<p>DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The 40 drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500, in order of starting position:</p>
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<p>No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Alex Bowman</p>
<p>BORN: April 25, 1993</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Tucson, Arizona</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Greg Ives</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Ally</p>
<p>TWITTER: @AlexBowman88</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: On the 500 pole for the second time in the last four years. Had an engine issue in Thursday’s qualifying race but Hendrick Motorsports was hoping it can be fixed and won’t need to be replaced before Sunday. </p>
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<p>No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: William Byron</p>
<p>BORN: Nov. 29, 1996</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Charlotte, North Carolina</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Rudy Fugle</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Axalta</p>
<p>TWITTER: @williambyron</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Won the last regular-season Cup Series race at Daytona (in August) and earned a spot in the playoff field. Crashed in Thursday qualifying race and moved to a backup car, so he will fall to the back of the field at the start of the Daytona 500. </p>
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<p>No. 10 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Aric Almirola</p>
<p>BORN: March 14, 1984</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Tampa, Florida</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Mike Bugarewicz</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Smithfield</p>
<p>TWITTER: @aric_almirola</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Made the playoffs three straight years since replacing Danica Patrick in the No. 10 car. Won the first qualifying race on Thursday. </p>
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<p>No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Austin Dillon</p>
<p>BORN: April 27, 1990</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Welcome, North Carolina</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Justin Alexander</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Bass Pro Shops</p>
<p>TWITTER: @austindillon3</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: The 2018 Daytona 500 champion made the playoffs last season, but was eliminated in the second round. He won the second of two qualifying races Thursday night.</p>
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<p>No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Christopher Bell</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 16, 1994</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Norman, Oklahoma</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Adam Stevens</p>
<p>SPONSOR: DeWalt</p>
<p>TWITTER: @CBellRacing</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Making his JGR debut after racing his rookie year for now-defunct Leavine Family Racing in 2020. Bell was developed by Toyota in the JGR system. </p>
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<p>No. 23 Toyota, 23XI Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Bubba Wallace</p>
<p>BORN: Oct. 8, 1993</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Mobile, Alabama</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Michael Wheeler</p>
<p>SPONSOR: DoorDash</p>
<p>TWITTER: @BubbaWallace</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: After a tumultuous final season at RPM, Wallace is making his debut for one of NASCAR’s newest teams — a high-profile ownership group that features fellow Toyota driver Denny Hamlin and basketball great Michael Jordan.</p>
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<p>No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Ryan Newman</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 8, 1977</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: South Bend, Indiana</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Scott Graves</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Kohler Generators</p>
<p>TWITTER: @RyanJNewman</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Was in a terrifying wreck on the final lap of last year’s 500 and had to be extracted from his car. Walked out of a hospital two days later, a testament to NASCAR’s safety improvements 20 years after Dale Earnhardt’s death at the track.</p>
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<p>No. 4 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Kevin Harvick</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 8, 1975</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, California</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Rodney Childers</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Busch Light #TheCrew</p>
<p>TWITTER: @KevinHarvick</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Won a series-high nine Cup races in 2020 but missed the finale because of a bad third round in the playoffs. This is his 20th Daytona 500; he was hired days after Earnhardt’s death. The 2014 series champion and perennial title contender won NASCAR’s signature event in 2010.</p>
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<p>No. 22 Ford, Team Penske</p>
<p>DRIVER: Joey Logano</p>
<p>BORN: May 24, 1990</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Middletown, Connecticut</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Paul Wolfe</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Shell Pennzoil</p>
<p>TWITTER: @joeylogano</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: The 2018 series champion has become a perennial title contender since moving to Penske in 2013, finishing in the top 10 seven times in eight years. Logano won the Daytona 500 in 2015. </p>
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<p>No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Kyle Busch</p>
