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Mike Wallace, a veteran of NASCAR and a person well known to fans of this sport, will once again return to the big gates. MBM Motorsports delighted fans by announcing that he will soon be driving their #66 car in the Daytona 500. Although we haven't had a chance to watch the 65-year-old for a long time, this will be an ideal chance to see what this great driver has to offer.
Wallace has as many as 800 starts in NASCAR series, of which almost 200 are in the NASCAR Cup Series. The experienced driver has not been able to celebrate so far, but this race could be a great chance for him to show his qualities. It seems that age is not an obstacle for Wallace, who is determined to achieve success and help the team to impress the public.
In an interview with the media, the 65-year-old said that he is happy to be part of the MBM Motorsports team. Cooperating with Long is a big deal, and he didn't forget to show his respect for Daytona, a traditionally important race that attracts the largest number of NASCAR fans.
“I am very excited to be teamed up with Carl Long and the complete MBM Motorsports team, along with Doug Yates’ support, for a return trip to the Daytona 500 after being away for a few years,” said Wallace, as quoted by Racing News.
"I just can’t wait to work with Carl again in the first laps of practice at the World Center of Speed, Daytona International Speedway. I say it that way out of the enormous honor and respect I have for Daytona, along with all the pride and prestige it brings to myself and my team as a winner here.”
Although he did not celebrate in the NASCAR Cup Series, Mike revealed that he celebrated at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Daytona, and his name is well written in the history of this sport. It is little known to some of the fans that the veteran of this sport had a difficult time behind him, considering the death of his wife, with whom he was married for many years. This is an opportunity for him to turn over a new leaf in his life, and it is likely that these races will have a therapeutic effect on him after the loss of his wife.
Mike had many challenges in the previous year and in the years ahead. Despite all the obstacles and problems, NASCAR remained his greatest love.
Do you think that despite his age, this experienced driver can be just as impressive? Time will give the best answer, but his skills and exciting driving style will attract the interest of fans, we have no doubt about that.
“Fortunately, I did win the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona, so my name is etched in the history books, along with my Xfinity Series and ARCA wins at the Speedway.
2024 was a devastating year for me with the loss of Carla, my wife of 44 years, who passed away in January from a battle with cancer. 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 with the chance to both be a part of and then race to win the Daytona 500!”
Carl Long on the importance of this race
Carl Long, co-founder of the MBM Motorsports team, is aware of the importance of this race, and much earlier he wanted to do an analysis with the aim of determining what the best options on the market are. The end of 2024 was an opportunity for his team to change a few things, and the first step was to rebuild the car. Long revealed that they took the car apart and rebuilt it to make it superior on superspeedways like Daytona.
The second step was the engagement of Doug Yates Engines for the engine, hoping that the signing of the contract with them could be a turning point. Think he forgot to mention Mike Wallace? Not! The owner of this team recognized Wallace's qualities, remembering the moments and joint work at JGL Racing, where they were teammates. Wallace is a driver who has the characteristics that could help this team succeed.
Fans of this sport are a bit skeptical, not knowing what to expect, but one can sense a dose of optimism among many. Are you hoping for an exciting race this time? Daytona has historically offered incredible moments for all of us, and we have the right to hope for the same spectacle this time as well. There are many interesting names and drivers who have achieved great results here throughout history.
English (US)