Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Posted: Sun February 15, 1998 at 4:15 AM ET

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA (CNN/SI) - Capsules of the 43 starters in Sunday's $7 million Daytona 500 NASCAR Winston Cup stock car race, in starting order with car number in parentheses, age, hometown, make of car and biographical information:

1. (18) Bobby Labonte, 33, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pontiac. Making sixth Daytona 500 start. Younger brother of Terry Labonte. Had one victory in 1997, and five for Winston Cup career in 157 starts. Has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing since 1995. Was 21st in 1997.

2. (5) Terry Labonte, 41, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chevrolet. Was Winston Cup champion in 1984 and 1996. Has 11 top-10 finishes in 19 Daytona 500 starts, and 19 Winston Cup victories. Last year was second in race for third time. In fifth year with Hendrick Motorsports.

3. (4) Sterling Marlin, 40, Columbia, Tennessee, Chevrolet. Won Daytona 500 in 1994-95. Rookie of the Year in 1983, son of former NASCAR star Coo Coo Marlin. Victory at Daytona in 1994 was first of six in his career. In first season with Team Sabco after four with Morgan-McClure Racing. Was fifth in 1997.

4. (3) Dale Earnhardt, 46, Kannapolis, North Carolina, Chevrolet. Seven-time Winston Cup champion. Winner of a record 29 events at Daytona International Speedway, but has not won 500 in 19 tries. Has 70 career victories, but is riding 59-race losing streak. Drives for Richard Childress Racing. Was 31st last year.

5. (88) Dale Jarrett, 41, Hickory, North Carolina, Ford. Won Daytona 500 in 1993 and 1996. Making 10th start in race. Son of two-time series champion Ned Jarrett has 15 career victories, including career-best seven in 1997. In fourth year with Robert Yates Racing. Was 23rd in 1997.

6. (21) Michael Waltrip, 34, Owensboro, Kentucky, Ford. Has three top-10 finishes in 11 Daytona 500s. Winless in 362 career starts, with a second in 1988 his best finish. Younger brother of Darrell Waltrip. Starting third season with Wood Brothers. Was 32nd in 1997.

7. (23) Jimmy Spencer, 41, Berwick, Pennsylvania, Ford. Finished 35th in 1997 in sixth run at Daytona 500. Has two career victories - including the 1994 Pepsi 500 at Daytona - and one pole in 235 career starts. Drives for Travis Carter. Was 35th in 1997.

8. (31) Mike Skinner, 40, Susanville, California, Chevrolet. Became just third rookie in history to win Daytona 500 pole last year, and finished 12th in race. Was 1997 Winston Cup Rookie of Year. Seeking his first victory in second season with Richard Childress Racing.

9. (22) Ward Burton, 36, South Boston, Virginia, Pontiac. Making fourth Daytona 500 start. Has one victory - three seasons ago at Rockingham - in 113 career starts. Finished second to younger brother Jeff in 1994 Rookie of Year competition. Drives for Bill Davis Racing for fourth year. Was eighth in 1997.

10. (36) Ernie Irvan, 39, Salinas, California, Pontiac. Winner of 1991 Daytona 500. Has 15 career victories on Winston Cup circuit. Joined Nelson Bowers' race team this season after 4 1/2 years with Robert Yates Racing. Missed part of 1994 - and most of '95 - after sustaining near-fatal head injury. Was 20th in 1997.

11. (30) Derrike Cope, 39, Spanaway, Washington, Pontiac. Won 1990 Daytona 500 in one of the biggest upsets in stock car racing history - one of two victories that season, only ones of career. Making 10th start in race. Drives for first time for Bahari Racing. Was 36th in 1997.

12. (2) Rusty Wallace, 41, St. Louis, Ford. Has four top-10 finishes in 15 Daytona 500s. Has 47 career victories and 18 poles in 425 career starts. Was Rookie of Year in 1984 and series champion in 1989. Oldest of three racing brothers on NASCAR circuit. In eighth season with Penske South Racing. Was 41st in 1997.

13. (12) Jeremy Mayfield, 28, Owensboro, Kentucky, Ford. Was sixth last year for best Daytona 500 finish in four starts. Has five top-five finishes, but is winless in 110 Winston Cup starts. Teammate to Rusty Wallace after merger between Penske and Michael Kranefuss.

14. (99) Jeff Burton, 31, South Boston, Virginia, Ford. Was 11th last year in fourth Daytona 500 try. Rookie of the Year in 1994, broke through for first victory by winning inaugural race at Texas before winning at Loudon and Martinsville. In third season driving for Roush Racing.

