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NASCAR BGN Series Autolite Platinum 250: Fact Sheet

3 September 1997


         1997 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES, GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION
                           RACE FACTS

WHAT: Autolite Platinum 250
      NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division Race #25 of 30

WHERE: Richmond International Raceway
       Richmond, VA
       0.750-Mile Banked Paved Speedway

WHEN: Friday, September 5, 1997
         7:40 pm (EDT)

DISTANCE: 250 Laps (187.5 Miles)

POSTED AWARDS: $380,218

FIELD: 43 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: Richmond International Raceway, Inc.

TV: ESPN (Live)
    Air time: 7:30 pm (EDT)
    Announcers: Dr. Jerry Punch, Benny Parsons and Ned Jarrett
    Pit Reporters: Bill Weber, Ray Dunlap and Kyle Petty

RADIO: MRN (Live)
       Air time : 7:15 pm (EDT)
       Announcers: Allen Bestwick and Joe Moore

SCHEDULE:

 Thursday, September 4
              6:00 am : Team Haulers Enter
              7:00 am : NASCAR Garage Opens
              8:00 am : Draw For Qualifying Order
              8:30 am : Rookie Drivers' Meeting
     10:30 - 11:30 am : Practice
              4:10 pm : Qualifying (Positions 1-25)

 Friday, September 5
              8:00 am : NASCAR Garage Opens
     11:00 - 11:30 am : Practice
              2:00 pm : Qualifying (Positions 26-38)
              6:30 pm : Drivers' & Crew Chiefs' Meeting
              7:45 pm : Start of the Autolite Platinum 250

RECORDS:

Qualifying: Jason Keller; Greenville, SC; Chevrolet; 121.968 mph;
             22.137 seconds; 9/9/94

Race: Dale Jarrett; Newton, NC; Ford; 104.928 mph;
      1 hour, 47 minutes, 13 seconds; 9/8/95

1996 REVIEW: Kenny Wallace and David Green battled throughout the race,
swapping the lead twice over the last 185 laps before Wallace finally
prevailed by 0.25-second. Chad Little finished third. Mark Martin fourth and
Dick Trickle fifth. Green added another 36 points to his lead over Randy
LaJoie, who finished eighth, in the NASCAR Busch Series Championship point
standings. There were 36 of the 41 cars that started the racing still
running at the finish.
 
 THE TRACK:
 
 Degree of Banking in Turns - 14 degrees
 Degree of Banking on Frontstretch - 8 degrees
 Degree of Banking on Backstretch - 2 degrees
 Length of Frontstretch - 1,290 feet
 Length of Backstretch - 860 feet
 
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.