Drivers competing in the 2015 Daytona 500
The 43 drivers competing in the 2015 Daytona 500, in order of starting position:
---
No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
BORN: Aug. 4, 1971
HOMETOWN: Pittsboro, Ind.
CREW CHIEF: Alan Gustafson
SPONSOR: Drive To End Hunger
TWITTER: (at)JeffGordonWeb
NOTEWORTHY: Starting from the pole in his final Daytona 500.
---
No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
BORN: Sept. 17, 1975
HOMETOWN: El Cajon, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Chad Knaus
SPONSOR: Lowe's
TWITTER: (at)JimmieJohnson
NOTEWORTHY: Coming off disappointing season by his standards, with four wins and an 11th-place finish in points.
---
No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
BORN: Oct. 10, 1974
HOMETOWN: Kannapolis, N.C.
CREW CHIEF: Greg Ives
SPONSOR: Nationwide
TWITTER: (at)DaleJr
NOTEWORTHY: Defending Daytona 500 winner looking to become first to repeat since Sterling Marlin in 1995.
---
No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Matt Crafton
BORN: June 11, 1976
HOMETOWN: Tulare, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Adam Stevens
SPONSOR: M&M's Crispy
TWITTER: (at)matt-crafton
NOTEWORTHY: Replacing injured Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Toyota. Busch broke his right leg and left foot in a vicious hit into a concrete wall during the Xfinity Series race. Is out indefinitely. ... Two-time Truck Series champion. ... Racing in his first Daytona 500.
---
No. 22 Ford, Team Penske
DRIVER: Joey Logano
BORN: May 24, 1990
HOMETOWN: Middletown, Conn.
CREW CHIEF: Todd Gordon
SPONSOR: Shell Pennzoil
TWITTER: (at)joeylogano
NOTEWORTHY: Raced for the championship last season in the elimination-format Chase. Finished fourth.
---
No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Carl Edwards
BORN: Aug. 15, 1979
HOMETOWN: Columbia, Mo.
CREW CHIEF: Darian Grubb
SPONSOR: Arris
TWITTER: None
NOTEWORTHY: Left Roush Fenway Racing to join a new fourth team at Joe Gibbs Racing.
---
No. 14 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Tony Stewart
BORN: May 20, 1971
HOMETOWN: Columbus, Ind.
CREW CHIEF: Chad Johnston
SPONSOR: Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1
TWITTER: (at)tonystewart
NOTEWORTHY: Winless in 17 previous Daytona 500 starts.
---
No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Greg Biffle
BORN: Dec. 23, 1969
HOMETOWN: Vancouver, Wash.
CREW CHIEF: Matt Puccia
SPONSOR: Ortho
TWITTER: (at)gbiffle
NOTEWORTHY: Entering 13th season at RFR, the veteran driver of the organization.
---
No. 15 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
DRIVER: Clint Bowyer
BORN: May 30, 1979
HOMETOWN: Emporia, Kan.
CREW CHIEF: Brian Pattie
SPONSOR: 5-hour Energy
TWITTER: (at)ClintBowyer
NOTEWORTHY: Coming off second straight winless season.
---
No. 78 Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing
DRIVER: Martin Truex Jr.
BORN: June 29, 1980
HOMETOWN: Mayetta, N.J.
CREW CHIEF: Cole Pearn
SPONSOR: Furniture Row
TWITTER: (at)MartinTruexJr56
NOTEWORTHY: Finished second in the exhibition Sprint Unlimited to open SpeedWeeks.
---
No. 4 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
BORN: Dec. 8, 1975
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Rodney Childers
SPONSOR: Budweiser/Jimmy John's
TWITTER: (at)KevinHarvick
NOTEWORTHY: Won first career Sprint Cup Series championship last year in debut season with SHR.
---
No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
DRIVER: Ryan Blaney
BORN: Dec. 31, 1993
HOMETOWN: High Point, N.C.
CREW CHIEF: Jeremy Bullins
SPONSOR: Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
TWITTER: (at)Blaney
NOTEWORTHY: Making his Daytona 500 debut with the team Trevor Bayne won with in 2010.
---
No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Kasey Kahne
BORN: April 10, 1980
HOMETOWN: Enumclaw, Wash.
CREW CHIEF: Keith Rodden
SPONSOR: Farmers Insurance
TWITTER: (at)kaseykahne
NOTEWORTHY: Coming off disappointing season, with just one win and a 15th-place finish in the standings.
---
No. 44 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
DRIVER: Reed Sorenson
BORN: Feb. 25, 1986
HOMETOWN: Peachtree City, Ga.
CREW CHIEF: John Monsam
SPONSOR: Golden Corral
TWITTER: (at)reedsorenson36
NOTEWORTHY: Winless in 225 Cup starts and without a top-five finish since 2008.
---
No. 1 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
DRIVER: Jamie McMurray
BORN: June 3, 1976
HOMETOWN: Joplin, Mo.
