Daytona 500 driver capsules
A driver-by-driver look at the contenders and pretenders in Sunday's 51st running of the Daytona 500.
Click on a driver's name or photo to view his career stats at Daytona International Speedway
| 1. Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing | 
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| Born: June 29, 1980 | ||
| Hometown: Mayetta, N.J. | ||
| Crew chief: Kevin "Bono" Manion | ||
| Comment: He has never had much luck at Daytona, but his car has been awfully strong during Speedweeks, taking the pole and leading a race-high 32 laps during his qualifying race. In seven career starts at Daytona he has an average finish of 23rd, never finishing in the top 10. | ||
| Odds of winning: 12/1 | ||
| 2. Mark Martin, No. 5 Kellogg's/Carquest Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Hendrick Motorsports | 
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| Born: Jan. 9, 1959 | ||
| Hometown: Batesville, Ark. | ||
| Crew chief: Alan Gustafson | ||
| Comment: Came up short of the victory in his qualifier, but did lead a race-high 36 laps. He is loving his car this weekend. In 47 career starts at Daytona he has nine top fives and 17 top 10s, with an average finish of 18th. | ||
| Odds of winning: 5/1 | ||
| 3. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Hendrick Motorsports | 
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| Born: Aug. 4, 1971 | ||
| Hometown: Vallejo, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Steve Letarte | ||
| Comment: Though he took the victory in his qualifying race, he knows that it doesn't officially count toward ending his lengthy winless streak. He has six career victories at Daytona, including three in the 500. The Hendrick gang should be formidable. | ||
| Odds of winning: 5/1 | ||
| 4. Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Toyota | ||
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Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing | 
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| Born: May 2, 1985 | ||
| Hometown: Las Vegas | ||
| Crew chief: Steve Addington | ||
| Comment: He has four top-five finishes in his last five "official" starts at Daytona. That of course excludes his victory in his qualifier Thursday. Last year, Busch had the dominant car in the 500, but ultimately came up just short of the win. He returned in July and snagged the victory. | ||
| Odds of winning: 5/1 | ||
| 5. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Stewart-Haas Racing | 
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| Born: May 20, 1971 | ||
| Hometown: Rushville, Ind. | ||
| Crew chief: Darian Grubb | ||
| Comment: He's now the owner of his own team, but has displayed the same restrictor-plate prowess he had at Joe Gibbs Racing. He finished third in the Bud Shootout and second in his qualifier. He's hopeful of taking the next step up in the 500, but he'll have to do it in his Shootout car after wrecking his primary in final practice (he'll have to move to the rear of the field because of the switch). He has two wins (both in the July race), six top fives and 10 top 10s in 20 starts at Daytona. | ||
| Odds of winning: 8/1 | ||
| 6. Brian Vickers, No. 83, Red Bull Toyota | ||
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Owner: Red Bull Racing | 
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| Born: Oct. 24, 1983 | ||
| Hometown: Thomasville, N.C. | ||
| Crew chief: Ryan Pemberton | ||
| Comment: Vickers is an adequate restrictor-plate racer and came through with a third-place finish in his qualifier. But his history at Daytona isn't great. In nine starts at Daytona he has five DNF's vs. two top 10s. | ||
| Odds of winning: 30/1 | ||
| 7. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Hendrick Motorsports | 
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| Born: Sept. 17, 1975 | ||
| Hometown: El Cajon, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Chad Knaus | ||
| Comment: Somehow the three-time defending series champion has flown under the radar during Speedweeks. He never tends to lead many laps at Daytona -- just 59 in 14 starts -- but has pulled through with a win (2006 Daytona 500), five top fives and eight top 10s. | ||
| Odds of winning: 6/1 | ||
| 8. Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing | 
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| Born: Sept. 20, 1975 | ||
| Hometown: Bogota, Colombia | ||
| Crew chief: Brian Pattie | ||
| Comment: He hasn't yet proven to be a very adept restrictor-plate racer, but could it have been the Chip Ganassi Racing Dodges that were holding him back? He has had a solid Speedweeks with a top 10 qualifying run and a fourth-place finish in his qualifer. He could surprise. | ||
| Odds of winning: 20/1 | ||
| 9. Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota | ||
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Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing | 
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| Born: May 24, 1990 | ||
| Hometown: Middletown, Conn. | ||
| Crew chief: Greg Zipadelli | ||
