Drivers Of The 2019 Daytona 500
The 40 drivers competing in the 2019 Daytona 500, in order of starting position:
No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: William Byron
BORN: Nov. 29, 1996
HOMETOWN: Charlotte, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: Chad Knaus
SPONSOR: AXALTA
TWITTER: @williambyron
NOTEWORTHY: Daytona 500 pole-sitter and 2018 rookie of the year. Winless with four top-10 finishes in rookie season with Hendrick Motorsports.
No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Alex Bowman
BORN: April 25, 1993
HOMETOWN: Tucson, Arizona
CREW CHIEF: Greg Ives
SPONSOR: Nationwide
TWITTER: @AlexBowman88
NOTEWORTHY: Bowman starts on the front row for the second straight year. Won the pole in 2018 and starts behind Hendrick teammate William Byron on Sunday.
No. 4 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
BORN: Dec. 8, 1975
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, California
CREW CHIEF: Rodney Childers
SPONSOR: Busch Beer Car2Can
TWITTER: @KevinHarvick
NOTEWORTHY: Won 2007 Daytona 500 with Richard Childress Racing. Third in points for the second straight season in 2018. Won a series-leading eight times, giving him 45 in his career.
No. 22 Ford, Team Penske
DRIVER: Joey Logano
BORN: May 24, 1990
HOMETOWN: Middletown, Connecticut
CREW CHIEF: Todd Gordon
SPONSOR: Shell Pennzoil
TWITTER: @joeylogano
NOTEWORTHY: Defending series champion and Team Penske star is looking to become the first since Jimmie Johnson in 2010 to win consecutive Cup titles.
No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
BORN: Oct. 2, 1987
HOMETOWN: Olive Branch, Mississippi
CREW CHIEF: Brian Pattie
SPONSOR: Fastenal
TWITTER: @StenhouseJr
NOTEWORTHY: Suffered slump after breakthrough 2017. Failed to win a race and finished 18th a year after making playoffs.
No. 10 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Aric Almirola
BORN: March 14, 1984
HOMETOWN: Tampa, Florida
CREW CHIEF: John Klausmeier
SPONSOR: Smithfield Foods
TWITTER: @aric_almirola
NOTEWORTHY: Won his first race since 2014, ending 149-race winless streak. Starts second season with Stewart-Haas Racing. Led 2018 Daytona 500 until last-lap accident.
No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers
DRIVER: Paul Menard
BORN: Aug. 21, 1980
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
CREW CHIEF: Greg Erwin
SPONSOR: Motorcraft/Quick Lane
TWITTER: @RCR27PMenard
NOTEWORTHY: One win in 435 Cup starts. Winless since taking checkered flag at Brickyard 400 in 2011. Wrecked by Jimmie Johnson with the lead at the exhibition Clash last weekend.
No. 14 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Clint Bowyer
BORN: May 30, 1979
HOMETOWN: Emporia, Kansas
CREW CHIEF: Mike Bugarewicz
SPONSOR: Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1
TWITTER: @ClintBowyer
NOTEWORTHY: Made strides in second year at Stewart-Haas Racing. Won two races last season, his first since 2012. Winless in 13 Daytona 500 starts.
No. 95 Chevrolet, Leavine Family Racing
DRIVER: Matt DiBenedetto
BORN: July 27, 1991
HOMETOWN: Grass Valley, California
CREW CHIEF: Michael Wheeler
SPONSOR: Procore
TWITTER: @mattdracing
NOTEWORTHY: No top five finishes in 140 career starts.
No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
BORN: Nov. 18, 1980
HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, Virginia
CREW CHIEF: Chris Gabehart
SPONSOR: FedEx Express
TWITTER: @dennyhamlin
NOTEWORTHY: 2016 Daytona 500 champion. Won closest finish in race history, barely edging Martin Truex Jr.
No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Martin Truex Jr.
