| Teams for 1981 American 500 |
|---|
| Car | Team | Driver | Mfg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoss Ellington | Buddy Baker |  |
| 2 | Jim Stacy | Joe Ruttman |  |
| 3 | Richard Childress | Dale Earnhardt | |
| 5 | Cliff Stewart | Joe Millikan | |
| 9 | George Elliott | Bill Elliott |  |
| 11 | Junior Johnson and Assoc. | Darrell Waltrip | |
| 13 | Bobby Hawkins Racing | Dick Brooks | |
| 15 | Bud Moore Engineering | Benny Parsons | |
| 16 | Bown Racing | Chuck Bown | |
| 17 | Roger Hamby | John Anderson | |
| 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Neil Bonnett | |
| 24 | Cecil Gordon | Cecil Gordon | |
| 27 | M.C. Anderson | Cale Yarborough | |
| 28 | Ranier Racing | Bobby Allison | |
| 33 | Hal Needham | Harry Gant | |
| 37 | Bob Rogers | Tim Richmond | |
| 40 | D.K. Ulrich | Don Hume | |
| 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 | |
| 77 | Irv Sanderson | Dean Combs | |
| 88 | DiGard Racing | Ricky Rudd | |
| 90 | Donlavey Racing | Jody Ridley | |
| 92 | Fields Racing | Joe Fields | |
| 96 | Benfield Racing | Morgan Shepherd | |
| 98 | Benfield Racing | Johnny Rutherford | |
| 99 | D.K. Ulrich | D.K. Ulrich | |
