Driver Profiles

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Capsules of the 43 drivers in Sunday's Daytona 500, in starting order with car number in parentheses, age, hometown, make of car and biographical information:

Greg Biffle Jamie Squire/Getty Images

1. (16) Greg Biffle, 34, Vancouver, Wash., Ford. First career pole came in 43rd Cup race. Finished second to Jamie McMurray for Rookie of the Year in 2003. Won July race at Daytona after finishing 21st in first Daytona 500. It was only victory by a rookie in 2003. Drives for Roush Racing and gave owner Jack Roush his first NASCAR championship in 2002 when he won Busch title. Also won title in Craftsman Truck series.

2. (38) Elliott Sadler, 28, Emporia, Va., Ford. Making sixth Daytona 500 appearance, with best finish of second in 2002. Was 23rd last year. Won 125-mile qualifying race Thursday. Only career Cup win came at Bristol in 2001 while driving for Wood Brothers. Starting second season with Robert Yates Racing.

3. (8) Dale Earnhardt Jr., 29, Kannapolis, N.C., Chevrolet. Son of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt. Two-time Busch series champion won twice last year on the way to career-best third-place finish in fourth Winston Cup season. Won 125-mile qualifying race Thursday. Went into last year's Daytona 500 as favorite after winning Bud Shootout and qualifying race. Lost a lap with electrical problem and finished 36th in rain-shortened race. Drives for Dale Earnhardt Inc., company founded by his father.

4. (40) Sterling Marlin, 46, Columbia, Tenn., Dodge. Won Daytona 500 in 1994-95. Rookie of the Year in 1983, son of former NASCAR star Coo Coo Marlin. Victory at Daytona in 1994 was first of 10 in career. Finished 17th last year in 22nd Daytona 500. Coming off disappointing 18th-place finish in points. In fourth season with Chip Ganassi Racing.

5. (20) Tony Stewart, 32, Rushville, Ind., Chevrolet. Had first top 10 run at Daytona last year, finishing seventh in fifth start. Went on to win two races and finish seventh in points coming off Winston Cup championship in 2002. The 1999 Rookie of the Year is starting his sixth season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

6. (48) Jimmie Johnson, 28, El Cajon, Calif. Chevrolet. Had great sophomore season in 2003. Won three races and finished second in the points after three-win, fifth-place run as rookie. Finished third in his second Daytona 500. Protege of four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who co-owns Johnson's car with Rick Hendrick.

7. (42) Jamie McMurray, 27, Joplin, Mo., Dodge. Rookie of the Year in 2003, finishing 13th in the season points. Finished 31st last year in first Daytona 500 start. Set a modern Winston Cup record with victory in fall Charlotte race in 2002, his second series start during brief stint subbing for injured Sterling Marlin. Starting second full season for Chip Ganassi Racing.

8. (6) Mark Martin, 45, Batesville, Ark., Ford. Making 20th Daytona 500 appearance, with best finish of third in 1995. Finished fifth here last year. Has 33 career victories, but did not win in 2003. Four-time series runner-up. In 17th season driving for Roush Racing.

9. (15) Michael Waltrip, 40, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet. Goes into Daytona 500 as defending champion and winner of two of last three. Has eight top-10 finishes in 17 starts. Winless in 462 career starts before Daytona in 2001. Has also scored wins in July 2002 race at Daytona and September 2003 event at Talladega. Younger brother of retired three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip. Starting fourth year with Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Kevin Harvick Jamie Squire/Getty Images

10. (29) Kevin Harvick, 28, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet. Started 31st and finished fourth last year in second Daytona 500 start. Went on to win the Brickyard 400 from the pole and finish fifth in the season points. Replaced Dale Earnhardt in Richard Childress Racing entry after seven-time champion was killed in 2001 Daytona 500. Went on to win two races and Rookie of the Year, as well as taking the Busch series championship.

11. (99) Jeff Burton, 36, South Boston, Va., Ford. Making 11th Daytona 500 start, with best finish of second in 2000. Finished 11th last year. Rookie of the Year in 1994. Has 17 career wins but none in last two seasons. Finished 12th in season standings for second straight year. In ninth season driving for Roush Racing.

12. (17) Matt Kenseth, 31, Cambridge, Wis., Ford. Won 2003 Winston Cup championship with consistent season that included one win, 11 top fives and 25 top 10s. Led the points for a record 33 consecutive races. Rookie of the Year in 2000 makes fifth start in race. Finished 20th at Daytona last year. Fifth year Driving car co-owned by Mark Martin and Jack Roush.

13. (18) Bobby Labonte, 39, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet. Winston Cup champion in 2000 is making 12th Daytona 500 start. Best finish second from pole in 1998. Crashed and finished 41st last year. Has 20 career victories, including one last season. In ninth year with Joe Gibbs Racing.

14. (01) Joe Nemechek, 40, Naples, Fla., Chevrolet. Making 10th Daytona 500 start. Finished 22nd last year. Former Busch series champ and Rookie of the Year. Starting first full season with MB2 Motorsports. Moved from Hendrick Motorsports late in 2003 season to take over seat left vacant by injured Jerry Nadeau. Got third career victory last season at Richmond.

