Mike Wallace, a winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series, will be returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, attempting the Daytona 500.
The 65-year-old driver will compete for MBM Motorsports in the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, as he attempts to be one of the four unchartered entries to lock into “The Great American Race”.
“I am very excited to be teamed up with Carl Long and the complete MBM Motorsports team, along with Doug Yates’ support, for a return trip to the Daytona 500 after being away for a few years,” said Wallace.
A long-time competitor in NASCAR’s National Series, Wallace last drove at NASCAR’s top-level in the 2015 Daytona 500, driving the No. 66 Toyota for Identity Ventures Racing. Wallace attempted a pair of NASCAR Cup Series events in the weeks that followed but failed to qualify.
“I just can’t wait to work with Carl again in the first laps of practice at the World Center of Speed, Daytona International Speedway. I say it that way out of the enormous honor and respect I have for Daytona, along with all the pride and prestige it brings to myself and my team as a winner here. Fortunately, I did win the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona, so my name is etched in the history books, along with my Xfinity Series and ARCA wins at the Speedway.”
In 2020, Wallace made a return to NASCAR National Series competition, competing in three Xfinity Series road course events for JD Motorsports, collecting a best finish of 24th.
“2024 was a devastating year for me with the loss of Carla, my wife of 44 years, who passed away in January from a battle with cancer. 2025 brings fresh excitement, starting with this Daytona 500 announcement. They say you have to be in it to win it, and we are rolling into Daytona with the chance to both be a part of and then race to win the Daytona 500.”
Carl Long, owner of MBM Motorsports, gave some insight into the process of selecting Wallace as their driver for the 2025 Daytona 500.
“When we completed Martinsville at the end of 2024, we started the process of tearing the car down and rebuilding it back as our superspeedway car. We made the jump in November to sign the Yates engine contract for the (Daytona) 500 without knowing with any certainty exactly how it would all come together.”
“I watched Mike have a lot of success at superspeedways. I brought him into the JGL Racing Xfinity Series team I helped to build, where we worked together as teammates. As a driver, I know Daytona requires a great amount of mental skill to succeed. Mike has always been one of the best plate racers, and the skill set he brings makes him the best choice among drivers to be able to race our way into the Daytona 500,” said Long.
Coble Enterprises will jump on-board as an associate sponsor for the entry, but as of now, the team is still looking for primary sponsorship for the season-opening event.
The 2025 Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 PM ET. Coverage of the event will take place on FOX.