BORN: June 29, 1980
HOMETOWN: Mayetta, New Jersey
CREW CHIEF: Cole Pearn
SPONSOR: Bass Pro Shops
TWITTER: @MartinTruexJr56
NOTEWORTHY: 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Won four races and was runner-up to Joey Logano for championship in 2018. Starts first season with Joe Gibbs Racing after Furniture Row Racing folded.
No. 1 Ford, Chip Ganassi Racing
DRIVER: Kurt Busch
BORN: Aug. 4, 1978
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
CREW CHIEF: Matt McCall
SPONSOR: Monster Energy
TWITTER: @KurtBusch
NOTEWORTHY: 2017 Daytona 500 champion with Stewart-Haas Racing. Well-traveled driver making move to Chip Ganassi for 2019. Missed 2015 race because of suspension.
No. 43 Chevrolet, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr.
BORN: Oct. 8, 1993
HOMETOWN: Mobile, Alabama
CREW CHIEF: Derek Stamets
SPONSOR: AfterShokz
TWITTER: @BubbaWallace
NOTEWORTHY: Was first black driver last year to start Daytona 500 since Wendell Scott in 1969. Finished second behind winner Austin Dillon.
No. 12 Ford, Team Penske
DRIVER: Ryan Blaney
BORN: Dec. 31, 1993
HOMETOWN: High Point, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: Jeremy Bullins
SPONSOR: Menards/Peak
TWITTER: @Blaney
NOTEWORTHY: Won second career Cup race last season at Charlotte "roval." Starts second season driving for team owner Roger Penske.
No. 37 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing
DRIVER: Chris Buescher
BORN: Oct. 29, 1992
HOMETOWN: Prosper, Texas
CREW CHIEF: Trent Owens
SPONSOR: Kleenex Wet Wipes
TWITTER: @Chris_Buescher
NOTEWORTHY: Entering fourth full-time season. Only win came in rain-shortened race in 2016. Had only two top-10 finishes in 2018.
No. 40 Chevrolet, Spire Sports
DRIVER: Jamie McMurray
BORN: June 3, 1976
HOMETOWN: Joplin, Missouri
CREW CHIEF: Scott Eggleston
SPONSOR: McDonald's/Cessna/Bass Pro
TWITTER: @jamiemcmurray
NOTEWORTHY: Won 2010 Daytona 500, same year he also won Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. Expected to make final NASCAR start. Will transition to TV analyst for Fox Sports.
No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
BORN: Sept. 17, 1975
HOMETOWN: El Cajon, California
CREW CHIEF: Kevin Meendering
SPONSOR: Ally
TWITTER: @JimmieJohnson
NOTEWORTHY: Seven-time NASCAR champion. An eighth title would push him past the late Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for most ever, leaving him alone as NASCAR's greatest.
No. 9 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Chase Elliott
BORN: Nov. 28, 1995
HOMETOWN: Dawsonville, Georgia
CREW CHIEF: Alan Gustafson
SPONSOR: NAPA Auto Parts
TWITTER: @ChaseElliott
NOTEWORTHY: Son of two-time Daytona 500 champ and Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott won three times last season. Voted NASCAR's most popular driver in 2018.
No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Ryan Newman
BORN: Dec. 8, 1977
HOMETOWN: South Bend, Indiana
CREW CHIEF: Scott Graves
SPONSOR: Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh
TWITTER: @RyanJNewman
NOTEWORTHY: Starts first season driving for Jack Roush. Failed to post a top-five finish for first time in his career.
No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Austin Dillon
BORN: April 27, 1990
HOMETOWN: Welcome, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: Danny Stockman Jr.
SPONSOR: Dow
TWITTER: @austindillon3
NOTEWORTHY: 2018 Daytona 500 champion. Won driving the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet that Dale Earnhardt piloted for most of his career. Spun Aric Almirola on the last lap to pull off the win. No driver has won two straight Daytona 500s since Sterling Marlin in 1994 and 1995.
