White at Daytona for NASCAR testing
Derek White was back behind the wheel in NASCAR, helping MBM Motorsports test their ARCA Menards Series cars at Daytona International Speedway in Florida a few weeks before the season opens there on Valentine’s Day. Courtesy MBM Motorsports
Eleven years after his last race start there, Kahnawa’kehró:non racer Derek White was one of the 82 drivers to take part in the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series’ pre-race practice at Daytona International Speedway in Florida over the weekend, which marks the unofficial start of the new season.
The practice takes place over two days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to give the opportunity to drivers and teams to get used to each other and put in some laps on the legendary track, which will host the opening race of the 2026 season on February 14.
White was behind the wheel for MBM Motorsports, driving the #66W Ford Mustang – numbered that way to differentiate from the other MBM drivers also doing the test.
MBM Motorsports is the team that White cofounded all the way back in 2014 as Motorsports Business Management with Carl Long, still the owner of the team today.
Ownership was transferred to Long in 2016 after White’s suspension from NASCAR following charges related to tobacco smuggling. He and Hunter Montour, the other person charged in the case, were granted a permanent stay of criminal proceedings, and his suspension from NASCAR was lifted.
That ruling has been appealed, and both are still awaiting trial.
“It’s just a shame, the way the judicial system works,” said Long, who was unhappy that White had to fight to prove he was innocent for almost a decade while his NASCAR career was taken away.
“He is tough, a lot of others would have given up. It makes his wait to get on track again a lot more meaningful. It’s very rewarding to have him back,” said Long.
White and Long shared time behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang, while two other drivers, Stan Mullis and Johnny Jackson, split time behind the wheel of the Chevrolet SS car the team prepared.
The ARCA Menards Series features mostly young drivers in the field, some under the age of 18, but the crew assembled for testing at Daytona was the exception that proves the rule.
“I am happy to have our Geritol group in the car at Daytona. I think of the four drivers Derek was the youngest. Him and Stan are close, but all of us are over 50!” Long said.
“We needed to learn about both cars and give our drivers the chance to knock off some rust. With four drivers and one car, it’s not a lot of seat time,” said Long on bringing two cars to Daytona.
Long was impressed with White’s pace on track for the practice sessions.
“Derek was fast, and ready to race,” said Long. In the combined Friday-Saturday results, White finished in the top half, 36th, with a time of 50.759 seconds.
White will have some opportunities in ARCA and the Craftsman Truck Series this season with MBM Motorsports, schedule permitting.
The truck series was where he made his return to NASCAR last year at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
The team operates in NASCAR’s top series, the Cup Series, as Garage 66, where they will focus their energy as they hope to participate in 23 of the 36 races in 2026.
As a result, they will mostly be bringing their Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menard Series car out only when they are at the same track as the Cup Series during a race weekend.
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White will also be testing the MBM truck at Rockingham Speedway later this month and will be in the field for the truck race on the St. Petersburgh, Florida, street course on February 28.
