The hype was over, the planes flew by overhead, Bruton Smith had given the command to start the engines and it was time to finally get the show under way. The 1997 Interstate Batteries 500 marked the first time the stars of NASCAR headed to Fort Worth, Texas and the new 1.5-mile facility. 

With rain prevalent on the weekend, practice was limited on the new track and qualifying was cancelled.  The brand new track was tricky to say the least, presenting drivers with the challenge of a one-grove track where passing was no easy task.

Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon led the field to the green with Texas-natives and brothers Terry and Bobby Labonte behind them in row two. As the field sped into the first turn, few expected what was to follow.

While the leaders made it through the corner without issues, those behind them were not so lucky. Attempting to drop in front of Johnny Benson for the thirteenth-spot, Darrell Waltrip did not clear the yellow No. 30 Pennzoil-sponsored car as he drove to the bottom. The two made contact and Waltrip’s chrome No. 17 spun up the track as others fought to slow their cars down and avoid trouble.

With Waltrip sliding sideways, many behind him began to spin and collect one another. In all, thirteen cars were caught up in the incident, including: Waltrip, Benson, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bobby Hamilton, Robby Gordon, Todd Bodine, Morgan Shepherd, Jeremy Mayfield, Kyle Petty and others.

“I got in down in there, I had an opening there Benson looked like he didn’t get a good start,” Waltrip said scratching his head. “I was going to fall in front of Dale, we had kind of talked about it, but they didn’t go very good.  So, I went down and I got to the first turn, a great opportunity to drop to the inside in front of Benson as I started in and I was in the groove. I don’t know if he went on the apron or what he did, but I’m pretty sure he was the one that turned me around. At least I think he did, I have yellow paint on my car so I’d say he probably did it.”

The incident going into the first turn on the first lap of the first race at Texas Motor Speedway was one heck of a way to christen the new track.  Many believed the day would be full of action and trouble, but few could have imagined it would happen so soon and so big.

In the end, it was Virginia-native Jeff Burton who captured the inaugural victory at the speedway, besting pole-sitter Dale Jarrett by just over four seconds.  The Labonte brothers came home third (Bobby) and fourth (Terry), while Ricky Rudd was fifth.