No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing
DRIVER: Ryan Preece
BORN: Oct. 25, 1990
HOMETOWN: Hartford, Connecticut
CREW CHIEF: Tristan Smith
SPONSOR: Kroger.com
TWITTER:@RyanPreece—
NOTEWORTHY: Made five Cup starts last season. Takes over for AJ Allmendinger in the 47. Candidate for NASCAR rookie of the year.
No. 13 Chevrolet, Germain Racing
DRIVER: Ty Dillon
BORN: Feb. 27, 1992
HOMETOWN: Lewisville, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: Matt Borland
SPONSOR: GEICO
TWITTER: @tydillon
NOTEWORTHY: Younger brother of Austin Dillon. Grandson of team owner Richard Childress.
No. 41 Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Daniel Suarez
BORN: Jan. 7, 1992
HOMETOWN: Monterrey, Mexico
CREW CHIEF: Billy Scott
SPONSOR: Haas Automation
TWITTER: @Daniel_SuarezG
NOTEWORTHY: Makes move to Stewart-Hass Racing. Pushed out at Joe Gibbs Racing to make room for Martin Truex Jr. Won first Cup pole at Pocono. Won Xfinity Series title in 2016, becoming NASCAR's first foreign champion.
No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
DRIVER: David Ragan
BORN: Dec. 24, 1985
HOMETOWN: Unadilla, Georgia
CREW CHIEF: Seth Barbour
SPONSOR: SelectBlinds.com
TWITTER: @DavidRagan
NOTEWORTHY: Won only Cup races in 2011 and 2013. Had just one top-10 finish last four years. Finished 30th at Daytona last season.
No. 96, Toyota, Gaunt Brothers Racing
DRIVER: Parker Kligerman
BORN: Aug 8, 1990
HOMETOWN: Stamford, Connecticut
CREW CHIEF: Mark Hillman
SPONSOR: Gaunt Brothers Racing
TWIITER: @pkligerman
NOTEWORTHY: Doubles as NBC Sports broadcaster. Winless in 14 career starts.
No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
DRIVER: Kyle Larson
BORN: July 31, 1992
HOMETOWN: Elk Grove, California
CREW CHIEF: Chad Johnston
SPONSOR: Credit One Bank
TWITTER: @KyleLarsonRacin
NOTEWORTHY: Followed breakthrough 2017 season with winless 2018. Fell from four wins to none but made playoffs for third straight season.
No. 00 Chevrolet, StarCom Racing
DRIVER: Landon Cassill
BORN: July 7, 1989
HOMETOWN: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
CREW CHIEF: Wayne Carroll
SPONSOR: Permatex
TWITTER: @landoncassill
NOTEWORTY: Made 29 starts for StarCom in 2018. Winless in 288 career starts.
No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Erik Jones
BORN: May 30, 1996
HOMETOWN: Byron, Michigan
CREW CHIEF: Chris Gayle
SPONSOR: Sport Clips
TWITTER: @erik_jones
NOTEWORTHY: Won at Daytona in July for first career Cup win. Had nine top-fives and finished 15th in standings in first season at Joe Gibbs Racing.
No. 8 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Daniel Hemric
BORN: Jan. 27, 1991
HOMETOWN: Kannapolis, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: Luke Lambert
SPONSOR: Bass Pro Shops/Caterpillar
TWITTER: @DanielHemric
NOTEWORTHY: Made two starts for RCR last season. First driver to race the No. 8 since Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hails from same hometown as the Earnhardts.
No. 62 Chevrolet, Beard Motorsports
DRIVER: Brendan Gaughan
BORN: July 10, 1975
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
CREW CHIEF: Darren Shaw
SPONSOR: Beard Oil/South Point Casino
TWITTER: @Brendan62
NOTEWORTHY: Winless in 58 Cup starts. Played college football and basketball at Georgetown, guarding Allen Iverson on practice court and becoming all-Big East kicker on gridiron. Earned one of the final transfer spots for the Daytona 500.
