NASCAR did not approve veteran driver Mike Wallace, who hasn't competed in a Cup Series race since 2015, to get behind the wheel for MBM Motorsports at the 2025 Daytona 500.

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.

At 65 years old, Mike Wallace was looking at becoming the biggest Cinderella Story leading into the 2025 Daytona 500. The driver, who has accumulated nine wins

NASCAR parked Mike Wallace's plans to run the Daytona 500 at age 65. Helio Castroneves, meanwhile, is in the field. Also, Notre Dame or Ohio State?

Competition officials said that driver Mike Wallace is not approved for his previously announced bid to qualify for this year's Daytona 500.

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

“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.

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

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