<p>BORN: May 2, 1985</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Las Vegas</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Ben Beshore</p>
<p>SPONSOR: M&Ms</p>
<p>TWITTER: @KyleBusch</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Just one win in 2020 for the two-time Cup champion. Winless in 15 Daytona 500 starts. Starts season with new crew chief after splitting with Adam Stevens, who led Busch to both his Cup titles. </p>
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<p>No. 37 Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Ryan Preece</p>
<p>BORN: Oct. 25, 1990</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Hartford, Connecticut</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Trent Owens</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Cottonelle</p>
<p>TWITTER: @RyanPreece—</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Team doesn’t have funding for a full season and no longer has a charter, so it’s unclear how many races he will attempt to qualify for.</p>
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<p>No. 9 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Chase Elliott</p>
<p>BORN: Nov. 28, 1995</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Dawsonville, Georgia</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Alan Gustafson</p>
<p>SPONSOR: NAPA Auto Parts</p>
<p>TWITTER: @ChaseElliott</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Reigning Cup Series champion and three-time defending winner of NASCAR’s most popular driver award. Son of two-time Daytona 500 champion and Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott.</p>
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<p>No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Kyle Larson</p>
<p>BORN: July 31, 1992</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Elk Grove, California</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Cliff Daniels</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Nations Guard</p>
<p>TWITTER: @KyleLarsonRacin</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Returning to NASCAR after being suspended for much of last season because he used a racial slur during a livestreamed iRacing event. Making his debut with Hendrick Motorsports.</p>
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<p>No. 12 Ford, Team Penske</p>
<p>DRIVER: Ryan Blaney</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 31, 1993</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: High Point, North Carolina</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Todd Gordon </p>
<p>SPONSOR: Menards/Blue Def/Peak</p>
<p>TWITTER: @Blaney</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Runner-up in 2017 and 2020 Daytona 500s, goes for breakthrough win in seventh try. Has exactly one Cup victory each of the last four seasons.</p>
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<p>No. 99 Chevrolet, Trackhouse Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Daniel Suarez</p>
<p>BORN: Jan. 7, 1992</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Monterrey, Mexico</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Travis Mack</p>
<p>SPONSOR: iFly</p>
<p>TWITTER: @Daniel_SuarezG</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Driving for a new team owned by rapper Pitbull and former NASCAR driver Justin Marks. Became the first Mexican national series champion when he won the Xfinity title in 2018. </p>
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<p>No. 7 Chevrolet, Spire Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Corey LaJoie</p>
<p>BORN: Sept. 25, 1991</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Charlotte, North Carolina</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Ryan Sparks</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Youtheory </p>
<p>TWITTER: @CoreyLaJoie</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Joined Spire Motorsports for 2021 season. Finished eighth in 2020 Daytona 500 for lone top-10 of the season.</p>
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<p>No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Michael McDowell</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 21, 1984</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Glendale, Arizona</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Drew Blickensderfer</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Love’s Travel Stops</p>
<p>TWITTER: @Mc_Driver</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Has five consecutive finishes of 15th or better in the 500, including career-best fifth two years ago.</p>
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<p>No. 36 Ford, Front Row Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: David Ragan</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 24, 1985</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Unadilla, Georgia</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Derrick Finley</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Select Blinds</p>
<p>TWITTER: @DavidRagan</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Has scaled back to driving only select events. Finished fourth in 2020 Daytona 500. Making 15th Daytona 500 start, has two top-fives and three top-10s in the race.</p>
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<p>No. 77 Chevrolet, Spire Sports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Jamie McMurray</p>
<p>BORN: June 3, 1976</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Joplin, Missouri</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Kevin Bellicourt</p>
<p>SPONSOR: AdventHealth</p>
<p>TWITTER: @jamiemcmurray</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Fox Sports analyst and 2010 Daytona 500 champion is back in “The Great American Race” after skipping it last season. </p>
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<p>No. 1 Ford, Chip Ganassi Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Kurt Busch</p>
