Mike Wallace will look to become the second-oldest driver to compete in the Daytona 500 when he drives for MBM Motorsports in February.
The team announced plans Thursday to enter Wallace in the Daytona 500. MBM Motorsports last competed in the Daytona 500 in 2020. Timmy Hill finished 27th in that race. The team failed to qualify for the 500m in 2021 and 2022 and has not competed in the event for the past two years.
The team has no charter and will be among those competing for four open spots in the 40-car field. Martin Truex Jr. previously said he would return to race the Daytona 500. He would be in a non-charter car. Live Fast Motorsports previously announced it would enter the unchartered No. 78 car in the Daytona 500.
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Wallace, the younger brother of NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace and older brother of Kenny Wallace, is 65 years old.
The oldest driver to compete in the Daytona 500 is Mark Thompson. He was 66 when he competed in the 2018 Daytona 500. Thompson finished 22nd in that race, the last of his three career Cup starts.
Mike Wallace has 197 Cup starts – his last series start came in the 2015 Daytona 500. He has 497 Xfinity starts and 115 Truck starts. He won the 2000 Truck Race at Daytona and the summer 2004 Xfinity race.
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“I am very excited to team up with Carl Long and the entire MBM Motorsports team, with the support of Doug Yates, for a return trip to the Daytona 500 after being away for a few years,” Wallace said in a statement from the team. “I just can’t wait to work with Carl again during the first practice laps at the World Center of Speed, Daytona International Speedway. I say it that way because of the immense honor and respect I have for Daytona, and all the pride and prestige it brings to me and my team as a winner here.
“Luckily, I won the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona, so my name is etched in the history books, with my Xfinity Series and ARCA victories at the Speedway.
“2024 has been a devastating year for me with the loss of Carla, my wife of 44 years, who passed away in January from cancer. 2025 brings new excitement, starting with this announcement of the Daytona 500. They say you have to compete in it to win it, and we’re coming to Daytona with the chance to compete and then race to win the Daytona 500.”
The Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 16.