| Comment: Though there are high expectations for the rookie, nobody is quite sure what to expect from him in the 500. He has had his ups and downs during Speedweeks, wrecking during the Bud Shootout, walking away with a fourth-place finish in his qualifier and scrubbing the wall during final practice. | ||
| Odds of winning: 40/1 | ||
| 10. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Toyota | ||
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Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing | 
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| Born: Nov. 18, 1980 | ||
| Hometown: Chesterfield, Va. | ||
| Crew chief: Mike Ford | ||
| Comment: For some reason, it always seems he's better at pushing -- Kyle Busch owes him a big thanks for his victory in Duel 2 -- than leading at the restrictor-plate races. Excluding non-points races, would you believe that in 12 restrictor-plate starts he has just two top 10s, none at Daytona? | ||
| Odds of winning: 12/1 | ||
| 11. Aric Almirola, No. 8 Activision/Guitar Hero Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing | 
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| Born: March 14, 1984 | ||
| Hometown: Tampa, Fla. | ||
| Crew chief: Doug Randolph | ||
| Comment: With just one top 10 in 18 career Cup starts, Almirola is the longest of longshots to take the victory. His Thursday qualifer was the first time he started a Cup race at Daytona. He has made three restrictor-plate starts at Talladega, with a best finish of 13th. | ||
| Odds of winning: 100/1 | ||
| 12. Bobby Labonte, No. 96 Ask.com Ford | ||
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Owner: Hall of Fame Racing | 
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| Born: May 8, 1964 | ||
| Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas | ||
| Crew chief: Todd Parrott | ||
| Comment: He has had a steady, if unspectacular, restrictor-plate career. In 64 restrictor-plate starts he has just one win, that coming at Talladega way back in 1998. He hasn't finished in the top 10 at Daytona since 2004 or in the 500 since 2000. | ||
| Odds of winning: 75/1 | ||
| 13. Kurt Busch, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge | ||
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Owner: Penske Racing | 
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| Born: Aug. 4, 1978 | ||
| Hometown: Las Vegas | ||
| Crew chief: Pat Tryson | ||
| Comment: Busch is arguably the best active restrictor-plate racer not to have actually won a restrictor-plate race. He has finished fourth or better in four of his past five starts at Daytona. In 16 starts at Daytona he has eight top fives. | ||
| Odds of winning: 15/1 | ||
| 14. Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Hendrick Motorsports | 
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| Born: Oct. 10, 1974 | ||
| Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C. | ||
| Crew chief: Tony Eury Jr. | ||
| Comment: As always, you have to consider Earnhardt a factor at Daytona. Though the results don't show it, he has had a strong car during Speedweeks. Last year he won the Bud Shootout and a qualifier before stumbling in the 500. Perhaps this year he's doing the reverse. In 18 starts at Daytona, he has two wins, six top fives and 11 top 10s. | ||
| Odds of winning: 5/1 | ||
| 15. Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Budweiser Dodge | ||
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Owner: Richard Petty Motorsports | 
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| Born: April 10, 1980 | ||
| Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash. | ||
| Crew chief: Kenny Francis | ||
| Comment: Odds of winning 30/1. Odds of finishing seventh 1/1. In three of his past four "official" starts at Daytona he has finished seventh. He also finished seventh in this year's qualifier. Kahne has improved his plate prowess the past couple of years, running off four consecutive top 10s at Daytona. | ||
| Odds of winning: 30/1 | ||
| 16. Carl Edwards, No. 99 Aflac Ford | ||
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Owner: Roush Fenway Racing | 
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| Born: Aug. 15, 1979 | ||
| Hometown: Columbia, Mo. | ||
| Crew chief: Bob Osborne | ||
| Comment: Though he does have the best starting position of the Roush Fenway Racing contingent, the favorite of many in the media to claim the 2009 Cup title ahead of Jimmie Johnson hasn't had a stellar Speedweeks. He has two top fives in eight starts at Daytona, including a second-place run last July. | ||
| Odds of winning: 22/1 | ||
| 17. Scott Riggs, No. 36 Red Bank Outfitters Toyota | ||
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Owner: Tommy Baldwin Racing | 
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| Born: Jan. 1, 1971 | ||
| Hometown: Bahama, N.C. | ||
| Crew chief: Tommy Baldwin | ||
| Comment: One of the feel-good stories of Speedweeks after the journeyman driver was able to put Tommy Baldwin Racing in the Daytona 500 for its inaugural race. Baldwin who lost his job when Bill Davis sold his organization, opted to start his own team during the offseason. In eight starts at Daytona, Riggs has just one top 10 and an average finish of 27th. | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
| 18. Jeremy Mayfield, No. 41 All Sport Toyota | ||