15. (6) Mark Martin, 39, Batesville, Arkansas, Ford. Finished seventh last year in 13th Daytona 500 appearance. Best career is third in 1995. Third in series standings last year. Has finished in top-10 in points nine years in a row. Has 22 career victories. In 11th year with Roush Racing.

16. (9) Lake Speed, 50, Jackson, Mississippi, Ford. Finished second in 1985 Daytona 500 for only top-10 in 14 starts. Only Winston Cup victory was at Darlington in 1988. Has 16 top-fives and 75 top-10s in 386 career starts. Was 1978 World Karting Champion. Drives for Harry Melling. Was 24th in 1997.

17. (43) John Andretti, 34, Indianapolis, Pontiac. Making fifth Daytona 500 start. Won 24-hour sports car race at Daytona in 1989 and got first Winston Cup victory on track last July in Pepsi 400 in 110th career start. Nephew of racing great Mario Andretti. First season driving for Petty Enterprises. Was 25th in 1997.

18. (95) Andy Hillenburg, 34, Indianapolis, Chevrolet. Making first Daytona 500 start in car owned by Check Sadler, but has two victories at Daytona in ARCA races. Was ACRA champion in only full season on circuit, in 1995, when he opened with victory at Daytona.

19. (94) Bill Elliott, 42, Dawsonville, Georgia, Ford. The 1988 Winston Cup champion won the Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1987, has three poles for the race and 11 top-10 finishes in 17 starts. Has 40 career victories - but none since 1994 - and 49 poles. Fourth season as owner-driver. Was fourth in 1997.

20. (91) Kevin Lepage, 35, Shellburne, Vermont, Chevrolet. Rookie of Year candidate in move up from Busch Series. Had one victory - two seasons ago - on NASCAR's second-biggest circuit, and 22 top-10 finishes in 99 career BGN races. Drives for Joe Falk.

21. (97) Chad Little, 35, Spokane, Washington, Ford. Making seventh start in Daytona 500, with best finish 14th in 1991. Winless is 123 career starts. Finished 36th in points last year. Added to Roush Racing this season after his car was purchased from Mark Rypien. Did not compete in 1997 race.

22. (4) Bobby Hamilton, 40, Nashville, Tennessee, Chevrolet. Has two career victories, including one last year. Making 201st start, eighth in Daytona 500, with best finish 10th in 1991, when he was Winston Cup Rookie of Year. In first season driving for Morgan-McClure Racing. Was 15th in 1997.

23. (73) Mike Wallace, 38, St. Louis, Chevrolet. Making third start in Daytona 500. Finished 39th in 1995 for Junie Donlavey and 38th in 1996. Has raced in Winston Cup, BGN and trucks on NASCAR circuit. Younger brother of Rusty Wallace. Drives for Phil Barkdoll. Did not compete in 1997 race.

24. (98) Greg Sacks, 41, Matituck, New York, Ford. Making 10th start in Daytona 500. Finished sixth in both 1985 and 1994. Only victory in 251 previous Winston Cup starts came in Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 1994. In first season driving for Cale Yarborough. Was 37th in 1997.

25. (7) Geoff Bodine, 48, Chemung, New York, Ford. Won 1986 Daytona 500, one of seven top-10 finishes in 18 starts. Has 18 victories and 375 poles in 472 Winston Cup races. Was Rookie of Year in 1982. Starting fifth full season as owner-driver. Eldest of three racing Bodine brothers. Was 34th in 1997.

26. (13) Jerry Nadeau, 27, Danbury, Connecticut, Ford. Rookie of Year candidate who made five starts last season. Was top rookie in Skip Barber Pro Series after winning eight races in 1991. Drives for team co-owned by Bill Elliott and Dan Marino. Did not compete in 1997 race.

27. (27) Rick Mast, 40, Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, Ford. Seeking first career victory in 246th start. Two top-10s in seven previous Daytona 500s, with best finish a fourth in 1991. Also finished sixth in 1989 debut. In second season as driver for Butch Mock. Did not compete in 1997 race.

28. (42) Joe Nemechek, 34, Naples, Florida, Chevrolet. Making fourth Daytona 500 start and 123rd of career. Former Busch Series champ and Rookie of Year still looking for first Winston Cup victory. Earned nickname 'Front Row Joe' for qualifying there five times in 1997. Drives for Sabco Racing. Was 27th in 1997.

