DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- 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:

1. (48) Jimmie Johnson, 26, El Cajon, Calif. Chevrolet.
Won the Daytona 500 pole in only the fourth start of his Winston Cup career. Protege of four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who co-owns Johnson's car with Rick Hendrick. Making first Daytona 500 start. Will compete for Rookie of the Year.

2. (29) Kevin Harvick, 26, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet.
Making first Daytona 500 start. 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. Finished ninth in Winston Cup points.

3. (24) Jeff Gordon, 30, Pittsboro, Ind., Chevrolet.
Two-time Daytona 500 champion won fourth Winston Cup title in 2001. Making 10th Daytona 500 start. Finished 30th here last year. Won a series-high six races in 2001 and now has 58 career wins, making him the winningest active driver. In ninth season with Hendrick Motorsports.

4. (15) Michael Waltrip, 38, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet.
Defending Daytona 500 winner has six top-10 finishes in 15 starts. Was winless in 462 career starts before victory last February. Younger brother of retired three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip. In second year with Dale Earnhardt Inc.

5. (8) Dale Earnhardt Jr., 27, Kannapolis, N.C., Chevrolet.
Two-time Busch series champion won twice last year on the way to eighth-place finish in second Winston Cup season. Won 13 times in Busch in 1998-99. Finished second in Rookie of Year competition in 2000. Finished 13th as a rookie and second last year in Daytona 500. Won the Pepsi 400 in Daytona last July. Drives for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

6. (20) Tony Stewart, 30, Rushville, Ind., Pontiac.
Strong finish carried 1999 Rookie of the Year to career-best second-place finish in 2001 standings. Has 12 career victories, including three last year. Was 1997 Indy Racing League champion and last year became only driver to compete in both Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on same day twice. Has finished no better than 17th in three Daytona 500 starts. Finished 36th last year. In fourth year driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

7. (36) Ken Schrader, 45, Fenton, Mo., Pontiac.
Three-time Daytona 500 polesitter has 10 top-10 finishes in 17 starts. Best finish was second in 1989. Finished 13th last year. Has four career victories but none since 1991. The 1985 Rookie of the Year. In third year with Nelson Bowers-Thomas Beard team.

8. (25) Jerry Nadeau, 31, Danbury, Conn., Chevrolet.
Finished 32nd last year in fourth Daytona 500 start. Has one career victory. Finished a career-best 17th in 2001 points. In third season driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

9. (28) Ricky Rudd, 45, Chesapeake, Va., Ford.
Has 10 top-10 finishes in 24 Daytona 500 starts. Best finish was third in 1981 and was fourth last year. Has 22 career victories, including a record of at least one in 16 straight seasons. Won twice in 2001 after ending 87-race winless string. Finished fourth in season points. Rookie of the Year in 1977. In third year with Robert Yates Racing.

10. (18) Bobby Labonte, 37, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pontiac.
Winston Cup champion in 2000 is making 10th Daytona 500 start. Best finish second from pole in 1998. Was 40th last year. Has 18 career victories, including two last season. In seventh year with Joe Gibbs Racing.

11. (5) Terry Labonte, 45, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet.
Winston Cup champion in 1984 and 1996. Has 12 top-10 finishes in 23 Daytona 500 starts. Finished 24th last year. Winless last two years but has career total of 21. In ninth season driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

12. (31) Robby Gordon, 33, Cerritos, Calif., Chevrolet.
Has been in and out of NASCAR for last few seasons, and is back now with Richard Childress Racing. Got first Winston Cup victory last year in season-finale in New Hampshire while subbing for injured Mike Skinner. Led Indianapolis 500 in 1999 until running out of gas with less than two laps left. Making fifth start in Daytona 500, coming off 37th-place finish last year.

13. (40) Sterling Marlin, 44, 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 eight in career. Finished seventh last year in 20th Daytona 500. In fifth season with team now owned by Chip Ganassi. Finish matched career best last season with third-place in points.

14. (71) Dave Marcis, 60, Wausau, Wis., Chevrolet.
Plans to retire following 33rd Daytona 500 and 760th career start. Broke tie with Richard Petty for most Daytona starts. Failed to make Daytona race in 2000 and 2001 after starting the event 31 consecutive times. Best finish was sixth in 1975 and 1978. Marcis is the last of the independent team owners who began their careers before NASCAR's modern era. Known for racing in wingtip dress shoes. Owns five career wins, the last one in Richmond in 1982.

