NASCAR BGN Gateway 300 Fact Sheet
20 July 1997
1997 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES, GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION RACE FACTS WHAT: Gateway 300 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division Race #20 of 30 WHERE: Gateway International Speedway Madison, IL 1.25-Mile Paved Oval WHEN: Saturday, July 26, 1997 12:00 pm (CDT) DISTANCE: 240 Laps (300 Miles) POSTED AWARDS: $799,585 FIELD: 42 cars. Fastest 38 cars through time trials. Up to five provisional starting positions, including four based on 1997 NBS owner points and one for a former champion of the NBS. SANCTION: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) PROMOTER: Gateway International Motorsports Corporation TV: CBS (Live) Air time: 12:00 pm (CDT) Announcers: Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, and Buddy Baker Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren and Ralph Sheheen RADIO: MRN (Live) Air time : 11:45 am (CDT) Announcers: Allen Bestwick and Joe Moore SCHEDULE: Thursday, July 24 7:00 am : NASCAR Garage Opens 8:00 am : Mandatory Drivers' meeting 11:00 am - 4:30 pm : Alternating Practice Sessions Friday, July 25 7:00 am : NASCAR Garage Opens 8:00 am : Qualifying Draw 8:30 - 10:00 am : Practice 11:00 am - 12:00 pm : Practice 2:00 pm : Qualifying (All Positions) Saturday, July 26 8:00 am : NASCAR Garage Opens 10:00 am : Drivers' & Crew Chiefs' Meeting 12:11 pm : Start of Gateway 300 RECORDS: Qualifying: First NBS event at this venue. Race: First NBS event at this venue. THE RACE: The Gateway International Raceway is a 1.25-mile paved oval with 11 degrees banking in turns 1 and 2 and 9 degrees banking in turns 3 and 4. The length of the frontstretch is 1,922 feet and the length of the backstretch is 1,976 feet. This will be the first NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Series event held at Gateway International Raceway and first in the state of Illinois. PARTICIPATING AWARDS SPONSORS: Anheuser-Busch, Inc., AE Clevite, Aeroquip, Autolite Spark Plugs, Champion Spark Plugs, Competition Cam, Edelbrock Intake Manifolds, Fram Oil Filters, Ford Motor Corporation, Gatorade, Goodyear Tires & Belts & Hoses, Griffin Mufflers, Goody's, Holley Carburetors, JE Pistons, Jesel Rocker Arms, Kar Products, Lincoln Electric, MCI, Moog Chassis Parts, Moroso Blue Max Ignition Wires, Motorsports Designs, MSD Ignitions, Penske Shocks, Precision Gear, Raybestos Brakes, Richmond Gear, Simpson Helmets, STP Oil Treatment & Oil Filters, Unocal 76 Gasoline, Vantare, Winston Cup Scene, Wiseco Pistons, Wix Filters.