The 1997 CMT 300 was the 25th stock car race of the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the inaugural iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, September 14, 1997, in Loudon, New Hampshire, at New Hampshire International Speedway, a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) permanent, oval-shaped, low-banked racetrack. The race took the scheduled 300 laps to complete. At race's end, a fuel-only call by Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon late in the race would manage to help him propel to his 29th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his 10th and final victory of the season.[1][2] To fill out the top three, Robert Yates Racing driver Ernie Irvan and Petty Enterprises driver Bobby Hamilton would finish second and third, respectively.

1997 CMT 300
Race details
Race 25 of 32 in the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1997 CMT 300 program cover.
The 1997 CMT 300 program cover.
Date September 14, 1997
Official name Inaugural CMT 300
Location Loudon, New Hampshire, New Hampshire International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.058 mi (1.703 km)
Distance 300 laps, 317.4 mi (510.805 km)
Scheduled Distance 300 laps, 317.4 mi (510.805 km)
Average speed 100.364 miles per hour (161.520 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Andy Petree Racing
Time 29.484
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 137
Winner
No. 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network TNN
Announcers Eli Gold, Dick Berggren, Buddy Baker
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

Background

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The layout of New Hampshire International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road course, which includes much of the oval. The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
1 Lance Hooper Precision Products Racing Pontiac R+L Carriers
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford Miller Lite
3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Service Plus
4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Valvoline
7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford QVC
8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford Circuit City
9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford Melling Racing
10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Close Call Phone Card
14 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Burger King
16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford PrimeStar, The Family Channel
17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet Parts America
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford Citgo
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac MBNA
23 Jimmy Spencer Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Camel Cigarettes
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Budweiser
28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet Cartoon Network, Tom and Jerry, Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken
30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac Pennzoil
31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's
33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Skoal
36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac Skittles
37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford Kmart, RC Cola
40 Robby Gordon (R) Team SABCO Chevrolet Coors Light
41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kodiak
42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet BellSouth
43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac STP
44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac Hot Wheels
46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet First Union
71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet Realtree
75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford Remington Arms
77 Morgan Shepherd Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Federal-Mogul
78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford Hanes
81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford Square D
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford Quality Care Service, Ford Credit
90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford Heilig-Meyers
91 Kevin Lepage LJ Racing Chevrolet LJ Racing
94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford McDonald's Mac Tonight
96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
97 Chad Little Roush Racing Pontiac John Deere
98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford RCA
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide

Qualifying

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Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, September 12, at 4:00 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00 AM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time.[3] Positions 26-38 would be decided on time, and depending on who needed it, the 39th thru either the 42nd, 43rd, or 44th position would be based on provisionals. Four spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The fifth is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champion needs the provisional, the field would be limited to 42 cars. If a champion needed it, the field would expand to 43 cars. If the race was a companion race with the NASCAR Winston West Series, four spots would be determined by NASCAR Winston Cup Series provisionals, while the final two spots would be given to teams in the Winston West Series, leaving the field at 44 cars.

Ken Schrader, driving for Andy Petree Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 29.484 and an average speed of 129.182 miles per hour (207.898 km/h).[4]

Three drivers would fail to qualify: Lance Hooper, Steve Park, and Kevin Lepage.

Full qualifying results

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Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 29.484 129.182
2 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 29.672 128.363
3 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 29.683 128.316
4 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.827 127.696
5 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 29.837 127.654
6 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.854 127.581
7 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 29.871 127.508
8 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 29.898 127.393
9 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 29.905 127.363
10 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 29.921 127.295
11 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 29.928 127.265
12 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 29.929 127.261
13 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 29.940 127.214
14 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 29.941 127.210
15 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 29.944 127.197
16 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 29.947 127.185
17 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 29.969 127.091
18 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 29.974 127.070
19 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 29.978 127.053
20 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 29.981 127.040
21 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 29.984 127.028
22 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 29.990 127.002
23 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 30.008 126.926
24 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 30.019 126.880
25 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 30.026 126.850
26 40 Robby Gordon (R) Team SABCO Chevrolet 29.852 127.589
27 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 29.887 127.440
28 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 29.888 127.436
29 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 29.961 127.125
30 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 29.962 127.121
31 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 30.032 126.825
32 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 30.037 126.804
33 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 30.120 126.454
34 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 30.135 126.391
35 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 30.151 126.324
36 29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 30.234 125.977
37 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 30.248 125.919
38 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Pontiac 30.290 125.744
Provisionals
39 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford -* -*
40 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford -* -*
41 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
42 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford -* -*
Champion's Provisional
43 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet -* -*
Failed to qualify
44 1 Lance Hooper Precision Products Racing Pontiac -* -*
45 14 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet -* -*
46 91 Kevin Lepage LJ Racing Chevrolet -* -*
Official qualifying results

*Time not available.

