Mike Wallace announced he'd attempt the Daytona 500 at age 65. Ten days later, NASCAR says 'not so fast.' Here's the reason.

NASCAR has not approved former driver Mike Wallace to compete in the Daytona 500, a NASCAR spokesperson confirmed Monday night to NBC Sports. MBM Motorsports announced Jan. 2 that the 65-year-old Wallace would drive for the team in its attempt to make the Feb.

NASCAR Cup Series organization MBM Motorsports is seeking a funded driver for the 67th running of the Daytona 500, after their previously announced pilot, Mike

Wallace, who last raced in NASCAR on an oval in 2015, had already announced his plans to attempt to qualify for the race next month.

Mike Wallace’s hopes of a Daytona 500 comeback have been dashed by NASCAR, citing his age, recent inactivity, and perhaps lingering shadows from a 2020 suspension.

NASCAR competition officials confirmed Monday that driver Mike Wallace is not approved for his previously announced attempt to qualify for this year’s Daytona 500. MBM Motorsports had announced Jan. 2 that the 65-year-old Wallace would drive the team’s No.

Mike Wallace has not been approved by NASCAR to attempt to compete in the Daytona 500 next month with MBM Motorsports due to inactivity in the sport over the last few years. NASCAR confirmed that

Team says NASCAR has decided that "due to lack of recent races in major professional motorsports," the 65-year-0ld Wallace won't be allowed to attempt comeback."

“MBM Motorsports can confirm that NASCAR has deemed Mike Wallace is not eligible to compete in the 2025 Daytona 500, despite eleven previous 500 starts and several superspeedway wins, due to lack of recent races in major professional motorsports.

The introduction of NASCAR's Open Exemption Provisional rule, which guarantees Helio Castroneves a spot in the Daytona 500, has been criticized by insiders.