15. (97) Kurt Busch, 25, Las Vegas, Ford. Runner-up finish in Daytona 500 and added three more victories in 2003, but went on to disappointing 11th-place finish in the points after starting season as one of favorites to win the championship. Was top rookie and second-place finisher in Craftsman Truck series in 2000. Starting fourth season with Roush Racing.

16. (21) Ricky Rudd, 47, Chesapeake, Va., Ford. Has 10 top-10 finishes in 26 Daytona 500 starts. Best finish was third in 1981. He was 15th last year. Has 23 career victories, including a string of at least one in 16 straight seasons that ended in 1999. Rookie of the Year in 1977. Starting second year with Wood Brothers team.

17. (77) Brendan Gaughan, 28, Las Vegas, Nev., Dodge. Moving up from truck series to Cup with Jasper-Penske Racing. Making first Daytona 500 and Nextel Cup start. Racing for Rookie of the Year title. Finished fourth in the truck series last year. Rookie of the Year in trucks in 2002 and won Winston West championships in 2000 and 2001. Drove for team owned by father, Michael, a Las Vegas casino owner.

18. (2) Rusty Wallace, 48, St. Louis, Ford. Has eight top-10 finishes in 21 Daytona 500s, including career best third in 2001. Was 25th last year. Went winless in 2002 and 2003 but has 54 career victories, second among active drivers to Jeff Gordon. Rookie of the Year in 1984, series champion in 1989. In 13th season driving for Penske Racing South.

19. (0) Ward Burton, 42, South Boston, Va., Chevrolet. Won the 2002 Daytona 500, but slipped to 38th last year. Left Bill Davis Racing with four races remaining in 2003, moving to Haas CNC Racing. Had driven for Davis since late in 1996 season. Burton has five career wins. Second to brother Jeff in 1994 Rookie of Year competition.

Ryan Newman Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

20. (12) Ryan Newman, 26, South Bend, Ind., Ford. Followed Rookie of the Year season in 2002 with strong sophomore year, winning series-highs of 11 poles and eight races. Finished sixth in points. Had spectacular crash at Daytona, finishing 43rd after seventh-place run as rookie. Former U.S. Auto Club short track champion. Graduate of Purdue University. Drives for Penske Racing South.

21. (30) Johnny Sauter, 25, Necedah, Wis., Chevrolet. Racing for Rookie of the Year honors with Richard Childress Racing after finishing eighth in Busch series last year while driving for two different teams. Helped Childress capture the owner's championship in Busch while sharing a ride with teammate Kevin Harvick. Won championship in 2001 American Speed Association series. Ran five Cup races last season for Morgan-McClure Motorsports with a best finish of 23rd. Will also run full Busch schedule. Son of longtime NASCAR driver Jim Sauter.

22. (19) Jeremy Mayfield, 34, Owensboro, Ky., Dodge. Has four top-10 finishes in 10 Daytona 500s with best of third in 1998. Finished eighth in 2003. Starting third season with Evernham Motorsports.

23. (23) Dave Blaney, 41, Sharon, Pa., Dodge. Best finish of ninth in four Daytona 500 starts. Was 24th last year driving for Jasper Motorsports. Lost full-time ride and goes into Daytona 500 with sponsorship for only one race. Previously drove for Bill Davis Racing at end of 1999 season and through 2000 and 2001 before moving to Jasper team.

24. (09) Johnny Benson, 40, Grand Rapids, Mich., Dodge. The 1996 Rookie of the Year after winning the Busch title previous season. Driving first race for Phoenix Motorsports. Finished 19th at Daytona last year. Lost full-time ride with MB2/MBV Motorsports at end of 2003 season after finishing 24th in points.

25. (41) Casey Mears, 25, Bakersfield, Calif., Dodge. Nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and son of off-road star Roger Mears starting his second full season in Cup series driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. Started 29th, finished 27 and led one lap in first Daytona 500. Finished 35th in the 2003 points. Came to stock cars from CART, where he had two top-10 finishes in four starts, including fourth at California Speedway. Completed rookie test for Indy 500 in 2000 but failed to make the field.

26. (22) Scott Wimmer, 28, Wausau, Wis., Dodge. First start in Daytona 500. Scheduled to drive first full Cup season for Bill Davis Racing. Facing drunk driving charges after accident on Jan. 31 with hearing March 10. Has driven in 10 Cup races for Davis since 2000 with a ninth-place finish at Phoenix last fall his best showing. Finished third in 2003 Busch series. Has five career victories in Busch.

27. (9) Kasey Kahne, 23, Enumclaw, Wash., Dodge. Making Nextel Cup debut. Will race for Rookie of the Year in Cup after finishing seventh in the Busch series last season. Moving into Evernham Motorsports car driven by veteran Bill Elliott, who is cutting back to a limited schedule in 2004. Will also race full Busch series schedule. Kahne started in open-wheel racing and was champion in 2000 in USAC midgets and Silver Bullet series.