Race results

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Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 13 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 300 137 running 185 $188,625
2 40 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 300 5 running 175 $111,425
3 2 43 Bobby Hamilton Petty Enterprises Pontiac 300 62 running 170 $84,925
4 23 41 Steve Grissom Larry Hedrick Motorsports Chevrolet 300 0 running 160 $63,225
5 6 25 Ricky Craven Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 300 91 running 160 $62,425
6 19 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 300 0 running 150 $52,125
7 16 23 Jimmy Spencer Travis Carter Enterprises Ford 300 1 running 151 $47,725
8 30 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 300 0 running 142 $49,025
9 17 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 300 1 running 143 $47,025
10 25 8 Hut Stricklin Stavola Brothers Racing Ford 300 0 running 134 $47,325
11 10 94 Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Racing Ford 300 0 running 130 $42,125
12 11 44 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Pontiac 300 0 running 127 $33,225
13 29 42 Joe Nemechek Team SABCO Chevrolet 300 0 running 124 $33,725
14 39 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 300 0 running 121 $46,025
15 12 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 300 0 running 118 $45,925
16 14 7 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Racing Ford 300 0 running 115 $38,825
17 5 98 John Andretti Cale Yarborough Motorsports Ford 300 0 running 112 $38,000
18 9 9 Lake Speed Melling Racing Ford 300 0 running 109 $30,300
19 20 30 Johnny Benson Jr. Bahari Racing Pontiac 300 0 running 106 $37,000
20 7 75 Rick Mast Butch Mock Motorsports Ford 300 1 running 108 $36,700
21 33 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing South Ford 299 0 crash 100 $42,975
22 28 90 Dick Trickle Donlavey Racing Ford 299 0 running 97 $29,175
23 35 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Pontiac 299 0 running 94 $25,875
24 26 40 Robby Gordon (R) Team SABCO Chevrolet 299 0 running 91 $37,575
25 27 37 Jeremy Mayfield Kranefuss-Haas Racing Ford 299 0 running 88 $27,285
26 24 36 Derrike Cope MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 299 0 running 85 $27,975
27 34 81 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 298 0 running 82 $34,750
28 38 97 Chad Little Roush Racing Pontiac 298 0 running 79 $27,050
29 32 71 Dave Marcis Marcis Auto Racing Chevrolet 298 0 running 76 $24,350
30 21 16 Ted Musgrave Roush Racing Ford 297 0 running 73 $31,150
31 8 46 Wally Dallenbach Jr. Team SABCO Chevrolet 297 0 running 70 $23,950
32 15 17 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet 297 0 running 67 $30,750
33 3 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 295 0 running 64 $32,050
34 31 78 Gary Bradberry Triad Motorsports Ford 295 0 running 61 $23,350
35 4 31 Mike Skinner (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 295 0 running 58 $23,150
36 22 21 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Racing Ford 292 0 crash 55 $29,950
37 1 33 Ken Schrader Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 291 2 running 57 $36,250
38 36 29 Jeff Green (R) Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 287 0 running 49 $22,400
39 41 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 282 0 running 46 $38,400
40 18 96 David Green (R) American Equipment Racing Chevrolet 274 0 running 43 $22,400
41 43 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 264 0 crash 40 $44,000
42 37 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 233 0 crash 37 $37,400
43 42 77 Robert Pressley Jasper Motorsports Ford 185 0 crash 34 $22,400
Failed to qualify
44 1 Lance Hooper Precision Products Racing Pontiac
45 14 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet
46 91 Kevin Lepage LJ Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ Poole, David (September 14, 1997). "Splash of gas gets Gordon 10th victory". That's Racin'. The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on November 18, 2000. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Gordon wins 10th of season". St. Cloud Times. September 15, 1997. p. 15. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "CMT 300". Concord Monitor. September 12, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Harris, Mike (September 13, 1997). "Qualifying late gives Schrader edge". Star-Gazette. p. 22. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
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1997 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1997 season
Next race:
1997 MBNA 400