15. (97) Kurt Busch, 23, Las Vegas, Ford.
Second in 2001 Rookie of the Year standings, winning one pole and turning in six top-10 finishes. Season-best a third-place finish in spring Talladega race. Finished 41st in only Daytona 500 start and was 27th in season points. Was top rookie and second-place finisher in Craftsman Truck Series in 2000. Drives for Roush Racing.

16. (43) John Andretti, 38, Indianapolis, Dodge.
Making ninth Daytona 500 start. Finished 39th here last year. 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. In fourth season with Petty Enterprises.

17. (33) Mike Wallace, 42, St. Louis, Chevrolet.
Returned to Winston Cup last year after three seasons in truck series, where he had four wins in 92 races. Had six top-10 finishes, including career-best second in Phoenix, splitting season between teams of Jim Smith and Roger Penske. Making sixth start in Daytona 500 with best finish of sixth last year.

18. (1) Kenny Wallace, 38, St. Louis, Chevrolet.
Starting eighth season in Winston Cup as a substitute for injured Dale Earnhardt Inc., driver Steve Park. Has 25 top-10 finishes in 243 starts, including career-best second in 1999 in Loudon, N.H. Making seventh Daytona 500 start with no finish better than 21st. Finished 25th here last year.

19. (22) Ward Burton, 40, South Boston, Va., Dodge.
Making eighth Daytona 500 start with best finishes of eighth in 1997 and 2000. Has three career victories, including one last year. Eighth year with Bill Davis Racing. Finished 35th here last year. Second to brother Jeff in 1994 Rookie of Year competition.

20. (4) Mike Skinner, 44, Susanville, Calif., Chevrolet.
Became just third rookie in history to win Daytona 500 pole, in 1997, and finished 12th. Making sixth start in race. The 1997 Winston Cup Rookie of Year. Finished 26th at Daytona last year. Seeking first career victory in 168th start and first race for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

21. (88) Dale Jarrett, 45, Hickory, N.C., Ford.
Three-time Daytona 500 champion. Making 14th start in race. Was 22nd last year. Has 28 career victories, including four in 2001. In eighth year with Robert Yates Racing, for whom he won 1999 Winston Cup championship. Son of two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett.

22. (66) Todd Bodine, 37, Chemung, N.Y., Ford.
Failed to qualify for last year's Daytona 500. Has two previous starts with best finish of 36th in 1994. Had three of four career poles and finished 29th in points last season. Best career finish of third in 1994 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Starting second season with Haas-Carter Motorsports.

23. (12) Ryan Newman, 24, South Bend, Ind., Ford.
Driving limited schedule for Roger Penske in 2001, won a pole and had two top-five finishes, including a second at Kansas City, in seven starts. Former U.S. Auto Club short track champion. Graduate of Purdue University also ran 15 Busch series races last year, winning one. Competing for Rookie of the Year. First Daytona 500 start will be his ninth Winston Cup event.

24. (14) Stacy Compton, 34, Hurt, Va., Pontiac.
In third season after moving up from NASCAR truck series, where he won twice and had seven poles in 78 starts. Started from the outside pole and finished 10th last year in only his second Daytona 500. Won first career pole and finished 33rd in season points in 2001. Making first start for A.J. Foyt Racing.

25. (26) Joe Nemechek, 38, Naples, Fla., Ford.
Making eighth Daytona 500 start with best previous finish of 11th last year. Former Busch Series champ and Rookie of Year. Earned second Winston Cup victory in 2001 and finished 28th in season points despite missing five races due to injury. Making first start for Haas-Carter Motorsports after two years with Andy Petree.

26. (7) Casey Atwood, 21, Nashville, Tenn., Dodge.
Starting second full season in Winston Cup. Finished 20th in first Daytona 500. Won first career pole and finished 26th in points and third in Rookie of the Year competition driving last year for Ray Evernham Motorsports. Winner of two Busch races in 2½ seasons on that circuit. Making first start for Jim Smith, whose team is now affiliated with Evernham.

27. (11) Brett Bodine, 43, Chemung, N.Y., Ford.
Making 14th Daytona 500 appearance. Best finish was 15th last year. Only victory in 406 Winston Cup starts came at North Wilkesboro, N.C., in 1990. Has five career poles. Seventh season as owner-driver.

28. (19) Jeremy Mayfield, 32, Owensboro, Ky., Dodge.
Has three top-10 finishes in eight Daytona 500s with best of third in 1998. Finished ninth in 2001. Making first start for Ray Evernham.

