In the countdown to Daytona, there are now just 35 days left for the ‘Great American Race’. As the 2025 NASCAR season looms over the head, Carl Long, owner of MBM Motorsports, took to Facebook to deliver a bittersweet update that left fans both hopeful and heartbroken. While the team is making progress with its Cup Series efforts, Long’s post revealed the struggles that his team has been facing in fielding a car for the Xfinity Series opener at Daytona International Speedway.

MBM Motorsports chasing the sponsorship dollars for Daytona

The blood sweat tears and dollars that go into preparing a car is no joke, and who would know better than a team owner himself? Carl Long, the co-owner of MBM Motorsports, shared a candid post regarding their off-season struggle. However, MBM has confirmed that veteran Mike Wallace will be driving the MBM Motorsports’ Cup car at the Daytona 500.

With 20 races planned in the Cup Series this season, there’s definitely something for their fans to look forward to as they plan to broaden their Cup Series operations. “The good news is most followers know Mike Wallace will be driving for us at the Daytona 500 in Cup,” Long shared, confirming that the hard work his small team has poured into preparing for NASCAR’s biggest stage won’t go in vain.

Unfortunately, the Xfinity Series side of things tells a different story for MBM Motorsports. As for their Xfinity operations, the team had hoped to bring its cars to Daytona but fell short due to sponsorship hurdles. “My Xfinity speedway cars will not make the trip to Daytona, unless I lease one to a team needing a backup,” Long revealed, highlighting the financial and logistical pressures which have left them with no options. However, on the positive side, they will be getting to race at three other venues in the Xfinity season.

He noted how timing played a major role in the team’s struggles. “David Starr recently secured sponsorship I could pair with our own, just too late to get an engine prepared,” Long explained on Facebook. NASCAR’s early submission deadlines for sponsors and paint schemes only added more to MBM Motorsports’ misery. Long said, “With a small team like ours, we sometimes are chasing sponsor $ all the way up to race day.”

Some silver linings for MBM

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The holiday season exponentially increased MBM Motorsport’s challenges. Long described how the offseason laziness made it nearly impossible to secure commitments. “This holiday season has been horrible in getting people to respond. It has been almost three weeks off for some people (Not MBM)” he wrote, pointing at the effort his team has put in which did not reciprocate.

Despite these hurdles, Long shared some remaining hope that is left of it for MBM Motorsports. “The great thing is we do have interested companies to talk with!” he said, expressing optimism that future partnerships could provide stability. Meanwhile, preparations for their Cup effort have gone smoothly. “Our Cup stuff is coming together nicely for Mike Wallace at the Daytona 500,” Long confirmed. Beyond the cars, the MBM crew has spent much of the winter refreshing their hauler and bringing on new hires, including a dedicated engineering professional.

These changes have Long very optimistic about Mike Wallace’s Daytona 500 run as he urges fans to hedge their bets on the veteran. “I think you might want to look at Mike Wallace odds on making the race, then a Top 10, or even a win.” Wallace boasts nine top-10 finishes at Daytona International Speedway, with three of them coming in the 500-lap event. His best showing was a 4th-place finish for Phoenix Racing in 2007.

While MBM Motorsports won’t field an Xfinity car at Daytona this year, their determination to compete in the Cup Series remains steady. As Mike Wallace prepares to take the wheel at the Daytona 500, he carries not just the hopes of MBM Motorsports but also the admiration of fans who understand the challenges faced by this scrappy underdog team. With Long promising “more exciting news coming soon,” the story of MBM Motorsports hasn’t found a full stop yet.