CREW CHIEF: Matt McCall
SPONSOR: Cessna/McDonald's
TWITTER: (at)jamiemcmurray
NOTEWORTHY: Won the 2010 Daytona 500, and joined Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt last month as the only drivers to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 500.
---
No. 66 Toyota, Premium Motorsports
DRIVER: Mike Wallace
BORN: March 10, 1959
HOMETOWN: Fenton, Mo.
CREW CHIEF: Scott Eggleston
SPONSOR: Crazy Vapors/X8 Energy Gum
TWITTER: (at)mikewallace01
NOTEWORTHY: Has three top-10 finishes with a best of fourth in his last start in the race in 2007.
---
No. 40 Chevrolet, Hillman Racing
DRIVER: Landon Cassill
BORN: July, 9, 1989
HOMETOWN: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
CREW CHIEF: Mark Hillman
SPONSOR: CarsForSale.com
TWITTER: (at)landoncassill
NOTEWORTHY: Finished 12th in last year's Daytona 500.
---
No. 51 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports
DRIVER: Justin Allgaier
BORN: June 6, 1986
HOMETOWN: Riverton, Ill.
CREW CHIEF: Steve Addington
SPONSOR: Brandt Professional Agriculture
TWITTER: (at)J-Allgaier
NOTEWORTHY: Finished 27th in his Daytona 500 debut last season.
---
No. 35 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
DRIVER: Cole Whitt
BORN: June 22, 1991
HOMETOWN: Alpine, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Randy Cox
SPONSOR: Speed Stick
TWITTER: (at)colewhitt
NOTEWORTHY: Ran full season last year for two different teams, now with Front Row Motorsports.
---
No. 10 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Danica Patrick
BORN: March 25, 1982
HOMETOWN: Roscoe, Ill.
CREW CHIEF: Daniel Knost
SPONSOR: GoDaddy.com
TWITTER: (at)DanicaPatrick
NOTEWORTHY: First woman to lead laps in the Daytona 500.
---
No. 27 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Paul Menard
BORN: Aug. 21, 1980
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wis.
CREW CHIEF: Justin Alexander
SPONSOR: Peak/Menards
TWITTER: (at)RCR27PMenard
NOTEWORTHY: Finished 21st in standings last year, his lowest in four seasons.
---
No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Ryan Newman
BORN: Dec. 8, 1977
HOMETOWN: South Bend, Ind.
CREW CHIEF: Luke Lambert
SPONSOR: Caterpillar
TWITTER: (at)RyanJNewman
NOTEWORTHY: Nearly won the championship last season, finishing second to Kevin Harvick.
---
No. 95 Ford, Leavine Family Racing
DRIVER: Michael McDowell
BORN: Dec. 21, 1984
HOMETOWN: Glendale, Ariz.
CREW CHIEF: Wally Rogers
SPONSOR: Thrivent Financial
TWITTER: (at)Mc-Driver
NOTEWORTHY: Finished a career-best seventh at Daytona last July.
---
No. 41 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Regan Smith
BORN: Sept., 23, 1983
HOMETOWN: Cato, N.Y.
CREW CHIEF: Tony Gibson
SPONSOR: Haas Automation
TWITTER: (at)ReganSmith
NOTEWORTHY: Smith replaces Kurt Busch, who was suspended indefinitely two days before the season opener after a judge said the 2004 champion almost surely choked and beat an ex-girlfriend last fall. Busch is appealing, but even if he wins, he won't race Sunday. ... Smith drove Tony Stewart's No. 14 car last season at Watkins Glen after Stewart's short-track accident resulted in the death of fellow driver Kevin Ward Jr. Smith, who has one Cup victory, also filled in two races in 2012 while Dale Earnhardt Jr. recovered from a concussion.
---
No. 23 Toyota, BK Racing
DRIVER: JJ Yeley
BORN: Oct. 5, 1976
HOMETOWN: Phoenix
CREW CHIEF: Joe Williams
SPONSOR: MAXIM Fantasy App/Dr. Pepper
TWITTER: (at)jjyeley1
NOTEWORTHY: Winless in 220 Cup starts and no top-five finishes since 2008.
---
No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
DRIVER: David Gilliland
BORN: April 1, 1976
HOMETOWN: Riverside, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Donnie Wingo
SPONSOR: Love's Travel Stops
TWITTER: (at)DavidGilliland
NOTEWORTHY: Is a noted restrictor-plate racer, has six career top-10 finishes at Daytona and Talladega.
---
No. 46 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports
DRIVER: Michael Annett
BORN: June 23, 1986
HOMETOWN: Des Moines, Iowa
CREW CHIEF: Jay Guy
SPONSOR: Pilot/Flying J Travel Centers
TWITTER: (at)MichaelAnnett
NOTEWORTHY: Left Tommy Baldwin Racing in January to drive for Harry Scott Jr.
---
No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
DRIVER: David Ragan
BORN: Dec. 24, 1985
HOMETOWN: Unadilla, Ga.