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Owner: Mayfield Motorsports | 
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| Born: Sept. 6, 1962 | ||
| Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. | ||
| Crew chief: Tony Furr | ||
| Comment: Like Tommy Baldwin Racing, Mayfield Motorsports is making its inaugural run, racing its way into the field with a ninth-place finish in Duel 2. But at least Baldwin had a little prep time. Mayfield started his team less than a month ago. Mayfield, who hasn't make a Cup start since last June, hasn't earned a top-10 finish since 2005. He has six top 10s in 27 starts at Daytona. | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
| 19. Paul Menard, No. 98 Quaker State/Menards Ford | ||
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Owner: Yates Racing | 
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| Born: Aug. 21, 1980 | ||
| Hometown: Eau Claire, Wis. | ||
| Crew chief: Larry Carter | ||
| Comment: The one thing Menard has going for him is sponsorship, thanks to his father's hardware chain. But on the track he has done little, capturing just two top 10s in 75 career starts. His best finish in three starts at Daytona is 15th. | ||
| Odds of winning: 100/1 | ||
| 20. AJ Allmendinger, No. 44 Valvoline Dodge | ||
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Owner: Richard Petty Motorsports | 
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| Born: Dec. 16, 1981 | ||
| Hometown: Los Gatos, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Sammy Johns | ||
| Comment: The former open-wheel driver will make just his second Daytona start -- his first in the 500 -- after racing his way into the field with a 10th-place finish in Duel 2. Allmendinger's only official start at Daytona -- last year's July race -- ended with a 42nd-place finish. | ||
| Odds of winning: 100/1 | ||
| 21. Jamie McMurray, No. 26 Crown Royal Ford | ||
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Owner: Roush Fenway Racing | 
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| Born: June 3, 1976 | ||
| Hometown: Joplin, Mo. | ||
| Crew chief: Donnie Wingo | ||
| Comment: In 12 career starts at Daytona he has a whopping eight DNFs, but when he does finish, he tends to finish well, with a win, two top fives and three top 10s. He has had a good car during Speedweeks. If he can steer clear of trouble, he should be a factor. | ||
| Odds of winning: 22/1 | ||
| 22. Clint Bowyer, No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Richard Childress Racing | 
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| Born: May 30, 1979 | ||
| Hometown: Emporia, Kan. | ||
| Crew chief: Shane Wilson | ||
| Comment: Nothing to write home about during this year's Speedweeks, but he tends to finish well when it counts at Daytona, racking up four top 10s in six starts at the track. | ||
| Odds of winning: 30/1 | ||
| 23. Marcos Ambrose, No. 47 Little Debbie's/Kingsford Toyota | ||
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Owner: JTG Daugherty Racing | 
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| Born: Sept. 1, 1976 | ||
| Hometown: Launceston, Australia | ||
| Crew chief: Frank Kerr | ||
| Comment: The Aussie will be making just the 12th start of his Cup career and first at Daytona. It will also mark his first "official" start in a restrictor-plate race. He has just one top-20 finish in a non-road course race (18th at Phoenix last season). | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
| 24. David Stremme, No. 12 Dodge | ||
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Owner: Penske Racing | 
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| Born: June 19, 1977 | ||
| Hometown: South Bend, Ind. | ||
| Crew chief: Roy McCauley | ||
| Comment: Penske Racing is giving Stremme a shot after he flamed out at Chip Ganassi Racing with just three top 10s in 75 starts. In four starts at Daytona his best finish is 11th (2007 Daytona 500). | ||
| Odds of winning: 100/1 | ||
| 25. Casey Mears, No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Richard Childress Racing | 
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| Born: March 12, 1978 | ||
| Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Gil Martin | ||
| Comment: Mears joins his third organization in seven seasons, hoping to finally live up to the potential so many see in him. But it doesn't look like the Daytona 500 will be his coming out party. He has been a non-factor during Speedweeks and doesn't have a very good history at Daytona, averaging a 22nd-place finish with just two top 10s in 12 starts. | ||
| Odds of winning: 30/1 | ||
| 26. Jeff Burton, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Richard Childress Racing | 
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| Born: June 29, 1967 | ||
| Hometown: South Boston, Va. | ||
| Crew chief: Scott Miller | ||
| Comment: It has been a rough week for all the RCR drivers, perhaps none moreso than Burton, who finished 24th after wrecking in the Bud Shootout and 14th in his qualifier. Burton has never run all that well at Daytona with just eight top 10s in 30 starts. Including non-points races, Burton has finished outside the top 10 in six consecutive events at Daytona. | ||
