The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series is set to roar to life with the Daytona 500. Known as ‘The Great American Race’, the event will take place on February 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Over the years, Daytona has produced countless iconic moments, which has given it a special place in the hearts of racing fans. Many young drivers just aspire to compete and win a race at this iconic track once.

However, as they say, “You are never too old to dream a new dream.” A veteran NASCAR driver is set to make a comeback in the Cup Series. Almost 10 years later, Mike Wallace will return to the pinnacle of stock car racing at Daytona. In a latest social media post he announced the key details of his upcoming racing adventure.

Mike Wallace defied the odds

The 65-year-old NASCAR driver Mike Wallace will return to the Cup Series on February 16. He’ll take the wheel of the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Motorsports Business Management (MBM Motorsports). With over 800 National Series starts Mike will aim to qualify as one of four unchartered entries in this prestigious race.

Mike expressed his excitement when he spoke about his comeback. “Well, I’m excited. Carl Long, who is a long-time racer, friend and car owner now, and I were talking right before Christmas, I mean literally on Christmas Eve and an opportunity came about that we both agreed upon and I’m going to drive his car for and his team MBM Motorsports in the Daytona 500,” Mike told his brother Kenny Wallace.

Wallace’s return to the Daytona 500 is nothing short of remarkable. His last Cup Series appearance was a decade ago, in 2015, when he competed in the same iconic event. Though he failed to qualify for the prestigious event he remained connected to NASCAR. He appeared in the Xfinity Series road course events in 2020.

Speaking about the motivation behind the comeback Mike recalled his wife Carla, who passed away last year. He said that 2024 was not good for the family and Daytona 500 gives a ray of hope to the family. Mike believes that this opportunity to drive in the iconic race would boost him and his kids.

“The big reason is, you know unfortunately in January 2024, I lost my wife Carla from being married 44 years. She had a bout with cancer. It wasn’t that fun in 2024, and this opportunity came about and me and my kids, we all needed a boost. We needed something that would say, OK, here’s a positive story for us, let’s go make it happen and this opportunity’s presented itself to run the Daytona 500,” Mike told his brother Kenny.

Notably, Mike Wallace made his NASCAR debut in 1990 with the No.40 Chevrolet. In his maiden Xfinity Series race at Martinsville, he finished sixth. Since then, he has been a consistent participant in the various races. Across the three NASCAR leagues, Mike has had more than 800 race starts, nine wins, 58 top 5s, and 136 top 10 finishes. In 1994 he won three races in the Xfinity Series marking it his best performance in a year.

MBM Motorsports aims to start 20 races

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Mike Wallace’s comeback to NASCAR is a part of MBM Motorsports’ plan to mark a massive presence in the league. In 2025, the team, owned by Carl Long, is looking to participate in 20 Cup Series races. Long has emphasized the team’s focus on balancing driver-based sponsorships with MBM’s resources to secure a competitive schedule.

In a recent social media post Long has revealed key details of MBM’s 2025 plan. According to Long team will rely on partnerships with drivers like Chad Finchum and Josh Bilicki, as well as a lease agreement with Roush-Yates Engines. While the team acknowledges its challenges in attracting top-tier sponsorships, it remains committed to building a strong presence in both the Cup and Truck series.

“We know the big money full season deals for Xfinity go to others, so we did Cup and Truck races last year to fill out our schedule. We ran in 15 or so Cup races last year and plan on about 20 this year… The races we want to run are a combination of driver-based sponsors and MBM sponsors. We expect the return of Josh Bilicki and Chad Finchum at a few races. Garrett Smithley, Timmy Hill, and David Starr also could be in the #66. We are speaking to others not mentioned as well,” Long mentioned in his social media post.

With the return of Mike Wallace as a driver MBM Motorsports will hope for the qualification in Daytona 500. The team will expect Wallace to put up a show and attract some sponsors for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Wallace will try to give a tribute to his late wife with a stellar performance.