| Teams 1981 Daytona 500 |
|---|
| No. | Team | Driver | Mfg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellington Racing | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile |
| 2 | Osterlund Racing | Dale Earnhardt | Pontiac |
| 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Richard Childress | Pontiac |
| 7 | Nelson Malloch Racing | Bruce Hill | Buick |
| 9 | Elliott Racing | Bill Elliott | Ford |
| 11 | Junior Johnson and Associates | Darrell Waltrip | Buick |
| 12 | Kenny Childers Racing | Donnie Allison | Oldsmobile |
| 15 | Bud Moore Engineering | Benny Parsons | Ford |
| 16 | Halpern Enterprises | David Pearson | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Hamby Racing | Glenn Jarrett | Buick |
| 19 | Henley Gray Racing | Ronnie Sanders | Buick |
| 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Neil Bonnett | Ford |
| 22 | Mach 1 Racing | Stan Barrett | Pontiac |
| 23 | Bahari Racing | Geoffrey Bodine | Pontiac |
| 24 | Gordon Racing | Cecil Gordon | Buick |
| 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas | Pontiac |
| 27 | M.C. Anderson Racing | Cale Yarborough | Oldsmobile |
| 28 | Ranier Racing with MDM | Bobby Allison | Pontiac |
| 31 | Billie Harvey | Billie Harvey | Pontiac |
| 37 | Rogers Racing | Don Sprouse | Oldsmobile |
| 39 | Wangerin Racing | Blackie Wangerin | Ford |
| 41 | Billy Matthews Racing | Dick Brooks | Buick |
| 42 | Petty Enterprises | Kyle Petty | Buick |
| 43 | Petty Enterprises | Richard Petty | Buick |
| 44 | Hagan Racing | Terry Labonte | Buick |
| 47 | Race Hill Farms Racing | Harry Gant | Buick |
| 48 | Hylton Engineering | James Hylton | Pontiac |
| 51 | Gilmore-Foyt Racing | A.J. Foyt | Oldsmobile |
| 52 | Jimmy Means Racing | Jimmy Means | Pontiac |
| 57 | RahMoc Entrprises | Bill Elswick | Oldsmobile |
| 64 | Langley Racing | Tommy Gale | Ford |
| 67 | Arrington Racing | Buddy Arrington | Dodge |
| 68 | Testa Racing | Lennie Pond | Buick |
| 70 | McDuffie Racing | J.D. McDuffie | Pontiac |
| 71 | Marcis Auto Racing | Dave Marcis | Oldsmobile |
| 75 | RahMoc Entrprises | Joe Millikan | Buick |
| 86 | Howard & Egerton Racing | Elliott Forbes-Robin | Buick |
| 88 | DiGard Racing | Ricky Rudd | Oldsmobile |
| 90 | Donlavey Racing | Jody Ridley | Ford |
| 93 | Scott Smith | Don Whittington | Oldsmobile |
| 98 | Benfield Racing | Johnny Rutherford | Pontiac |
| 99 | US Racing | Tim Richmond | Buick |