“We are at the bottom of the list” - Carl Long makes feelings known about Daytona 500 entry challenges

Carl Long, the owner of MBM Motorsports, recently touched upon his team's attempts to run the 2025 Daytona 500. Sharing an update about the most-awaited Cup Series race, the former NASCAR driver thought his team was at the "bottom" of the list for drivers.

The Daytona 500 is one of the most sought-after races in the NASCAR calendar. The 500-mile race takes place every year at the Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the first of two races that takes place at the track, the second being the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

The full-time Cup Series teams always look to win the race and start the season on a positive note. However, for part-time teams, the equation is entirely different. They first need to find an opportunity to enter the race, and only then can they think of winning it.

MBM Motorsports, also known as Motorsport Business Management, will be one of those trying to enter the race in 2025 with its #66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Long, who owns the Statesville team, was eager though concerned about his team's entry to the Daytona 500. He took to Facebook earlier this week to write:

"We only have 1 race committed with Chad Finchum in Texas with Hart HVAC. We are discussing a few other races depending on NASCAR approval of some drivers. It seems we are at the bottom of the list when funded drivers are looking at organizations to pair up with.

"Lots are looking for a Dale Jr.-type team and minimal $ (champagne taste, beer budget). NASCAR has tightened up its approval process over the last few years, adding competitiveness to its criteria. It takes really good drivers to qualify these days."

As per Long, at least 10 cars would be competing for four places in the race. Besides the #66 MBM Ford, the #78 BJ McLeod Chevrolet, the #44 NY Chevrolet, the #84 LMC Toyota, the #62 Beard Chevrolet, the #15 RWR Ford, the #33 RCR Chevrolet, and the #50 TMT Chevrolet, along with Truex's Toyota and H Castroneves Chevrolet, are expected to compete for the four entries.

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What did Carl Long say about his team's Daytona 500 entry?

In November this year, Carl Long said his team, MBM Motorsports, was doing everything to gain an entry to the 2025 Daytona 500. Speaking about the racee in February's 2025, he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90,

"We are definitely going to do the Daytona 500. The car that we had at Martinsville, we’ve already tore it down and putting it back together and trying to maximize what we need to do for Daytona."

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Carl Long during the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. - Source: Imagn

Former race car drivers Carl Long and Derek White operated MBM Motorsports together after its formation in 2014. However, Long and his family took charge of the team after White's arrest in 2016.