No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Kyle Busch
BORN: May 2, 1985
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
CREW CHIEF: Adam Stevens
SPONSOR: M&M's Chocolate Bar
TWITTER: @KyleBusch
NOTEWORTHY: 2015 Cup Series champion has yet to win Daytona 500, a streak that stands at 13. Won eight races last season and finished fourth in season standings.
No. 32 Ford, GO FAS Racing
DRIVER: Corey LaJoie
BORN: Sept. 25, 1991
HOMETOWN: Charlotte, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: Randy Cox
SPONSOR: Old Spice
TWITTER: @CoreyLaJoie
NOTEWORTHY: No top-10 finishes in 57 career starts. Son of two-time NASCAR second-tier series champion Randy LaJoie. Has his face painted on the hood of his car for Daytona 500.
No. 36 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
DRIVER: Matt Tifft
BORN: June 26, 1996
HOMETOWN: Hinckley, Ohio
CREW CHIEF: Michael Kelley
SPONSOR: Speedco
TWITTER: @matt_tifft
NOTEWORTHY: Cup rookie missed part of the 2016 season after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was discovered during treatment for a back injury. Returned to racing 11 weeks after the tumor was removed. Has since become a spokesman for the National Brain Tumor Society. Raced full time in the Xfinity Series the last two years.
No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
DRIVER: Michael McDowell
BORN: Dec. 21, 1984
HOMETOWN: Glendale, Arizona
CREW CHIEF: Drew Blickensderfer
SPONSOR: Love's Travel Stops
TWITTER: @Mc_Driver
NOTEWORTHY: Winless in 285 Cup starts. Shines at Daytona. Finished fourth in 2017 Daytona 500, and ninth in 2018. Were his only top-10s each season.
No. 2 Ford, Team Penske
DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
BORN: Feb. 12, 1984
HOMETOWN: Rochester Hills, Michigan
CREW CHIEF: Paul Wolfe
SPONSOR: Discount Tire
TWITTER: @keselowski
NOTEWORTHY: 2012 series champion still looking for first Daytona 500 victory. Has at least three victories in each of the last three years at Team Penske, including three in a row late last year.
No. 52 Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing
DRIVER: Cody Ware
BORN: Nov. 7, 1995
HOMETOWN: Greensboro, North Carolina
CREW CHIEF: George Church
SPONSOR: Winn-Dixie
TWITTER: @CodyShaneWare
NOTEWORTHY: Making Daytona 500 debut for RWR, which bought NASCAR charter from Front Row Motorsports. Cars came from FRM and Leavine Family Racing.
No. 51 Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing
DRIVER: B.J. McLeod
BORN: Nov. 17, 1983
HOMETOWN: Wauchula, Florida
CREW CHIEF: Michael Hillman
SPONSOR: Jacob Companies
TWITTER: @bjmcleod78
NOTEWORTHY: Making Daytona 500 debut for RWR, which bought NASCAR charter from Richard Petty Motorsports. Cars came from FRM and Leavine Family Racing.
No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Tyler Reddick
BORN: Jan. 11, 1996
HOMETOWN: Corning, California
CREW CHIEF: Justin Alexander
SPONSOR: Symbicort
TWITTER: @TylerReddick
NOTEWORTHY: Driving a third car for RCR, a one-off ride for the Daytona 500. Reigning Xfinity champion left JR Motorsports to drive for RCR in the second-tier series.
No. 27 Chevrolet, Germain Racing
DRIVER:
BORN: March 12, 1978
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, California
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
SPONSOR: Rim Ryderz
TWITTER: @CJMearsGang
NOTEWORTHY: Making his first Cup start since 2016. Has one victory in 488 Cup starts. Finished second in the 2006 Daytona 500.
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