Mike Wallace reacts to NASCAR Daytona 500 clarification, reveals decision on 2026 attempt

Earlier this month, NASCAR denied Mike Wallace entry into the Daytona 500 with MBM Motorsports, now known as Garage 66. 

The 65-year-old Wallace is still confused by the process which led to his denial, he told Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut Monday night. Wallace intended to run the Daytona 500 to honor the memory of his wife Carla, who passed away on Jan. 22 of last year.

“I’m confused over how the process took place, how it was supposed to take place,” Wallace said. “I didn’t know there was a process. Again, I don’t want people to think I’m pissed off and angry. I’m just a good guy that wanted to race, had a good cause, and wanted to help a small team.”

Wallace has been public about his disappointment over the decision after he initially sought approval from NASCAR president Steve Phelps. He did not anticipate there being issues up until the competition department denied him. At the time, NASCAR cited his “inactivity” as a reason for not being able to compete in next month’s Daytona 500. Wallace’s last Cup Series start came in the 2015 Daytona 500, and he has since competed in just three Xfinity races — all on road courses for JD Motorsports in 2020.

NASCAR clarifies Mike Wallace Daytona 500 controversy

NASCAR senior vice president of competition Elton Sawyer said Monday during a competition and rules briefing for broadcasters and the core media members that Wallace had “never been approved.” Sawyer described it as a “cart before the horse situation.” Wallace had checked off every box — every box but the approval. He finalized a sponsorship package and passed the same physical every other Cup driver underwent this offseason.

Now, in order to run the Daytona 500 in 2026, Wallace must do the following, per Weaver: Run an intermediate track Xfinity race, an Xfinity superspeedway race and then a short track or road course Cup race to get acclimated to the Next Gen car. Then he would then need to run a Cup speedway race — all during the 2025 season. Wallace doesn’t feel it’s worth it and he likely won’t race at a national touring level ever again.

The Daytona 500 is packed with storylines; Wallace felt his attempt to make the 67th running of the Great American Race could have been another.

“Maybe I just took it to the wrong table,” Wallace said. “I may have made a wrong assumption. There’s senior leadership and there’s the competition department. It just hurts that I feel like they took away this chance for me to honor my wife. And like I said, that’s just disappointing.

“I feel like we had a good storyline for NASCAR and the Daytona 500. There have been some good stories, like Dale Jr’s team entering the race and Helio Castroneves, but I feel like we gave them another good story and you can’t have too many of those these days.”