<p>BORN: Aug. 4, 1978</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Las Vegas</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Matt McCall</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Monster Energy</p>
<p>TWITTER: @KurtBusch</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: The 2004 Cup champion has at least one victory in seven consecutive years, including the 2017 Daytona 500.</p>
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<p>No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.</p>
<p>BORN: Oct. 2, 1987</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Olive Branch, Mississippi</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Brian Pattie</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Kroger/NOS Energy Drink </p>
<p>TWITTER: @StenhouseJr</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Has two wins in 292 Cup starts, both at superspeedways in 2017. Is one of the more aggressive superspeedway racers in NASCAR. </p>
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<p>No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Chris Buescher</p>
<p>BORN: Oct. 29, 1992</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Prosper, Texas</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Luke Lambert</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Fastenal</p>
<p>TWITTER: @Chris_Buescher</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Has one win in 186 Cup starts but he’s at his best in the 500. He finished fifth in 2018 and third last year.</p>
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<p>No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers</p>
<p>DRIVER: Matt DiBenedetto</p>
<p>BORN: July 27, 1991</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Grass Valley, California</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Greg Erwin</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Motorcraft/Quick Lane</p>
<p>TWITTER: @mattdracing</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Winless in 212 Cup starts. Finished a career-best seventh in the 2017 Daytona 500, but has been 27th, 28th and 19th since. Already knows he’s being replaced in this car at the end of the season. </p>
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<p>No. 2 Ford, Team Penske</p>
<p>DRIVER: Brad Keselowski</p>
<p>BORN: Feb. 12, 1984</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Rochester Hills, Michigan</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Jeremy Bullins </p>
<p>SPONSOR: Discount Tire</p>
<p>TWITTER: @keselowski</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: The 2012 Cup champion is winless in 11 Daytona 500 starts. He does have six victories at NASCAR superspeedways, including five at Talladega and one in the summer race at Daytona.</p>
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<p>No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Denny Hamlin</p>
<p>BORN: Nov. 18, 1980</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, Virginia</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Chris Gabehart</p>
<p>SPONSOR: FedEx</p>
<p>TWITTER: @dennyhamlin</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Two-time defending Daytona 500 winner is trying to become the first to win three in a row. He’s won the 500 three times. Begins first season as driver while also the team owner of 23XI Racing. </p>
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<p>No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Martin Truex Jr.</p>
<p>BORN: June 29, 1980</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Mayetta, New Jersey</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: James Small</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Bass Pro Shops </p>
<p>TWITTER: @MartinTruexJr56</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: After winning 23 races between 2016 and ’19, the 2017 Cup Series champion won just once in 2020 while getting acclimated to a new crew chief. Truex signed a contract extension with Gibbs earlier this week.</p>
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<p>No. 41 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Cole Custer</p>
<p>BORN: Jan. 23, 1998</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Ladera Ranch, California</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Mike Shiplett</p>
<p>SPONSOR: HaasTooling.com </p>
<p>TWITTER: @ColeCuster</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Notched a victory at Kentucky in his rookie season and locked up a playoff spot. But he finished 16th in the 16-driver postseason field.</p>
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<p>No. 53 Ford, Rick Ware Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Joey Gase</p>
<p>BORN: Feb. 8, 1993</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Cedar Rapids, Iowa</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Billy Plourde</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Page Construction </p>
<p>TWITTER: @JoeyGaseRacing</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: No top-10s in 74 career Cup starts. Finished 23rd in 2020 Daytona 500 for second-best finish of the season.</p>
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<p>No. 8 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Tyler Reddick</p>
<p>BORN: Jan. 11, 1996</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Corning, California</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Randall Burnett</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Lenovo</p>
<p>TWITTER: @TylerReddick</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Finished 19th in points in his rookie Cup season with RCR, a promising start for a two-time Xfinity Series champion (2018-19).</p>
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<p>No. 14 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Chase Briscoe</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 15, 1994</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Mitchell, Indiana</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: John Klausmeier</p>
<p>SPONSOR: HighPoint.com</p>
