The 1917 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 21 races, beginning in Los Angeles, California on March 4 and concluding there on November 29. AAA did not award points towards a National Championship during the 1917 season, and did not declare a National Champion.
The de facto National Champion as polled by the American automobile journal Motor Age, was Earl Cooper. Cooper was named the champion by Chris G. Sinsabaugh, an editor at Motor Age, based upon merit and on track performance. A points table was created retroactively in 1927. At a later point, it was recognized by historians that these championship results should be considered unofficial.
The points paying system for the 1909âÂÂ1915 and 1917âÂÂ1919 season were retroactively applied in 1927 and revised in 1951 using the points system from 1920.