Daytona 500 starting lineup in pictures

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

For the second straight year, Chase Elliott will lead the field to the green flag. This also marks three consecutive Daytona 500s where the No. 24 Hendrick team earned pole position. The last time that was done? Well, it happened to be the No. 25 Hendrick team of Ken Schrader between 1988 and 1990.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

In his first race back since being sidelined last July, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the outside of the front row. Earnhardt is a two-time Daytona 500 winner and has 17 total victories at the speedway.

Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

The 2010 Daytona 500 winner will enjoy his best starting position ever for the 500 on Sunday. And here's a strange fact -- that 2010 victory is his only top ten finish in 14 starts in this race.

The defending winner of the race will hope to defend his title from the outside of Row 2, a position he earned from winning his Duel race Thursday night.

Harvick's sole 500 win came ten years ago in one of the most spectacular finishes to date, narrowly edging Mark Martin at the line as a massive wreck ensued behind them. This Sunday will also mark Harvick's first ever Cup race behind the wheel of a Ford.

Bowyer takes over the wheel of the No. 14 machine from the recently retired Tony Stewart. In 12 starts, Bowyer has yet to win this race, but that could change with help from Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017.

Along with Penske teammate Joey Logano, Keselowski has been picked by several competitors as the favorite to win this year's 500. He's never done it before, but he did win the July Daytona race in 2016.

15 Daytona 500 starts, three runner-up finishes, but still no trophy for Kurt Busch. Few drivers have been trying for as long as the elder Busch, who is always a threat here.

Kenseth won the 500 in both 2009 and 2012, and was a few hundred yards away from a third win just last year until his teammate got in the way. With 17 Daytona 500s under his belt, you can't count out this experienced driver.

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

To the surprise of many, Dillon owns the title of best average finish at Daytona among active drivers, and yes, that includes when he finished seventh as his car was hurled into the catch-fence. Dillon also earned pole for this race in his rookie season back in 2014.

Bayne has just one Cup win, which came in this very race back in 2011. After that upset victory with the Wood Brothers, Bayne has struggled to find the same success in the Roush Fenway No. 6, but he did show promise in his Duel race.

Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Danica is entering her fifth full-time season at the Cup level and is still looking for her first top five finish in an official race. However, Speedweeks 2017 has been kind to the lone female driver in the field, finishing fourth in the Clash and sixth in her Duel race.

Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

The driver of the famed No. 43 has won at Daytona in the Xfinity Series, has won the July Cup race, but the 500 has never been kind to the Florida-native.

Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

The 2008 Daytona 500 winner hasn't been to Victory Lane since the 2013 Brickyard 400. His results in the 500 are all over the board, but it seems if he can just make it to the finish unscathed, he'll usually be near the front.

The 2015 Daytona 500 winner has a strong car under him this year, winning the Clash last weekend. And with a fresh new contract that locks him in with Penske through 2022 and beyond, you know he wants to perform for the 'Captain.'

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Larson has only finished inside the top 30 in one of his three Daytona 500 starts, scoring a seventh-place result just last year.

A surprise up in the top 20 is the TriStar Ford of Cole Whitt, a new Cup team for 2017. For Whitt, this is his career-best start in 'The Great American Race.'

Ty Dillon takes over the No. 13 machine from Casey Mears for 2017 in his first full-time Cup ride, making his third appearance in the 500.

The reigning Xfinity Series champion has been thrown to the wolves after the shock retirement of Carl Edwards. The Mexican driver will be making his Cup debut in this race on Sunday, trying to become just the second foreign-born racer to win the Daytona 500.

Ragan has never won the 500, but he has won at Daytona. And now that Front Row has some added resources for 2017, maybe they'll pull off another plate race upset, much like they did with this very driver at Talladega in 2013.

Much like his brother Kurt, the Daytona 500 trophy has eluded Kyle his entire career, earning his best finish in this event in 2016 (3rd).

Michael McDowell, Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet

McDowell has never been with a top team for the 500, but he has posted a couple impressive results for the little guys, including a top ten back in 2013.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Stenhouse is still searching for his first Cup win after four full seasons at the top level. He heads into this race with back-to-back top fives in the latter two plate races in 2016, so maybe that win will come on Sunday. He also led final practice on Saturday.

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Seven-time is looking for his third Daytona 500 win this weekend, but he'll have to do it from the back. After crashing in his Duel race, the No. 48 team was forced to go to the backup car.

DiBenedetto has just one previous start in the Daytona 500 and he finished last, so there's a high probability that he will improve on that result in 2017. He also has a new ride, taking over the car usually driven by Bobby Labonte in the Daytona 500, who is not competing in the race for the first time since 1992.

Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Kahne has been the quiet Hendrick driver this week, staying out of trouble and out of the headlines. With a winless streak that dates back to 2014, he desperately needs to win again soon. What better place than Daytona?

Landon Cassill, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Cassill is still with Front Row, but he has switched cars for 2017, now behind the wheel of the No. 34. The young driver has yet to score a top ten in four Daytona 500 starts, finishing as high as 12th in 2014.

D.J. Kennington, Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota

The two-time Pinty's Series champion from Canada is making his Daytona 500 debut this weekend and in doing so, he will become the first Canadian driver in the race in 29 years.

Gase is another driver making his Daytona 500 debut after joining BK Racing for 2017.

Michael Waltrip, Premium Motorsports Toyota

Waltrip is making his 30th and final Daytona 500 appearance in the 59th annual running of the event, having won the race in both 2001 and 2003.

LaJoie made the race in controversial fashion after colliding with Reed Sorenson, the guy he was racing against to make the big show. He is another driver making his debut in the 500, 22 years after his father Randy made his one and only start in the race.

Jeffrey Earnhardt, Circle Sport The Motorsports Group Chevrolet

For the first time in a long time, there are two Earnhardts in the Daytona 500. Dale Jr.'s nephew Jeffrey is making his first ever appearance in the race his uncle and grandfather have famously won.

Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Menard is also in a backup car for the 500 and will be sent to the rear, making his tenth start in the race.

Rookie Erik Jones sustained damage in his Duel race, but the team has opted to repair the car instead of go to the backup. This is an all new team for Furniture Row Racing as they expand to a two-car operation for 2017.

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota

Truex, who narrowly lost the 2016 Daytona 500 in a photo finish, was disqualified from his Duel race after failing the heights in post-race inspection.

Blaney is in a backup car for the 500 after a strong showing in his Duel race ended in calamity. He'll be in the back, but there's no doubt he'll have a strong car under him, driving for a team that's won this race five times.

Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

JTG expanded during the offseason, creating a second team with Buescher behind the wheel. He was also disqualified for failing heights in post-race inspection following the Duel races.

A.J. Allmendinger, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Allmendinger finished third in his Daytona 500 debut in 2009, but success at this mammoth speedway has eluded him since. He scored a top five in his Duel race, but like his new teammate, he was disqualified for failing heights in post-race inspection.

Brendan Gaughan, Beard Motorsports Chevrolet

Bringing up the inside of the last row is this veteran driver and although he's been around for quite a while, this is just his second start in the 500. His first came all the way back in 2004 where he finished 19th.

Elliott Sadler, Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet

In the 40th and final position, we have a driver who is no stranger to the Daytona 500, having competed in this race 13 times between 1999 and 2012. Sadler's best result came in 2002 when he finished one position short of victory after starting 41st.