Toby Porter (#10),Bob Schacht (#73),Blaise Alexander (#62),Randy Tolsma (#61),Jon Leavy (#54),Bobby Dotter (#68),Bob Brevak (#31),Ronnie Newman (#68),Jerry Glanville (#81),Michael Cohen (#45)Desert Start Classic
The
Desert Star Classic was held April 20 atPhoenix International Raceway .Jack Sprague won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jack Sprague
#Joe Ruttman
#Mike Bliss
#Ron Hornaday
#Rich Bickle
#Bob Keselowski
#Dave Rezendes
#Chuck Bown
#Toby Porter
#Rick Carelli Craftsman 200
The
Craftsman 200 was held May 3 atPortland International Raceway .Rich Bickle won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Rich Bickle
#Ron Hornaday
#Butch Miller
#Jack Sprague
#Bob Keselowski
#Mike Bliss
#Tony Raines
#Rick Crawford
#Tobey Butler
#Jay Sauter NAPACARD 200
The
NAPACARD 200 was held May 10 at Evergreen Speedway.Rich Bickle won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Rich Bickle
#Jack Sprague
#Michael Dokken
#Joe Ruttman
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Bob Keselowski
#Mike Bliss
#Stacy Compton
#Ron Hornaday
#Butch MillerWestern Auto/Parts America 200
The
Western Auto/Parts America 200 was held May 24 atI-70 Speedway .Rich Bickle won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Tony Raines
#Jimmy Hensley
#Chuck Bown
#Rich Bickle
#Butch Miller
#Joe Ruttman
#Rick Carelli
#Mike Bliss
#Tony Roper
#Jack Sprague Pennzoil Discount Center 200
The
Pennzoil Discount Center 200 was held May 31 atNew Hampshire International Speedway .Jack Sprague won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jay Sauter
#Jack Sprague
#Rick Carelli
#Boris Said
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Rick Crawford
#Dave Rezendes
#Bryan Reffner
#Joe Ruttman
#Chuck Bown Pronto Auto Parts 400K
The inaugural
Pronto Auto Parts 400K was held June 6 atTexas Motor Speedway .Mike Bliss won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Boris Said
#Rick Crawford
#Chuck Bown
#Mike Bliss
#Bob Keselowski
#Dave Rezendes
#Randy Tolsma
#Joe Ruttman
#Ken Bouchard Loadhandler 200
The
Loadhandler 200 was held June 21 atBristol Motor Speedway .Ron Hornaday won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Rich Bickle
#Jay Sauter
#Rick Carelli
#Joe Ruttman
#Rick Crawford
#Jack Sprague
#Jimmy Hensley
#Bryan Reffner NAPA 200
The
NAPA 200 was held June 29 atNazareth Speedway .Mike Bliss won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jack Sprague
#Joe Ruttman
#Mike Bliss
#Rich Bickle
#Michael Dokken
#Rick Carelli
#Chuck Bown
#David Green
#Jay Sauter
#Tony Raines Sears DieHard 200
The
Sears DieHard 200 was held July 5 atThe Milwaukee Mile .Jack Sprague won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Jay Sauter
#Rich Bickle
#Jack Sprague
#Rick Carelli
#Mike Wallace
#Tony Raines
#Jimmy Hensley
#Joe Ruttman
#Chuck Bown Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225
The
Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225 was held July 12 atLouisville Motor Speedway .Jimmy Hensley won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Joe Ruttman
#Jimmy Hensley
#Tony Raines
#Rich Bickle
#Stacy Compton
#Scot Walters
#Jack Sprague
#Boris Said
#Mike WallaceColorado 250 By Snap-On Tools
The
Colorado 250 By Snap-On Tools was held July 19 atColorado National Speedway .Ron Hornaday won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Mike Bliss
#Stacy Compton
#Jay Sauter
#Rich Bickle
#Rick Crawford
#Rick Carelli
#Jimmy Hensley
#Tony Raines
#Butch MillerLund Look 275K
The
Lund Look 275K was held July 27 atHeartland Park Topeka .Joe Ruttman won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Joe Ruttman
#Jack Sprague
#Ron Hornaday
#Dorsey Schroeder
#Mike Skinner
#Bobby Hamilton
#Jimmy Hensley
#Rick Crawford
#Rick Carelli
#Tony Raines Cummins 200
The
Cummins 200 was held July 31 atIndianapolis Raceway Park .Jimmy Hensley won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Jack Sprague
#Jimmy Hensley
#Joe Ruttman
#Mike McLaughlin
#Randy Tolsma
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Rick Carelli
#Dave Rezendes
#Rich Bickle Stevens Beil/Genuine Parts 200
The
Stevens Beil/Genuine Parts 200 was held August 9 atFlemington Speedway .Terry Cook won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Hornaday
#Joe Ruttman
#Rich Bickle
#Jack Sprague
#Rick Carelli
#Jay Sauter