28. (32) Ricky Craven, 38, Newburgh, Maine, Ford. Finished third in 1997 for best finish in eight Daytona 500 starts. The 1995 Rookie of the Year is starting his third season with PPI Motorsports. Had second career victory last year in spectacular bumping finish with Kurt Busch at Darlington. Came back from serious head injury in 1998.

29. (1) John Andretti, 40, Indianapolis, Chevrolet. Making 11th Daytona 500 start. Does not have full-time ride; this is only scheduled start with DEI. Finished 34th here last year driving for Petty Enterprises. Won 24-hour sports car race at Daytona in 1989 and got first of two Winston Cup career victories on track in 1997 in Pepsi 400, his 110th career start. Nephew of racing great Mario Andretti.

Robby Gordon Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

30. (31) Robby Gordon, 35, Cerritos, Calif., Chevrolet. Starting third full season with Richard Childress Racing. Former Indy-car star won both Winston Cup road races last year and finished 16th in the season points. Started third and finished sixth here last year in seventh Daytona 500 start.

31. (88) Dale Jarrett, 47, Hickory, N.C., Ford. Three-time Daytona 500 champion. Making 16th start in race. Was 10th last year. Won third Budweiser Shootout, getting off to strong start after career-worst 26-point finish in the points in 2003. Has 31 career victories, including one last year. In 10th year with Robert Yates Racing, for whom he won 1999 Winston Cup championship. Son of two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett.

32. (4) Kevin Lepage, 41, Shelbourne, Vt., Chevrolet. Fourth start in Daytona 500 and first since 2000. Best finish 13th in 1999. Ran 11 races for three different teams last season. Driving for Morgan-McClure Motorsports after driving eight races in the No. 4 car at end of 2003.

33. (45) Kyle Petty, 43, Randleman, N.C., Dodge. Won Daytona 500 pole in 1993 but has only two top-10 finishes in 21 starts. Was 13th last year. First third-generation Winston Cup racer, following grandfather Lee and father Richard. Got last of eight Brian Vickers, 20, Thomasville, N.C., Chevrolet. Vickers won Busch series title last year, the youngest driver ever to win a championship in one of NASCAR's national series. The youngest regular in Cup history will drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Started second twice in five Cup races last season, with a best finish of 13th. Had three wins and 21 top 10 finishes last season in Busch.

36. (10) Scott Riggs, 33, Bahama, N.C., Chevrolet. Oldest of the six drivers racing for Rookie of the Year. Riggs is making his first Nextel Cup start after finishing sixth in the 2003 Busch series. Replaces Johnny Benson in MBV Motorsports entry. Has four career Busch victories. Was fifth in 2001 in the Craftsman Truck series.

37. (49) Ken Schrader, 47, Fenton, Mo., Dodge. Three-time Daytona 500 polesitter has 10 top-10 finishes in 19 starts. Best finish was second in 1989. Crashed and finished 42nd last year. Has four career victories but none since 1991. The 1985 Rookie of the Year. In second year with BAM Racing.

38. (5) Terry Labonte, 47, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet. Winston Cup champion in 1984 and 1996. Has 12 top-10 finishes in 26 Daytona 500 starts. Finished 30th last year. Had strong comeback season in 2003, winning the Southern 500 for first victory since 1999 and finishing 10th in points. Has 22 career victories. Starting 11th season driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

39. (24) Jeff Gordon, 32, Pittsboro, Ind., Chevrolet. Two-time Daytona 500 winner and four-time Winston Cup champion. Making 12th Daytona 500 start. Finished 12th here last year. Won three races and finished fourth in points in 2003. Leads active drivers with 64 victories, which is seventh best overall. In 11th season with Hendrick Motorsports.

Jimmy Spencer Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

40. (7) Jimmy Spencer, 47, Berwick, Pa., Dodge. Making 12th Daytona 500. Best finish 11th in 1996. Crashed and finished 40th last year. Spencer starting second season with Ultra Motorsports, but may run limited schedule unless more sponsorship can be found. Was 29th in points last season. Has two victories in 439 starts, both in 1994. First win came in Pepsi 400 at Daytona.

41. (14) Larry Foyt, 26, Houston, Texas, Dodge. Son of four-time Indianapolis 500 and 1972 Daytona 500 winner A.J. Foyt. Starting second season in Cup series. Making first Daytona 500 start after failing to qualify for 2003 race. Ran in just 20 races with best finish of 16th in season-ending race in Homestead. Finished 41st in the points.

42. (50) Derrick Cope, 45, Spanaway, Wash., Dodge. The 1990 Daytona 500 winner is making his first start here since 2000 and 14th overall. Making first start for Arnold Motorsports after running 18 races for his own team in 2003. Has two victories in 380 career starts, both in 1990.

43. (33) Mike Skinner, 33, Susanville, Calif., Chevrolet. Became just third rookie in history to win Daytona 500 pole, in 1997, and finished 12th. Making eighth start in race. The 1997 Winston Cup Rookie of Year. Finished 37th at Daytona last year. Was inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck series champion and moving back to trucks in 2004. Driving research and development car at Daytona for Richard Childress Racing.