Chandler Smith will make his Daytona 500 debut in 2025, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Garage 66 after Mike Wallace was disqualified.

The final piece of the ongoing MBM-Garage 66-Mike Wallace-Daytona 500 saga has finally dropped into place, and the news is about as shocking as finding sand at the beach. Garage 66 has announced that (insert drum roll here) Chandler Smith will be behind the wheel of their Ford in a attempt to crack the lineup for this year’s Daytona 500.

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 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-old Wallace won't be allowed to attempt comeback."

Chandler Smith will attempt to make the Daytona 500 for the Garage 66 team after NASCAR would not approve Mike Wallace for the ride. The 22-year-old Smith made three Cup starts in 2023 for Kaulig Racing.

In the aftermath of NASCAR ultimately deciding not to approve Mike Wallace entry into making a Daytona 500 attempt a