The 1997 NASCAR Busch Series began February 15 and ended November 9. Randy LaJoie of BACE Motorsports won the championship.

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

List of full-time teams at the start of 1997.

Part-time schedule

Schedule

Races

Gargoyles 300

The Gargoyles 300 was held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole. Top ten results

Goodwrench Service 200

The Goodwrench Service 200 was held on February 22 at North Carolina Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results

Hardee's Fried Chicken 250

The Hardee's Fried Chicken 250 was held on March 1 at Richmond International Raceway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Top ten results

Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300

The Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300 was held on March 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Tim Bender won the pole. Top ten results

Las Vegas 300

The inaugural Las Vegas 300 was held on March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole. Top ten results

Diamond Hill Plywood 200

The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 was held on March 22 at Darlington Raceway. Elliott Sadler won the pole. Top ten results

Galaxy Foods 300

The Galaxy Foods 300 was held on March 29 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Todd Bodine won the pole. Top ten results

Coca-Cola 300

The inaugural Coca-Cola 300 was held on April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway. Jeff Green won the pole.

Moore's Snacks 250

The Moore's Snacks 250 was held on April 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole. Top ten results

BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320

The BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320 was held on April 19 at Nashville Speedway USA. Mike McLaughlin won the pole. Top ten results

Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K

The Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K was held on April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole. Top ten results

United States Cellular 200

The United States Cellular 200 was held on May 10 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Top ten results

CoreStates Advantage 200

The CoreStates Advantage 200 was held on May 18 at Nazareth Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole. Top ten results

Carquest Auto Parts 300

The Carquest Auto Parts 300 was held on May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mark Martin won the pole. Top ten results

GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200

The GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 was held on May 31 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole. Top ten results

Winston Motorsports 300

The Winston Motorsports 300 was held on June 13 at South Boston Speedway. Shane Hall won the pole. Top ten results

Lysol 200

The Lysol 200 was held on June 29 at Watkins Glen International. Joe Nemechek won the pole. Top ten results

Sears Auto Center 250

The Sears Auto Center 250 was held on July 6 at The Milwaukee Mile. Tim Fedewa won the pole. Top ten results

Advance Auto Parts 250

The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held on July 12 at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the pole. Top ten results

Gateway 300

The inaugural Gateway 300 was held on July 26 at Gateway International Raceway. Joe Bessey won the pole. Top ten results

Kroger 200 presented by Ziploc

The Kroger 200 presented by Ziploc was held on August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Top ten results

Detroit Gasket 200

The Detroit Gasket 200 was held on August 16 at Michigan International Speedway. Hermie Sadler won the pole. Top ten results Failed to qualify: Mark Day (#16), Lyndon Amick (#35), Greg Sacks (#50), Nathan Buttke (#78), Ron Barfield (#94), Doug Reid III (#97)

Food City 250

The Food City 250 was held on August 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Randy LaJoie won the pole. Buckshot Jones, who finished 26th, received a 50–point penalty after intentionally trying to wreck Randy LaJoie. Top ten results

Dura Lube 200 presented by Trak Automotive

The Dura Lube 200 presented by Trak Automotive was held on August 30 at Darlington Raceway. Mark Martin won the pole. This was the first race run at the racetrack after the start-finish line was moved to the back straightaway. Top ten results

Autolite Platinum 250

The Autolite Platinum 250 was held on September 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Michael Waltrip won the pole. Top ten results

MBNA 200

The MBNA 200 was held on September 20 at Dover International Speedway. Dick Trickle won the pole. Top ten results

All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300

The All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 was held on October 4 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole. Top ten results

Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300

The inaugural Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300 was held on October 19 at California Speedway. Steve Park won the pole. Top ten results

AC Delco 200

The AC Delco 200 was held on October 25 at North Carolina Speedway. Jeff Burton won the pole. Top ten results

Jiffy Lube Miami 300

The Jiffy Lube Miami 300 was held on November 9 at Homestead Motorsports Complex. Mike McLaughlin won the pole. Top ten results

Full Drivers' Championship

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by owner's points.

• – Most laps led.

Rookie of the Year

Steve Park was the only rookie candidate to compete full-time in 1997, picking up three wins and finishing 3rd in points. Matt Kenseth was the top runner-up, despite replacing fellow candidate Tim Bender several races into the season. Johnny Chapman began the year with NorthStar Motorsports, but was released with several races to go in the season. Brothers Jeff and Mark Krogh came in from the Northwest driving for their family-owned team, each posting one top-ten apiece. Lyndon Amick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were the only other rookie contenders in 1997.