DRIVER: Ryan Preece
BORN: Oct. 25, 1990
HOMETOWN: Hartford, Connecticut
NOTEWORTHY: Made five Cup starts last season. Takes over for AJ Allmendinger in the 47. Candidate for NASCAR rookie of the year.
DRIVER: Daniel Hemric
BORN: Jan. 27, 1991
HOMETOWN: Kannapolis, North Carolina
NOTEWORTHY: Made two starts for RCR last season. First driver to race the No. 8 since Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hails from same hometown as the Earnhardts.
DRIVER: Matt Tifft
BORN: June 26, 1996
HOMETOWN: Hinckley, Ohio
NOTEWORTHY: Cup rookie missed part of the 2016 season after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was discovered during treatment for a back injury. Returned to racing 11 weeks after the tumor was removed. Has since become a spokesman for the National Brain Tumor Society. Raced full time in the Xfinity Series the last two years.
DRIVER: Ross Chastain
BORN: Dec. 4, 1992
HOMETOWN: Alva, Florida
CREW CHIEF: Peter Sospenzo
NOTEWORTHY: Eight-generation watermelon farmer making Daytona 500 debut. Landed sponsorship to race in Xfinity Series this season, but FBI raid on that company derailed his plans. He's now cobbled together races across all three national series.