CREW CHIEF: Derrick Finley
SPONSOR: KFC
TWITTER: (at)DavidRagan
NOTEWORTHY: Had just one top-10 finish last season.
---
No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
DRIVER: Kyle Larson
BORN: July 31, 1992
HOMETOWN: Elk Grove, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Chris Heroy
SPONSOR: Target
TWITTER: (at)KyleLarsonRacin
NOTEWORTHY: The reigning Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year.
---
No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Austin Dillon
BORN: April 27, 1990
HOMETOWN: Welcome, N.C.
CREW CHIEF: Gil Martin
SPONSOR: Dow
TWITTER: (at)austindillon3
NOTEWORTHY: Started from the pole last year in the iconic No. 3.
---
No. 33 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Ty Dillon
BORN: Feb. 27, 1992
HOMETOWN: Lewisville, N.C.
CREW CHIEF: Todd Parrott
SPONSOR: Cheerios
TWITTER: (at)tydillon
NOTEWORTHY: Austin's younger brother is making his Daytona 500 debut.
---
No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
BORN: Oct. 2, 1987
HOMETOWN: Olive Branch, Miss.
CREW CHIEF: Nicholas Sandler
SPONSOR: Fastenal
TWITTER: (at)StenhouseJr
NOTEWORTHY: Had just five top-10 finishes last season and RFR made a crew chief change for him during the offseason.
---
No. 43 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: Aric Almirola
BORN: March 14, 1984
HOMETOWN: Tampa, Fla.
CREW CHIEF: Trent Owens
SPONSOR: Smithfield
TWITTER: (at)aric-almirola
NOTEWORTHY: Made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship last season for the first time in his career.
---
No. 55 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
DRIVER: Michael Waltrip
BORN: April 30, 1963
HOMETOWN: Owensboro, Ky.
CREW CHIEF: Billy Scott
SPONSOR: Aaron's Dream Machine
TWITTER: (at)mwr55
NOTEWORTHY: Filling in for Brian Vickers, who will miss the first two races following offseason heart surgery.
---
No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
BORN: March 10, 1972
HOMETOWN: Cambridge, Wis.
CREW CHIEF: Jason Ratcliff
SPONSOR: Dollar General
TWITTER: (at)mattkenseth
NOTEWORTHY: Won the Sprint Unlimited exhibition race last week at Daytona.
---
No. 83 Toyota, BK Racing
DRIVER: Johnny Sauter
BORN: May 1, 1978
HOMETOWN: Necedah, Wisc.
CREW CHIEF: Doug Richert
SPONSOR: Dustless Blasting
TWITTER: (at)johnnysauter
NOTEWORTHY: Will be making his third career Daytona 500 start.
---
No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Trevor Bayne
BORN: Feb. 19, 1991
HOMETOWN: Knoxville, Tenn.
CREW CHIEF: Bob Osborne
SPONSOR: AdvoCare
TWITTER: (at)Tbayne21
NOTEWORTHY: Won the 2011 Daytona 500 in his first career start.
---
No. 9 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: Sam Hornish Jr.
BORN: July, 2, 1979
HOMETOWN: Defiance, Ohio
CREW CHIEF: Drew Blickensderfer
SPONSOR: Twisted Tea
TWITTER: (at)samhornish
NOTEWORTHY: Back in a full-time ride Cup ride for the first time since 2010.
---
No. 2 Ford, Penske Racing
DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
BORN: Feb. 12, 1984
HOMETOWN: Rochester Hills, Mich.
CREW CHIEF: Paul Wolfe
SPONSOR: Miller Lite
TWITTER: (at)keselowski
NOTEWORTHY: A six-race winner last year, he finished third in the Daytona 500.
---
No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing
DRIVER: AJ Allmendinger
BORN: Dec. 16, 1981
HOMETOWN: Los Gatos, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Brian Burns
SPONSOR: Kroger/USO
TWITTER:(at)AJDinger
NOTEWORTHY: Made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship last season for the first time in his career.
---
No. 13 Chevrolet, Germain Racing
DRIVER: Casey Mears
BORN: March 12, 1978
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Robert ''Bootie'' Barker
SPONSOR: Geico
TWITTER: (at)CaseyMears13
NOTEWORTHY: Nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears.
---
No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
BORN: Nov. 18, 1980
HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, Va.
CREW CHIEF: Dave Rogers
SPONSOR: FedEx Express
TWITTER: (at)dennyhamlin
NOTEWORTHY: Finished second in last year's Daytona 500.
---
No. 32 Ford, Go FAS Racing
DRIVER: Bobby Labonte
BORN: May 8, 1964
HOMETOWN: Corpus Christi, Texas
CREW CHIEF: Clinton Cram
SPONSOR: C&J Energy Services
TWITTER: (at)bobbylabonte
NOTEWORTHY: Ran just three races last season, but finished 15th in the Daytona 500.
