Entry List
The official 1997 Mountain Dew Southern 500 NASCAR CUP Series entry list features top NASCAR drivers set to compete at Darlington Raceway, highlighting the full lineup of race participants and teams.
Mountain Dew Southern 500
Sunday, August 31st, 1997
Darlington Raceway, Darlington, SC
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20
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8
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15
- Drivers Entered: 43 (3 drivers will not make the race)
- Laps Scheduled: 367
- Margin of Victory: N/A Seconds
- Time of Race: N/A
- Average Speed: 121.149
- Cautions: 11 for 67 laps
- Lead Changes: 9
- Green Flag Passes: N/A
| ENTRY | # | DRIVER | HOMETOWN | DOB | AGE | MAKE | SPONSOR | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Dawsonville, GA | Oct 8, 1955 | 41 | Ford | McDonald's | Bill Elliott |
| 2 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Nashville, TN | May 29, 1957 | 40 | Pontiac | STP | Petty Enterprises |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Corpus Christi, TX | May 8, 1964 | 33 | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Hickory, NC | Nov 26, 1956 | 40 | Ford | Quality Care / Ford Credit | Yates Racing |
| 5 | 36 | Derrike Cope | Spanaway, WA | Nov 2, 1958 | 38 | Pontiac | Skittles | Nelson Bowers |
| 6 | 99 | Jeff Burton | South Boston, VA | Jan 29, 1967 | 30 | Ford | Exide Batteries | Jack Roush |
| 7 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Vallejo, CA | Aug 4, 1971 | 26 | Chevrolet | DuPont Refinishes | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 8 | 29 | Jeff Green | Owensboro, KY | Sep 6, 1962 | 34 | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network | Gary Bechtel |
| 9 | 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Owensboro, KY | May 27, 1969 | 28 | Ford | Kmart / RC Cola | Michael Kranefuss |
| 10 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Berwick, PA | Feb 15, 1957 | 40 | Ford | Camel Cigarettes | Travis Carter |
| 11 | 42 | Joe Nemechek | Lakeland, FL | Sep 26, 1963 | 33 | Chevrolet | BellSouth | Felix Sabates |
| 12 | 98 | John Andretti | Bethlehem, PA | Mar 12, 1963 | 34 | Ford | RCA | Cale Yarborough |
| 13 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr | Grand Rapids, MI | Jun 27, 1963 | 34 | Pontiac | Pennzoil | Chuck Rider |
| 14 | 33 | Ken Schrader | Fenton, MO | May 29, 1955 | 42 | Chevrolet | Skoal Bandit | Andy Petree |
| 15 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | St. Louis, MO | Aug 23, 1963 | 34 | Ford | Square D | Fil Martocci |
| 16 | 44 | Kyle Petty | Trinity, NC | Jun 2, 1960 | 37 | Pontiac | Hot Wheels | Kyle Petty |
| 17 | 6 | Mark Martin | Batesville, AR | Jan 9, 1959 | 38 | Ford | Valvoline | Jack Roush |
| 18 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Owensboro, KY | Apr 30, 1963 | 34 | Ford | Citgo | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 19 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Ontario, CA | Jun 28, 1957 | 40 | Chevrolet | Lowe's | Richard Childress Racing |
| 20 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Chesapeake, VA | Sep 12, 1956 | 40 | Ford | Tide | Ricky Rudd |
| 21 | 40 | Robby Gordon | Bellflower, CA | Jan 2, 1969 | 28 | Chevrolet | Coors Light | Felix Sabates |
| 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | St. Louis, MO | Aug 14, 1956 | 41 | Ford | Miller Lite | Team Penske |
| 23 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Columbia, TN | Jun 30, 1957 | 40 | Chevrolet | Kodak Film | Larry McClure |
| 24 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Corpus Christi, TX | Nov 16, 1956 | 40 | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Corn Flakes | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 25 | 96 | Todd Bodine | Chemung, NY | Feb 27, 1964 | 33 | Chevrolet | Caterpillar | Buz McCall |
| 26 | 22 | Ward Burton | South Boston, VA | Oct 25, 1961 | 35 | Pontiac | MBNA America | Bill Davis |
| 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Chemung, NY | Jan 11, 1959 | 38 | Ford | Close Call Phone Card | Brett Bodine |
| 28 | 97 | Chad Little | Spokane, WA | Apr 23, 1963 | 34 | Pontiac | John Deere | Jack Roush |
| 29 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Kannapolis, NC | Apr 29, 1951 | 46 | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus | Richard Childress Racing |
| 30 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Franklin, TN | Feb 5, 1947 | 50 | Chevrolet | Parts America | Darrell Waltrip |
| 31 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Oct 27, 1941 | 55 | Ford | Heilig-Meyers / Simmons | Junie Donlavey |
| 32 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Modesto, CA | Jan 13, 1959 | 38 | Ford | Texaco / Havoline | Yates Racing |
| 33 | 78 | Gary Bradberry | Chelsea, AL | Jan 27, 1961 | 36 | Ford | Hanes | Jim Wilson |
| 34 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Chemung, NY | Apr 18, 1949 | 48 | Ford | QVC | Geoffrey Bodine |
| 35 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Calera, AL | Jun 24, 1961 | 36 | Ford | Circuit City | Stavola Brothers |
| 36 | 12 | Jeff Purvis | Clarksville, TN | Feb 19, 1959 | 38 | Chevrolet | Opryland USA | Larry Lockamy |
| 37 | 9 | Lake Speed | Jackson, MS | Jan 17, 1948 | 49 | Ford | Melling Engine Parts | Harry Melling |
| 38 | 1 | Lance Hooper | Palmdale, CA | Jun 1, 1967 | 30 | Pontiac | R&L Carriers | Richard Jackson |
| 39 | 75 | Rick Mast | Rockbridge Baths, VA | Mar 4, 1957 | 40 | Ford | Remington Arms | Butch Mock |
| 40 | 25 | Ricky Craven | Newburgh, ME | May 24, 1966 | 31 | Chevrolet | Budweiser | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 41 | 41 | Steve Grissom | Gasden, AL | Jun 26, 1963 | 34 | Chevrolet | Kodiak | Larry Hedrick |
| 42 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Franklin, WI | Dec 18, 1955 | 41 | Ford | Family Channel / Primestar | Jack Roush |
| 43 | 46 | Wally Dallenbach Jr | , | Nov 30, -0001 | 1997 | Chevrolet | First Union | Felix Sabates |