| Teams for 1981 Southern 500 |
|---|
| Car | Team | Driver | Mfg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoss Ellington | David Pearson |  |
| 1 | Hoss Ellington | Buddy Baker | |
| 2 | Jim Stacy | Joe Ruttman |  |
| 3 | Richard Childress | Dale Earnhardt | |
| 4 | GC Spencer Racing | Connie Saylor |  |
| 5 | Cliff Stewart | Joe Millikan | |
| 8 | Norman Negre | Dick May |  |
| 9 | George Elliott | Bill Elliott |  |
| 11 | Junior Johnson and Assoc. | Darrell Waltrip | |
| 12 | Kenny Childers Racing | Tim Richmond | |
| 13 | Bobby Hawkins Racing | Jack Ingram | |
| 15 | Bud Moore Engineering | Benny Parsons | |
| 17 | Roger Hamby | Mike Potter | |
| 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Neil Bonnett | |
| 24 | Cecil Gordon | Morgan Shepherd | |
| 25 | Ronnie Thomas | Ronnie Thomas | |
| 27 | M.C. Anderson | Cale Yarborough | |
| 28 | Ranier Racing | Bobby Allison |  |
| 33 | Hal Needham | Harry Gant | |
| 36 | H.B. Bailey | H.B. Bailey | |
| 37 | Bob Rogers | Mike Alexander | |
| 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Slick Johnson | |
| 42 | Richard Petty | Kyle Petty | |
| 43 | Richard Petty | Richard Petty | |
| 44 | Hagan Racing | Terry Labonte | |
| 47 | Jack Beebe | Ron Bouchard | |
| 48 | James Hylton | James Hylton | |
| 52 | Jimmy Means | Jimmy Means | |
| 64 | Langley Racing | Tommy Gale | |
| 66 | Lake Speed Racing | Lake Speed | |
| 67 | Arrington Racing | Buddy Arrington | |
| 68 | Lennie Pond | Lennie Pond | |
| 70 | McDuffie Racing | J.D. McDuffie | |
| 71 | Marcis Auto Racing | Dave Marcis | |
| 75 | RahMoc Entrprises | Gary Balough | |
| 88 | DiGard Racing | Ricky Rudd | |
| 90 | Donlavey Racing | Jody Ridley | |
| 94 | Bobby Wawak | Bobby Wawak | |
| 98 | Benfield Racing | Johnny Rutherford | |
| 99 | D.K. Ulrich | D.K. Ulrich | |
