That’s the sportsman spirit. No matter the age, you do not give up on steering. After his last attempt in the year 2015, Mike Wallace, brother to legendary Kenny Wallace, is all set to return to the tracks. Where? It is none other than the legendary Daytona 500! With Daytona being one of the biggest events in NASCAR history, Mike Wallace’s return has made it even bigger.

Mike Wallace’s NASCAR legacy is not one to scoff at. The veteran has been actively racing since the early 1990s and across all three series notched up 5 wins and 134 top-10 finishes across over 900 races. With a resume glittered with consistency and longevity, how does NASCAR treat drivers when they make a return after a decade-long solitude? It seems as though the sanctioning body has been quite welcoming towards the driver and the audience is waiting to see what’s left in store!

Wallace to take up the steering for MBM Motorsports

Only recently, MBM Motorsports announced how they will attempt to qualify for the 67th Annual Daytona 500. However, the team hasn’t been a part of the drive since 2020. They make their return with Mike Wallace at the helm as the driver looks to a positive start to 2025 after losing his wife to cancer in 2024. Wallace said, “Myself and my kids, we all needed a boost. We need something that would say, ‘Here’s a positive story for us, let’s go make it happen’ and this opportunity presented itself.”

Wallace will be seen in a No. 66 Ford car for the 200-lap race around the four turns 2.5-mile track. This one is an unchartered entry as MBM Motorsports, most would know, is an open team. Two factors will decide Wallace’s entry into the race. He can either choose to achieve a strong time during the single-car qualifying session or he could also secure a solid result in one of the two Bluegreen Vacations Duel races. Out of the 40 spots available in the race, 36 are reserved for chartered cars. This leaves just four positions open for non-chartered entries.

Despite the mounting pressure, Wallace has been quite candid about the kind of warm welcome he has been receiving from the NASCAR world. Speaking of the formal procedures that ensue and how NASCAR has been overly supportive, Wallace said, “I texted Steve Phelps when this opportunity happened, that’s the president of NASCAR and my comment was, Steve got this opportunity and I hope NASCAR with open arms will welcome me back. [Steve replied] Yeah looking forward to seeing you here call Elton Sawyer… Elton Sawyer [Senior VP of competition] says I’ll hook you up with membership.”. Such is the kind of relationship that Wallace shares with the NASCAR team that all of this happened just over a text. 

Speaking of further documentation in regards to Carl Long, co-founder of MBM Motorsports, Wallace added, “Carl Long says, ‘hey man we need to get this all approved from Chad Little’.” Chad Little is the managing director for technical inspection and officiating at NASCAR. 

Wallace continued, “We sent a letter to Chad [Little] and he sent a note back, ‘all looks good to us, I’ll run it by the group but I don’t see any problem’. So we’re taking that we don’t have any problems… once we were given that email from Chad, saying everything looks fine, we took it and made the announcement “. 

This becomes necessary as although Mike Wallace is quite accustomed to the Daytona track, having made 11 starts, he has been away from the tracks for quite some time now. After his last stint with Premium Motorsports, this is a brand-new endeavor. However, his motivation to race in 2025 stems from something much deeper than his love for the sport.

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Mike Wallace opens up on the loss of his wife

While fans are quite happy to see Mike Wallace back on the track, there are questions about why he is choosing to get back to the tracks after a decade. The answer is simple. Wallace is doing this as a tribute to his wife Carla who passed away in 2024. She struggled with cancer and lost her life after 44 years of marriage. Coming from the legendary Wallace family, with brothers Kenny Wallace and Rusty Wallace and father Russell “Russ” William Wallace, this seems to be the perfect tribute. 

Speaking of the real reason for his return, Mike said, “The big reason is in January 2024 I lost my wife Carla from being married 44 years. She had a bout with cancer, we thought she had beat it, unfortunately, she didn’t and life wasn’t all that great, wasn’t that fun in 2024…2025 brings fresh excitement, starting with this Daytona 500 announcement. They say you have to be in it to win it, and we are rolling into Daytona”. 

Mike Wallace’s return to racing is deeply personal, fueled by a heartfelt desire to honor Carla’s memory through the sport that has defined his family’s legacy. His participation in the Daytona 500 symbolizes resilience, love, and a renewed passion as he embarks on this emotional journey in her honor.