| Odds of winning: 30/1 | ||
| 27. Michael Waltrip, No. 55 NAPA Toyota | ||
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Owner: Michael Waltrip Racing | 
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| Born: April 30, 1963 | ||
| Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. | ||
| Crew chief: Bootie Barker | ||
| Comment: With two Daytona 500 victories and three Daytona wins, Waltrip is often considered a factor at the track, but the numbers don't really bear that out. Most of his success at the track came while running DEI equippment at the peak of its restrictor-plate dominance. In 10 races since his Daytona 500 victory in 2003, he has no top 10s at the track and seven finishes of 27th or worse. | ||
| Odds of winning: 55/1 | ||
| 28. David Reutimann, No. 00 Aaron's Toyota | ||
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Owner: Michael Waltrip Racing | 
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| Born: March 2, 1970 | ||
| Hometown: Zephyrhills, Fla. | ||
| Crew chief: Rodney Childers | ||
| Comment: Reutimann made strides in his second full-time campaign in 2008, but the restrictor-plate races still gave him fits. In four starts at Daytona, he has an average finish of 26th and three DNFs. | ||
| Odds of winning: 60/1 | ||
| 29. Sam Hornish Jr., No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge | ||
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Owner: Penske Racing | 
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| Born: July 2, 1979 | ||
| Hometown: Defiance, Ohio | ||
| Crew chief: Travis Geisler | ||
| Comment: He may be a three-time IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, but he has yet to show he can succesfully make the transition to stock-car racing. In 36 career starts he has no top 10s. Last year he managed just four top 20s, though one of them was a 15th-place finish in the Daytona 500. | ||
| Odds of winning: 150/1 | ||
| 30. Elliott Sadler, No. 19 Stanley Tools Dodge | ||
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Owner: Richard Petty Motorsports | 
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| Born: April 30, 1975 | ||
| Hometown: Emporia, Va. | ||
| Crew chief: Kevin Buskirk | ||
| Comment: He held back a little in his qualifier to help get RPM teammate AJ Allmendinger in the field, so he may have something for the 500. Is it enough to win the 500? Probably not, but he could be competitive for a top 10. He has seven top 10s in 20 starts at Daytona and has finsished sixth or better in the past three 500s. | ||
| Odds of winning: 60/1 | ||
| 31. Robby Gordon, No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge | ||
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Owner: Robby Gordon Motorsports | 
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| Born: Jan. 2, 1969 | ||
| Hometown: Bellflower, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Kirk Almquist | ||
| Comment: Gordon is with his third manufacturer in three seasons, this year jumping on the Toyota bandwagon. It has been an awful Speedweeks for Gordon. He wrecked in the Bud Shootout and finished 22nd in his qualifier. He has made 18 starts at Daytona with just three tops 10, but two came last season. | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
| 32. Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Richard Childress Racing | 
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| Born: Dec. 8, 1975 | ||
| Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Todd Berrier | ||
| Comment: His Speedweeks started with a bang, but has gone downhill since. He won the Bud Shootout, finished 18th in his qualifier and then his team was forced pull out the backup car for the 500 after he smacked the wall during Friday's practice. The 2007 Daytona 500 winner has an average finish of 16th at the track with three top fives and five top 10s in 15 starts. | ||
| Odds of winning: 20/1 | ||
| 33. David Ragan, No. 6 UPS Ford | ||
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Owner: Roush Fenway Racing | 
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| Born: Dec. 24, 1985 | ||
| Hometown: Unadilla, Ga. | ||
| Crew chief: Jimmy Fennig | ||
| Comment: It was a breakthrough season for Ragan in 2008, though the Daytona 500 was probably the one race he'd rather forget, finishing 42nd and wrecking teammate Matt Kenseth. He rebounded in July, however, with a fifth-place finish. This year's Speedweeks has not been pretty with Ragan wrecking in the Bud Shootout and finishing 23rd in his qualifier. | ||
| Odds of winning: 40/1 | ||
| 34. Reed Sorenson, No. 43 McDonald's Dodge | ||
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Owner: Richard Petty Motorsports | 
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| Born: Feb. 5, 1986 | ||
| Hometown: Peachtree City, Ga. | ||
| Crew chief: Mike Shiplett | ||
| Comment: The new face of the famed No. 43, Sorenson finished fifth in last year's 500 running for Chip Ganassi Racing. It was his lone top five of 2008 and one of just two tops 10s. He appears a longshot to repeat that feat in 2009 as his 43 machine hasn't shown much during Speedweeks. | ||
| Odds of winning: 90/1 | ||
| 35. Greg Biffle, No. 16 3M Ford | ||