29. (24) Jeff Gordon, 26, Pittsboro, Indiana, Chevrolet. Defending Daytona 500 champion, making sixth start in race. Won second Winston Cup championship last year. Was series' top rookie in 1993. Led circuit in victories in each of last three seasons. Has 29 career victories for Hendrick Motorsports.

30. (77) Robert Pressley, 38, Asheville, North Carolina, Ford. Second in the 1995 Rookie of the Year competition, but winless in 78 starts. Best career finish was fourth in 1996. Making third start in Daytona 500. Beginning first full season driving for Doug Bawel. Was 39th in 1997.

31. (33) Ken Schrader, 42, Fenton, Missouri, Chevrolet. Three-time Daytona 500 pole-winner has six top-10 finishes in 12 starts, finishing second in 1989. Has four career victories, but none since 1991. Was 1985 Rookie of the Year. In second year driving for Andy Petree. Was 33rd in 1997.

32. (41) Ricky Craven, 31, Newburgh, Maine, Chevrolet. Was 1995 Rookie of the Year. Making 94th career start, fourth in Daytona 500. Had four top-five finishes last year, including third in Daytona 500 behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte.

33. (1) Steve Park, 30, East Northport, New York, Chevrolet. Moves up from Busch Series, where he was top rookie last year while winning three races. Drove in five races last season. Drives for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is making full-time this season as Winston Cup team.

34. (90) Dick Trickle, 56, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Ford. One top-10 finish in 12 Daytona 500 starts. Long-time short track star has more than 600 feature victories. Rookie of the Year in 1989. Winless in 252 Winston Cup starts with one pole. In second year driving for Junie Donlavey. Was 30th in 1997.

35. (71) Dave Marcis, 56, Wausau, Wisconsin, Chevrolet. Making 31st start in Daytona 500, extending record he set in 1996. Has finished in top-10 twice. Has five victories - but none since 1982 - in 712 starts. Has driven own car for most part since 1968. Was 17th in 1997.

36. (47) Billy Standridge, 44, Shelby, North Carolina Ford. Occasional competitor on Winston Cup circuit over last four seasons. Making debut in Daytona 500, but has driven once at track, finishing 40th in 1997 Pepsi 400. Drives for Team Fans Can Race in own car.

37. (16) Ted Musgrave, 42, Franklin, Wisconsin, Ford. Seventh-place finish in 1995 Daytona 500 one of three top-10s in seven tries. Winless with five poles in 216 career starts. Teammates are Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Chad Little and Johnny Benson with Roush Racing. Was 13th in 1997.

38. (28) Kenny Irwin, 28, Indianapolis, Ford. Top rookie candidate was open-wheel star before moving to NASCAR Truck series, where he was rookie of Year in 1997. Made four starts last season in Winston Cup. Drives for Robert Yates Racing as teammate to Dale Jarrett.

39. (44) Kyle Petty, 37, Randleman, North Carolina, Pontiac. Won Daytona 500 pole in 1993, but has only one top-10 finish - sixth in 1992 - in 16 starts. Only third-generation Winston Cup racer, following grandfather Lee and father Richard. Has eight Winston Cup victories. Second year as owner-driver. Was 14th in 1997.

40. (10) Ricky Rudd, 41, Chesapeake, Virginia, Ford. Has four top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 20 Daytona 500 starts. Best finish was third in 1981. Has 19 career victories, including at least one in each of last 15 seasons. Rookie of the Year in 1977. Drives his own car for fifth year. Was ninth in 1997.

41. (41) Steve Grissom, 34, Gadsden, Alabama, Chevrolet. Making fourth Daytona 500 start, finished seventh in debut in 1995. Started second last year, but crashed and wound up 40th. Winless in 103 Winston Cup starts, including 31 last year for Larry Hedrick. Was 40th in 1997.

42. (11) Brett Bodine, 39, Chemung, New York, Ford. Making 11th Daytona 500 start with best finish eighth in 1989. Only victory in 312 Winston Cup starts came at North Wilkesboro in 1990. Younger brother of Geoff Bodine, is in third season as owner-driver. Was 18th in 1997.

43. (17) Darrell Waltrip, 51, Franklin, Tennessee, Chevrolet. Won Daytona 500 in 1989, and will be making 26th start in race. Three-time Winston Cup champion is tied for third with 84 career victories, but is winless since 1992. Entering eighth year as owner-driver. Was 10th in 1997.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.