Phoenix Racing
This was the first Daytona 500 since 1992 and 1998 in not featuring 3-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Gordon retired at the end of 2015 and called the 2016 race from the commentators to stand, and Stewart was injured his back while riding a dune buggy outside of San Diego. Also, this was the last Daytona 500 starts for Bobby Labonte, Robert Richardson Jr., Michael Annett, Brian Vickers, HScott Motorsports, Carl Edwards, and Greg Biffle.