#Mike Wallace
#Butch Miller
#Tony Roper
#Mike Bliss Federated Auto Parts 300
The
Federated Auto Parts 300 was held August 16 atNashville Superspeedway .Mike Bliss won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Jack Sprague
#Ron Hornaday
#Butch Miller
#Dave Rezendes
#Stacy Compton
#Rich Bickle
#Chuck Bown
#Rick Crawford
#Mike Bliss
#Rick Carelli Parts America 150
The
Parts America 150 was held August 24 atWatkins Glen International Raceway .Ron Fellows won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Ron Fellows
#Mike Bliss
#Jack Sprague
#Joe Ruttman
#Ron Hornaday
#Jimmy Hensley
#Ted Christopher
#Rick Johnson
#Blaise Alexander
#Rick Carelli Virginia Is For Lovers 200
The
Virginia Is For Lovers 200 was held September 4 atRichmond International Raceway .Ron Hornaday won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Bob Keselowski
#Jack Sprague
#Jay Sauter
#Rich Bickle
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Ken Schrader
#Mike Bliss
#Chuck Bown
#Randy Tolsma
#Butch MillerHanes 250
The
Hanes 250 was held September 27 atMartinsville Speedway .Rich Bickle won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Rich Bickle
#Ernie Irvan
#Mike Bliss
#Jimmy Hensley
#Bobby Hamilton
#Butch Miller
#Jay Sauter
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Stacy Compton
#Jack Sprague Kragen/Exide 151
The
Kragen/Exide 151 was held October 5 atSears Point International Raceway .Dave Rezendes won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Joe Ruttman
#Tom Hubert
#Jay Sauter
#Rick Johnson
#Jack Sprague
#Jimmy Hensley
#Rick Carelli
#Doug George
#Joe Bean
#Stacy Compton Dodge California Truckstop 300
The
Dodge California Truckstop 300 was held October 12 atMesa Marin Raceway .Mike Bliss won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Randy Tolsma
#Stacy Compton
#Mike Bliss
#Jay Sauter
#Rich Bickle
#Rick Crawford
#Mike Wallace
#Kevin Harvick
#Jimmy Hensley
#Jack Sprague The No Fear Challenge
The No Fear Challenge was held October 18 atCalifornia Speedway for the first time.Mike Bliss won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Mike Bliss
#Mike Wallace
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Ernie Irvan
#Randy Tolsma
#Jack Sprague
#Michael Waltrip
#Bob Keselowski
#Ron Hornaday
#Rick CrawfordGM Goodwrench/Delco 300
The
GM Goodwrench/Delco 300 was held November 1 atPhoenix International Raceway .Mike Bliss won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Joe Ruttman
#Chuck Bown
#Jack Sprague
#Kenny Irwin, Jr.
#Rick Carelli
#Mike Wallace
#Jay Sauter
#Butch Miller
#Ron Hornaday
#Mike Bliss Carquest Auto Parts 300
The
Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held November 9 atLas Vegas Motor Speedway .Jack Sprague won the pole.Top Ten Results
#
Joe Ruttman
#Jack Sprague
#Ron Hornaday
#Jay Sauter
#Mike Bliss
#Rick Carelli
#Mike Wallace
#Kevin Harvick
#Chuck Bown
#Rick CrawfordFinal Points Standings
#
Jack Sprague - 3969
#Rich Bickle - 3737
#Joe Ruttman - 3736
#Mike Bliss - 3611
#Ron Hornaday - 3574
#Jay Sauter - 3467
#Rick Carelli - 3461
#Jimmy Hensley - 3385
#Chuck Bown - 3320
#Kenny Irwin, Jr. - 3220
#Butch Miller - 3186
#Rick Crawford - 3149
#Stacy Compton - 3057
#Bob Keselowski - 2915
#Tony Raines - 2773
#Boris Said - 2657
#Dave Rezendes - 2613
#Tony Roper - 2604
#Bryan Reffner - 2433
#Tammy Jo Kirk - 2174
#Doug George - 2057
#Randy Tolsma - 1802
#Mike Wallace - 1788
#Terry Cook - 1651
#Lance Norick - 1620
#Kevin Harvick - 1355
#Tobey Butler - 1355
#Michael Dokken - 1331
#Rob Rizzo - 1306
#Brian Cunningham - 1265
#Dan Press - 1189
#Lonnie Rush, Jr. - 1087
#Bill Sedgwick - 928
#Kenny Allen - 911
#Kelly Denton - 764
#Barry Bodine - 688
#Bobby Dotter - 677
#Curtis Markham - 651
#Ron Barfield - 618
#Mike Cope - 613
#Ron Fellows - 559
#Eric Norris - 553
#Tom Hubert - 543
#Toby Porter - 451
#Andy Houston - 441
#Billy Pauch - 441
#Mike Skinner - 437
#Rick Johnson - 414
#Wayne Grubb - 410
#Brad Teague - 409Rookie of the Year
Former sprint car driver
Kenny 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 was Rick 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 beingRob Rizzo , who had one top-ten finish.External links
* [http://racing-reference.info/raceyear?yr=1997&series=C Craftsman Truck Series Standings and Statistics]
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