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Owner: Roush Fenway Racing | 
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| Born: Dec. 23, 1969 | ||
| Hometown: Vancouver, Wash. | ||
| Crew chief: Greg Erwin | ||
| Comment: He does have a win at Daytona, but it came back in July of 2003, his first season at Roush. In 10 trips to the track since that win, he has just two top 10s, though one of them came in last year's 500. | ||
| Odds of winning: 30/1 | ||
| 36. Ryan Newman, No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Stewart-Haas Racing | 
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| Born: Dec. 8, 1977 | ||
| Hometown: South Bend, Ind. | ||
| Crew chief: Tony Gibson | ||
| Comment: The defending Daytona 500 champion will try to become the first driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s with two different teams, but he'll have to do it in a backup backup car after trashing two cars during Speedweeks. In 14 starts at Daytona he has seven DNFs and just three top 10s. | ||
| Odds of winning: 40/1 | ||
| 37. John Andretti, No. 34 Window World Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing | 
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| Born: March 12, 1963 | ||
| Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. | ||
| Crew chief: Steven Lane | ||
| Comment: Driving a fourth entry for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in partnership with Front Row Motorsports, Andretti should have a chance to be competitive, though history says otherwise. He has only one top 10 in 24 starts at Daytona -- but it was a win in the 1997 Pepsi 400. | ||
| Odds of winning: 100/1 | ||
| 38. Scott Speed, No. 82 Red Bull Toyota | ||
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Owner: Red Bull Racing | 
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| Born: January 4, 1983 | ||
| Hometown: Manteca, Calif. | ||
| Crew chief: Jimmy Elledge | ||
| Comment: Making just his sixth career Cup start, the eccentric racer and former open-wheeler has had a rough go of it during Speedweeks, wrecking during the Bud Shootout and exiting his qualifier due to handling issues. | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
| 39. Matt Kenseth, No. 17 DeWalt Ford | ||
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Owner: Roush Fenway Racing | 
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| Born: March 10, 1972 | ||
| Hometown: Cambridge, Wis. | ||
| Crew chief: Drew Blickensderfer | ||
| Comment: He's with his third crew chief in three years with Drew Blickensderfer calling the shots this season. He's also in a backup car after totaling his primary machine late his his qualifier. In 18 starts at Daytona, Kenseth has two top fives and seven top 10s. | ||
| Odds of winning: 25/1 | ||
| 40. Bill Elliott, No. 21 Motorcraft Ford | ||
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Owner: Wood Brothers Racing | 
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| Born: Oct. 8, 1955 | ||
| Hometown: Dawsonville, Ga. | ||
| Crew chief: David Hyder | ||
| Comment: If his Wood Brothers machine can hold up -- a big IF -- he could pull off a decent finish. His car has shown some speed during Speedweeks and was running well in his qualifier until the transmission failed. In 56 Daytona starts he has four wins, 15 top fives and 24 tops 10s for an average finish of 15th. However, he hasn't finished in the the top 10 at Daytona since 1998. | ||
| Odds of winning: 50/1 | ||
| 41. Travis Kvapil, No. 28 Golden Corral Ford | ||
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Owner: Yates Racing | 
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| Born: March 1, 1976 | ||
| Hometown: Janesville, Wis. | ||
| Crew chief: Ben Leslie | ||
| Comment: Kvapil kept the underfunded 28 car in the top 35 last season for Yates Racing. His reward? Yates shifted his points to another team, forcing him to qualifying for the 500 as a non-top 35 driver. He made it, which probably is plenty reason to celebrate. He has never had much luck at the track with an average finish of 27th in six starts. | ||
| Odds of winning: 100/1 | ||
| 42. Regan Smith, No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Furniture Row Racing | 
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| Born: Sept. 23, 1983 | ||
| Hometown: Cato, N.Y. | ||
| Crew chief: Jay Guy | ||
| Comment: He has 41 career starts with no top 10s and just four top 20s. Don't count on him adding to that top 20 total at Daytona. | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
| 43. Terry Labonte, No. 66 Window World Chevrolet | ||
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Owner: Prism Motorsports | 
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| Born: Nov. 16, 1956 | ||
| Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas | ||
| Crew chief: Bill Henderson | ||
| Comment: The team is owned by Phil Parsons and Randy Humphrey, along with their wives Stacy and Marcia. Labonte was asked to drive the car for the 500 to make use of the past champion's provisional, but Dave Blaney is scheduled to man the wheel the remainder of season. The team would love a top-20 finish, but wants its car to come away in one piece as much as anything. | ||
| Odds of winning: 200/1 | ||