<p>TWITTER: @ChaseBriscoe_14</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Making first career Cup start in the Daytona 500. Briscoe won nine times last season in the Xfinity Series before he was promoted to drive Tony Stewart’s old car. </p>
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<p>No. 43 Chevrolet, Richard Petty Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Erik Jones</p>
<p>BORN: May 30, 1996</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Byron, Michigan</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Jerry Baxter</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Armor All</p>
<p>TWITTER: @erik_jones</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Landed a spot in the famed, Petty-blue No. 43 after recording two wins in three years at Joe Gibbs Racing. One of those victories came in the summer race at Daytona in 2018.</p>
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<p>No. 15 Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Derrike Cope</p>
<p>BORN: Nov. 3, 1958</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Spanaway, Washington</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Jacob Companies</p>
<p>TWITTER: @DCopeRacing</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: 1990 Daytona 500 champion, the oldest driver in the field at 62. Makes his first Daytona 500 start since 2004 and 15th overall.</p>
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<p>No. 00 Chevrolet, StarCom Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Quin Houff</p>
<p>BORN: Sept. 15, 1997</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Weyers Cave, Virginia</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: George Church</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Mane ’N Tale</p>
<p>TWITTER: @P1_Houff</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Second Daytona 500. He finished 39th last year, crashing out after 89 laps.</p>
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<p>No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Ross Chastain</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 4, 1992</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Alva, Florida</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Phil Surgen</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Clover</p>
<p>TWITTER: @RossChastain</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: The eighth-generation watermelon farmer begins his big break driving a full season for Chip Ganassi. He’s replacing Matt Kenseth, who replaced Kyle Larson.</p>
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<p>No. 51 Chevrolet, Petty Ware Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Cody Ware </p>
<p>BORN: Nov. 7, 1995</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Greensboro, North Carolina</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Michael Hillman</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Nurtec ODT</p>
<p>TWITTER: @CodyShaneWare</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Openly discussed his struggles with depression and anxiety in hopes of helping others. Plans to run a full Cup season and possibly some IndyCar races, as well. </p>
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<p>No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: Anthony Alfredo</p>
<p>BORN: March 31, 1999</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Ridgefield, Connecticut</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Seth Barbour</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Speedy Cash</p>
<p>TWITTER: @AnthonyAlfredo</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: He is nicknamed “Fast Pasta.” </p>
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<p>No. 52 Ford, Rick Ware Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Josh Bilicki</p>
<p>BORN: June 3, 1995</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Peter Sospenzo</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Wisconsin Lighting Lab</p>
<p>TWITTER: @JoshBilicki</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: The Wisconsin native won the main event at the 2019 World Championship Snowmobile Derby in his home state.</p>
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<p>No. 78 Ford, Live Fast Motorsports</p>
<p>DRIVER: B.J. McLeod</p>
<p>BORN: Nov. 17, 1983</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Wauchula, Florida</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Frank Kerr</p>
<p>SPONSOR: NASCAR Heats</p>
<p>TWITTER: @bjmcleod78</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Owner-driver racing in his third Daytona 500. Finished 19th in 2019 and 38th last season. Partnered with former driver Matt Tifft to create the new Live Fast team. </p>
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<p>No. 33 Ford, Team Penske</p>
<p>DRIVER: Austin Cindric</p>
<p>BORN: Sept. 2, 1998</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Mooresville, North Carolina</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Miles Stanley</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Verizon 5G</p>
<p>TWITTER: @AustinCindric</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Slid into the 500 when Ryan Preece passed Ty Dillon in the final few hundred yards of the first of two qualifying races. Cindric is racing a part-time schedule for Penske in 2021 before a full-time move next season. </p>
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<p>No. 16 Chevrolet, Kaulig Racing</p>
<p>DRIVER: Kaz Grala</p>
<p>BORN: Dec. 29, 1998</p>
<p>HOMETOWN: Boston</p>
<p>CREW CHIEF: Matt Swiderski</p>
<p>SPONSOR: Hyper Ice</p>
<p>TWITTER: @KazGrala</p>
<p>NOTEWORTHY: Finished seventh in only other Cup start in last season’s Daytona road course race when he filled-in for Austin Dillon after Dillon tested positive for COVID-19. Driving part-time schedule for Kaulig Racing, which is hoping to move fulltime to Cup next season. </p>
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<p>More AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing">https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a></p>
