Mike Wallace has been denied approval by NASCAR to compete in the 2025 Daytona 500 with MBM Motorsports, citing his extended period of inactivity in the sport.

NASCAR's decision was based primarily on Wallace's recent activity and performance record. His last NASCAR national series appearance was in 2020, when he competed in three Xfinity Series road course races. His most recent race on a major track was at the 2015 Daytona Cup Series.

Wallace expressed shock at the decision on Facebook, stating that NASCAR President had previously indicated his participation would be approved. However, NASCAR clarified they have only denied Wallace for Cup Series activity, with no requests made for Xfinity Series or Craftsman Truck Series participation.

MBM Motorsports confirmed the news, expressing disappointment given Wallace's experience, which includes eleven previous Daytona 500 starts and several superspeedway wins. The team is now searching for a new funded driver for the 2025 Daytona 500.

Wallace's NASCAR career includes notable achievements such as a fourth-place finish in the 2007 Daytona 500 while driving for James Finch. He has accumulated five top-10 finishes in 19 starts at Daytona and has made 809 national series starts throughout his career.

The 65-year-old driver would have needed to qualify for the Daytona 500 field with MBM Motorsports. While this opportunity won't materialize, NASCAR indicated Wallace could go through their process to potentially receive approval for 2026.

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