Veteran NASCAR driver Mike Wallace was all set and geared up to attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 race after almost a decade. The 65-year-old driver teamed up with MBM Motorsports and secured sponsorship for the mega NASCAR event. While there were discussions about his age and lack of racing in the past, he looked ready to make a heroic comeback.

But a call from NASCAR’s SVP Elton Sawyer foiled this dream run as Wallace was disqualified from the Great American Race. A lack of seat time in a Cup car at intermediate and superspeedway tracks was the reason cited by NASCAR for reaching this conclusion. His last NASCAR race was in 2020 in the Xfinity Series, and all of those were on the road course. In response to this development, Mike Wallace posted an update on his Facebook page. Although he was respectful towards the governing body initially, that stance seems to have changed with his latest revelation.

Mike Wallace opens up after the Daytona 500 heartbreak

Before NASCAR made a U-turn on their decision to allow Wallace to race, the driver had made all the necessary preparations for the big event. Right from securing sponsors and getting in shape by hitting the gym. Going by his admission, he got the go-ahead to attempt to qualify at Daytona by the upper management team. But after a long radio silence, he was informed last Thursday that his Daytona 500 run wasn’t approved.

“Well, I think it’s past heartbreaking; it’s devastating. It’s because I did what I knew, or thought was appropriate in getting the proper clearances and everything… I’m not going to pursue another entity. NASCAR has made their statement to me. They were totally disrespectful to me. They’re very disrespectful to Carl Long and his race team.” Mike Wallace said this in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

Wallace said he had spent $2,000 to have a seat mold poured so he would have a perfect fit inside the No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford. Not only that, he also made new purchases of a helmet and a firesuit to be in compliance with the safety regulations for the 2025 NASCAR season. On one hand, you had top brass of NASCAR like Steve Phelps congratulating Wallace, and on the other, Elton Sawyer’s team didn’t find the driver NASCAR race fit.

Top Comment by streetglide

I agree with Wallace NASCAR crossed the line this time. Discrimination against a Veterans age. Then give his...more

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There was indeed a huge discontent within the leadership group at NASCAR, and this wasn’t appreciated by Wallace. He was all in with his preparation and completed all the required tests he needed to clear at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I went over to the Charlotte Motor Speedway two weekends ago on Sunday. I had a 10:30 AM ET appointment per NASCAR’s requirements to do the health fair and did the drug test, did the eye test, and did the physical test… I was all-in, all-in. And they allowed me to pay those fees, the drug fees, the concussion fee that they charge to do those tests.”

A lot of fans who were rooting for Mike Wallace argued that Helio Castroneves being guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500 didn’t make sense. And it looks like the 65-year-old driver is also having a hard time understanding how NASCAR makes these judgment calls.

Does Helio Castroneves deserve a guaranteed spot to start the Daytona 500?

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NASCAR rolled out a ton of new changes before the start of the 2025 season. This package included a new rule called the Open Exemption Provisional (OEP), which aimed at attracting international racers. This rule would allow the field to stretch up to 41 entries on big races like the Daytona 500, the All-Star race, and the Brickyard 400. It was a guaranteed spot reserved only for open teams and drivers.

Trackhouse Racing brought back its No. 91 car and booked a slot for 4-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. Initially, it was known that the Brazilian driver would go through the qualifying rounds to secure a spot for the main event. But NASCAR announced that Trackhouse had used the OEP that would see Castroneves race alongside chartered entries if he wasn’t able to qualify through the duels.

Well, this new rule change is good for promoting the sport and inviting non-NASCAR drivers. But, with the current situation, it looks like veteran drivers are perhaps sidelined and not favored against the popular appeal. “In the same breath, they gave another person an honorary starting position in the Daytona 500. Guaranteed. Never been in one of these cars in their life. Incredible person, with incredible talent, but created an all-new provisional.” Wallace added further.

Well, NASCAR certainly has gotten itself in trouble with this new controversy, and once again this controversy stems from a rule that they brought into play recently.