| Teams 1981 Carolina 500 |
|---|
| No. | Team | Driver | Mfg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellington Racing | Buddy Baker | Oldsmobile |
| 2 | Osterlund Racing | Dale Earnhardt | Pontiac |
| 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Richard Childress | Pontiac |
| 5 | Cliff Stewart Racing | Morgan Shepherd | Pontiac |
| 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 | Chevrolet |
| 20 | Newsom Racing | Rick Newsom | Chevrolet |
| 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Neil Bonnett | Ford |
| 22 | Mach 1 Racing | Stan Barrett | Pontiac |
| 24 | Gordon Racing | Cecil Gordon | Buick |
| 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas | Pontiac |
| 27 | M.C. Anderson Racing | Cale Yarborough | Buick |
| 28 | Ranier Racing with MDM | Bobby Allison | Pontiac |
| 37 | Rogers Racing | Mike Alexander | Oldsmobile |
| 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 |
| 52 | Jimmy Means Racing | Jimmy Means | Pontiac |
| 53 | J.D. Johnson | Slick Johnson | Chevrolet |
| 62 | Wilson Racing | Rick Wilson | Oldsmobile |
| 64 | Langley Racing | Tommy Gale | Ford |
| 66 | Lake Speed Racing | Lake Speed | Buick |
| 67 | Arrington Racing | Buddy Arrington | Dodge |
| 70 | McDuffie Racing | J.D. McDuffie | Pontiac |
| 71 | Marcis Auto Racing | Dave Marcis | Dodge |
| 75 | RahMoc Entrprises | Joe Millikan | Chevrolet |
| 79 | Miller Racing | Jody Ridley | Oldsmobile |
| 86 | Howard & Egerton Racing | Elliott Forbes-Robin | Buick |
| 88 | DiGard Racing | Ricky Rudd | Oldsmobile |
| 94 | Wawak Racing | Bobby Wawak | Buick |
| 98 | Benfield Racing | Johnny Rutherford | Pontiac |
| 99 | US Racing | Tim Richmond | Buick |