1997 Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 was run on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The #31 of Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.

Top Ten Results

# 24-Jeff Gordon
# 5-Terry Labonte
# 25-Ricky Craven
# 94-Bill Elliott
# 4-Sterling Marlin
# 37-Jeremy Mayfield
# 6-Mark Martin
# 22-Ward Burton
# 10-Ricky Rudd
# 17-Darrell Waltrip

Failed to qualify: 0-Delma Cowart, 15-Larry Pearson, 42-Joe Nemechek*, 75-Rick Mast*, 78-Billy Standridge, 84-Norm Benning, 91-Mike Wallace, 95-Gary Bradberry, 96-David Green, 97-Chad Little

*Joe Nemechek's SABCO Racing team bought the #73 entry of Phil Barkdoll, who had qualified 38th. The #73 was then adored in the logos of Nemechek's new sponsor, Bellsouth and run in the race (he ended up crashing the car late in the race).

*Remington Arms took their sponsor and put it onto the #19 Ford driven by Loy Allen Jr. for Tri-Star Motorsports after Rick Mast failed to qualify.

*Dale Earnhardt rolled his #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet in a crash with the #28 Texaco Havoline Ford of Ernie Irvan while in a four-way battle for the lead with 12 laps to go. During the crash, the hood of Irvan's car flew into the backstretch grandstand, injuring some fans. Earnhardt famously noticed that his tires were still on the car after the roll, had his car taken off the hook, and drove it back to pit road. The car was repaired and Earnhardt finished the race, 5 laps down in 31st.

*At age 25, Jeff Gordon became the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever. Richard Petty had previously been the youngest winner in 1964, when he won the 500 at age 26.