| Driver | No. | Make | Comment |
| 1. Danica Patrick | 10 | Chevrolet | Third-fastest restrictor qualifying lap ever |
| 2. Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | If he has speed, look out |
| 3. Kevin Harvick | 29 | Chevrolet | Won both his Speedweeks starts |
| 4. Kyle Busch | 18 | Toyota | Comes in confident and fast |
| 5. Greg Biffle | 16 | Ford | Remembers last-lap duel from last year |
| 6. Kasey Kahne | 5 | Chevrolet | One of last year’s hottest finishers |
| 7. Juan Pablo Montoya | 42 | Chevrolet | Has a plan to avoid jet dryers |
| 8. Austin Dillon | 33 | Chevrolet | Making his Daytona 500 debut |
| 9. Jimmie Johnson | 48 | Chevrolet | Averge finish of 33.5 in last six 500s |
| 10. Clint Bowyer | 15 | Toyota | Last year’s points runner-up |
| 11. Kurt Busch | 78 | Chevrolet | Starting full season with new team |
| 12. Matt Kenseth | 20 | Toyota | Won the 500 twice in a Ford |
| 13. Tony Stewart | 14 | Chevrolet | Says his car is close to perfect |
| 14. Mark Martin | 55 | Toyota | Another grizzled restrictor plate veteran |
| 15. Brad Keselowski | 2 | Ford | Points champ has had a rough start |
| 16. Paul Menard | 27 | Chevrolet | RCR boosted manpower in his team |
| 17. Casey Mears | 13 | Ford | Showed confidence in Speedweeks |
| 18. Jeff Burton | 31 | Chevrolet | Son of former 500 winner |
| 19. Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 88 | Chevrolet | Lowest starting position ever at the 500 |
| 20. Jamie McMurray | 1 | Chevrolet | Won the 500 in 2010, but quiet since |
| 21. Joey Logano | 22 | Ford | New start with a new team |
| 22. David Ragan | 34 | Ford | Won the summer Daytona race in 2011 |
| 23. Bobby Labonte | 47 | Toyota | Texan has 81 restrictor plate starts |
| 24. Marcos Ambrose | 9 | Ford | Best finish of 13th at 500 last year |
| 25. David Gilliland | 38 | Ford | Former 500 pole-sitter (back in 2007) |
| 26. Aric Almirola | 43 | Ford | RPM optimistic about his season |
| 27. Joe Nemechek | 87 | Toyota | Has 73 restrictor plate starts, no wins |
| 28. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 17 | Ford | Making his second Daytona 500 start |
| 29. Michael Waltrip | 26 | Toyota | Making his 97th restrictor plate start |
| 30. Dave Blaney | 7 | Chevrolet | Leader at the ‘fire break’ last year |
| 31. Scott Speed | 95 | Ford | Started 30th, finished 19th last year |
| 32. Josh Wise | 35 | Ford | Making his Daytona 500 debut |
| 33. Trevor Bayne | 21 | Ford | Surprise winner of the 2011 race |
| 34. Ryan Newman | 39 | Chevrolet | Low starting spot, but SHR cars are fast |
| 35. Denny Hamlin | 11 | Toyota | Crashed in Duel, but got in on time |
| 36. Carl Edwards | 99 | Ford | Also crashed in Duel, also got in on time |
| 37. Martin Truex Jr. | 56 | Toyota | Only one top-10 in 15 starts on this track |
| 38. Michael McDowell | 98 | Ford | 33rd and 30th in two previous 500 starts |
| 39. Terry Labonte | 32 | Ford | Texan has 81 restrictor plate starts |
| 40. Regan Smith | 51 | Chevrolet | Had a top-10 finish at the 2011 500 |
| 41. J.J. Yeley | 36 | Chevrolet | Out after 10 laps last year |
| 42. David Reutimann | 83 | Toyota | Had a top-5 finish at the 2020 500 |
| 43. Travis Kvapil | 93 | Toyota | Missed last year’s 500 |
