| Teams 1981 American 500 |
|---|
| No. | Team | Driver | Mfg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellington Racing | Buddy Baker | Buick |
| 2 | Jim Stacy Racing | Joe Ruttman | Pontiac |
| 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Dale Earnhardt | Pontiac |
| 5 | Cliff Stewart Racing | Joe Millikan | Pontiac |
| 9 | Elliott Racing | Bill Elliott | Ford |
| 11 | Junior Johnson and Associates | Darrell Waltrip | Buick |
| 13 | Bobby Hawkins Racing | Dick Brooks | Ford |
| 15 | Bud Moore Engineering | Benny Parsons | Ford |
| 16 | Bown Racing | Chuck Bown | Buick |
| 17 | Hamby Racing | John Anderson | Buick |
| 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Neil Bonnett | Ford |
| 24 | Gordon Racing | Cecil Gordon | Buick |
| 27 | M.C. Anderson Racing | Cale Yarborough | Buick |
| 28 | Ranier Racing with MDM | Bobby Allison | Buick |
| 33 | Mach 1 Racing | Harry Gant | Pontiac |
| 37 | Rogers Racing | Tim Richmond | Buick |
| 40 | US Racing | Don Hume | Buick |
| 42 | Petty Enterprises | Kyle Petty | Buick |
| 43 | Petty Enterprises | Richard Petty | Buick |
| 44 | Hagan Racing | Terry Labonte | Buick |
| 47 | Race Hill Farms Racing | Ron Bouchard | Buick |
| 48 | Hylton Engineering | James Hylton | Pontiac |
| 52 | Jimmy Means Racing | Jimmy Means | Pontiac |
| 64 | Langley Racing | Tommy Gale | Ford |
| 66 | Lake Speed Racing | Lake Speed | Oldsmobile |
| 67 | Arrington Racing | Buddy Arrington | Dodge |
| 68 | Lennie Pond | Lennie Pond | Buick |
| 70 | McDuffie Racing | J.D. McDuffie | Pontiac |
| 71 | Marcis Auto Racing | Dave Marcis | Chevrolet |
| 75 | RahMoc Entrprises | Gary Balough | Buick |
| 77 | Sanderson Racing | Dean Combs | Buick |
| 88 | DiGard Racing | Ricky Rudd | Chevrolet |
| 90 | Donlavey Racing | Jody Ridley | Ford |
| 92 | Fields Racing | Joe Fields | Buick |
| 96 | Benfield Racing | Morgan Shepherd | Buick |
| 98 | Benfield Racing | Johnny Rutherford | Buick |
| 99 | US Racing | D.K. Ulrich | Buick |