1996 saw a new paint scheme, which had been previewed in a similar look at the '95 Brickyard 400. For the first time in eight years Mark did not win a race in the Winston Cup series.  He won four poles, though.

Mark and the Valvoline team came back in '97 stronger than ever. They scored victories at Sears Point, Talladega, Michigan, and Dover. Mark won the Winston 500 at Talladega recording the fastest 500 mile race in NASCAR history. It is the second fastest 500 mile race in auto racing history, with Al Unser, Jr. having the fastest.