“It was a devastating year for me with the loss of Carla, my wife”: Mike Wallace makes his heartbreaking sentiments known following a “fresh” start

Mike Wallace expressed his emotions following a one-off NASCAR return announcement for the season-opener Daytona 500 for MBM Motorsports. The former driver shed light on the "devastating" 2024 year when his beloved wife Carla passed after a tough battle with cancer.

Wallace, a Missouri native and brother of Kenny and Rusty Wallace, has his name etched in history as the inaugural Daytona Craftsman Truck Series race winner. The 65-year-old raced for nearly three decades in NASCAR, collecting nine wins -four in the Xfinity Series and five in the Truck Series.

The 2025 Daytona 500 will mark the first time since the 2015 Daytona 500 that Mike Wallace will field a Cup Series car in the Super Bowl of NASCAR.

That being said, Wallace shared his sentiments about Carla's tragic passing as he expressed "fresh excitement" for the 2025 season, starting at the crown jewel race.

“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!" Wallace said via Racing News.

Mike Wallace will field the #66 Ford with Coble Enterprises as the associate sponsor. Meanwhile, the primary financier is yet to be ascertained. It's worth mentioning that he will return to the #66 car, in which he ran his last Cup Series race.

Kenny Wallace claps back at "negative reporter" for controversial Mike Wallace statement

Mike Wallace's first Cup Series appearance since 2015 and overall since 2020 didn't sit well with reporter Nick Bromberg. Considering the time lapsed since Wallace's last run, at the 2020 Daytona Xfinity race for JD Motorsports, Bromberg voiced NASCAR should not give automatic approval for the Daytona 500.

Wallace's brother Kenny wasn't pleased with Bromberg's 'controversial' message and issued a scathing reply to the latter.

"Would not expect anything less out of you, Nick. You’ve always been a negative reporter," Kenny responded.

MBM Motorsports will enter as a non-chartered team for the Daytona 500 attempt. Thus, of the 40 spots available, only four are for the non-chartered teams.

According to NASCAR's regulations, the top two fastest non-chartered teams in the single-car qualifying will automatically secure the Daytona 500 spot; they need not prove their mettle in Duels 1 and 2.

Furthermore, if the highest-finishing qualifying teams who have already locked their Daytona 500 spot earn the top finish in the Duels as well, then the next fastest non-chartered teams are selected.