![\"Garett](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/de673a3ed0f424caf9ef264305509b75.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nThere is no way that NASCAR is going to let Garrett Mitchell just use a made-up name for his Truck Series debut on Friday night, right?<\/p>\n
As it turns out, it was very much a tug-of-war between the Sanctioning Body and the popular YouTuber and amateur racer who goes by the name \u2018Cleetus McFarland.\u2019 NASCAR says there is no clearly defined policy for licensing purposes but they were not just going to let him completely use his fictional name either.<\/p>\n
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But \u2018McFarland\u2019 was asked about it by Motorsport.com during his Thursday press conference alongside Travis Pastrana at Daytona International Speedway. And like everything \u2018Cleetus McFarland\u2019 affiliated, it turned into quite the theatrical ordeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad you brought it up,\u201d he said, reaching into his pocket. \u201cLet me see. I was actually fighting with NASCAR yesterday. They were trying to put \u2018Cleetus Mitchell\u2019 on my Truck hard card. Let\u2019s see what we ended up with.<\/p>\n
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\u2018Cleetus McFarland Mitchell.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we settled on. In ARCA, it says Garrett Mitchell, so you know, we\u2019re making progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the story goes, Mitchell was portraying a Ricky Bobby style character for his video and his friends landed on Cleetus instead of Dale, for a name that would portray the brand appropriately.<\/p>\n
The goal of reaching the Daytona 500Garett Mitchell (Cleetus McFarland), Rette Jones Racing Ford<\/p>\n
Garett Mitchell (Cleetus McFarland), Rette Jones Racing Ford<\/p>\n
Regardless of which name he uses, \u2018Cleetus McFarland Mitchell\u2019 is very serious about wanting to pursue a start in the Daytona 500 someday. It started over the last year or so, when he found himself in a friendship with the late Greg Biffle, who told him that he couldn\u2019t just race the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n
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But eventually, they started working on the process that began with the past two ARCA races, a start at Talladega, and now his Truck debut on Friday. He wants to then make starts in Xfinity and hopefully, someday, the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal has been to race the Daytona 500 but then I realized how good all the other drivers are and how fast the cars are and I was like, \u2018wow, I definitely cannot race the Daytona 500, Biff was right.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been really enjoying ARCA and that level of competition. It’s been good for me. I’ve learned a lot. This truck thing happened purely because Travis Pastrana is an amazing human being and pretty much handed me the opportunity to do it by putting me in touch with Niece Motorsports, Black Rifle Coffee and Brunt Workwear. It all came together for Travis.\u201d<\/p>\n
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It was at this moment that he realized Pastrana, sitting next to him, hadn\u2019t ripped off his sleeves. That\u2019s one of his gimmicks. McFarland conveniently pulled out scissors and ripped the sleeves off the action sports star turned occasional NASCAR driver.<\/p>\n
This was also one year to the day that he did the same thing to Biffle for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway, where were we,\u201d McFarland said.<\/p>\n
He also talked about how good the competition is at the next level, and how it\u2019s going to take time to learn to race them properly, even if just on the superspeedways.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI realized the drivers were very good, and then I thought, I don\u2019t really want to move up,\u201d he said. \u201cI love ARCA. I want to take my time, and now I need to be ready to race this truck, pit stops, and if I don\u2019t do everything perfect, I\u2019m going to lose five spots on pit road.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravis convinced me I need to move up the ranks and progress, but I am just trying to take it slow and eventually work my way to the top, in the Daytona 500.\u201d<\/p>\n
For his part, Pastrana says McFarland is too modest and that the Daytona 500 is a realistic goal. This comes from a similar guy that didn\u2019t have a NASCAR background, ran one full-time Xfinity Series season, and eventually competed in the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n
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But McFarland wants to earn it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to lobby for a provisional,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then come to Daytona and get spanked every time I show up. The big restrictor plate tracks are fun and its easier to be competitive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIntermediate tracks, like Rockingham where we tested this week, it\u2019s fast and its hard. When we raced at Bristol, wow is it hard, and extremely challenging. So I guess, what I\u2019m trying to say, is that I have a lot to learn and I need more seat time, more time in ARCA, and maybe in Late Models at Freedom Factory with my pal Ricky Brooks, to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n
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