29. (9) Bill Elliott, 46, Dawsonville, Ga., Dodge.
The 1988 Winston Cup champion won the Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1987, has four poles for the race and 13 top-10 finishes in 23 starts. Started from the pole and finished fifth last year. Has 41 career victories. Ended 266-race winless string last year in Homestead, Fla. Driving for Ray Evernham's Dodge team.

30. (30) Jeff Green, 39, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet.
Busch champion in 2000 drove eight races with Richard Childress Racing in 2001 and gained full-time ride. Had first career pole last year in Childress Chevrolet. Making first Daytona 500 start in third try. Has 58 Winston Cup starts with career-best finish of fourth in Atlanta in 1997.

31. (92) Robert Pressley, 42, Asheville, N.C., Dodge.
Making ninth start in Daytona 500 with best finish of fourth in 1994. Was 14th last year. Winless in 204 starts with career-best finish of second last year in Joliet, Ill. Making first start for Melling Racing.

32. (55) Bobby Hamilton, 44, Nashville, Tenn., Chevrolet.
Has four career victories, including one in 2001. Making 12th start in Daytona 500, with best finish of eighth last year. Rookie of Year in 1991. Second season driving for Andy Petree Racing.

33. (99) Jeff Burton, 34, South Boston, Va., Ford.
Making ninth Daytona 500 start, with best finish of second in 2000. The Rookie of the Year in 1994, he won twice last year and has 17 victories overall. Finished 19th here last year. In seventh season driving for Roush Racing.

34. (45) Kyle Petty, 41, Randleman, N.C., Dodge.
Won Daytona 500 pole in 1993 but has only two top-10 finishes in 20 starts. First third-generation Winston Cup racer, following grandfather Lee and father Richard. Got last of eight career wins in 1995. Fifth year as owner-driver for Petty Enterprises.

35. (09) Geoffrey Bodine, 52, Chemung, N.Y., Ford.
Winner of the 1986 Daytona 500 is making his 20th start after a two-year absence. Seven top-10 finishes here, the last a third in 1993. Has 18 victories in 554 career starts. Last full season was 1999. Driving for James Finch.

36. (49) Shawna Robinson, 37, Des Moines, Iowa, Dodge.
Second woman to race in the Daytona 500 and first since Janet Guthrie in 1977. Competing for 2001 Rookie of the Year. Took time off from racing career to have two children. Made Winston Cup debut at Michigan last year and finished 34th in her only start. Driving for BAM Racing.

37. (2) Rusty Wallace, 46, St. Louis, Ford.
Has eight top-10 finishes in 19 Daytona 500s, including career best of third last year. Has 54 career victories, second among active drivers to Jeff Gordon. Won once in 2001. Rookie of Year in 1984 and series champion in 1989. In 11th season driving for Roger Penske.

38. (10) Johnny Benson, 38, Grand Rapids, Mich., Pontiac.
The 1996 Rookie of the Year after winning the Busch title previous season. Best finish of 12th in five previous Daytona 500s. Finished 28th here last year. Winless in 197 Winston Cup starts. Drives for MBV Motorsports.

39. (6) Mark Martin, 43, Batesville, Ark., Ford.
Making 18th Daytona 500 appearance, with best finish of third in 1995. Finished 33rd here last year. Has 32 career victories, but none in 2001. Twelfth-place finish in points was first time in 13 years he has not been in top 10. In 14th season driving for Roush Racing.

40. (17) Matt Kenseth, 29, Cambridge, Wis., Ford.
Rookie of Year in 2000 makes third start in race after 10th-place finish in 2000 and 21st last year. Has one Winston Cup victory in two seasons since successful Busch career. Drives car co-owned by Mark Martin and Jack Roush.

41. (21) Elliott Sadler, 26, Emporia, Va., Ford.
Making fourth Daytona 500 appearance, coming off best finish of 18th last year. Had first career win in 2001 and finished career-best 20th in points. Former Busch series ace with two victories on that circuit. Starting fourth season driving for Wood Brothers.

42. (77) Dave Blaney, 39, Sharon, Pa., Ford.
Making third start in Daytona 500 after finishing 42nd last season. Best finish for former Busch series driver in second season was sixth. Finished career-best 22nd in points last year while driving for Bill Davis Racing. Making first start for Doug Bawel.

43. (32) Ricky Craven, 35, Newburgh, Maine, Ford.
The 1995 Rookie of the Year earned his only career win last year in Martinsville, Va. Came back from serious head injury in 1998. Now has 11 career top-five finishes, including third in 1997 Daytona 500. Finished 23rd here last year in first start for Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports and sixth Daytona 500.