Garrett Mitchell, better known to millions as Cleetus McFarland, is no stranger to the high-octane world of motorsports\u2014but this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, he\u2019s stepping into the limelight on a whole new stage. The 30-year-old YouTube sensation, whose automotive antics have long entertained fans online, is making his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut while also returning to the ARCA Menards Series, marking his first-ever doubleheader weekend in national stock car racing. For McFarland, this isn\u2019t just a personal milestone; it\u2019s a moment that\u2019s captured the attention of the racing world, as he transitions from digital influencer to bona fide NASCAR driver.<\/p>\n
Mitchell\u2019s whirlwind weekend began with a rigorous schedule\u2014six sessions in just two days, including two practices, two qualifying rounds, and two races. On Thursday, February 12, 2026, he clocked in 16th fastest during ARCA practice and 23rd in his inaugural Truck Series practice, a respectable showing that landed him third among his Niece Motorsports teammates. The qualifying sessions on Friday were crucial, as 44 trucks vied for only 40 spots on the grid, and the stakes couldn\u2019t have been higher for the Daytona season opener.<\/p>\n
Friday night\u2019s Fresh From Florida 250, broadcast live on FS1, featured a star-studded field of 36 drivers, including three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, X Games legend Travis Pastrana, and five Cup Series regulars. For McFarland, the moment was surreal. \u201cI\u2019ve been called a YouTuber forever,\u201d he told The Associated Press on Thursday. \u201cI was like, \u2018Awwwe. That\u2019s sooo much better.\u2019\u201d That\u2019s because, for the first time, a fan had recognized him as a NASCAR driver\u2014a title he\u2019s worked hard to earn.<\/p>\n
McFarland\u2019s journey to Daytona\u2019s big stage didn\u2019t happen overnight. In 2025, he made four ARCA starts, kicking off at Daytona (where a crash after 17 laps cut his race short), followed by a 10th-place finish at Talladega, a ninth at Charlotte, and 17th at Bristol. Those experiences proved invaluable. \u201cI feel a little more comfortable,\u201d McFarland admitted. \u201cLast year, I couldn\u2019t even get to the garage. I\u2019m like, \u2018Where the hell is my car even at?\u2019 Now, I know where to go. I know some familiar faces. I know the track, so I feel a lot better.\u201d<\/p>\n
His Truck Series debut was made possible thanks to a unique blend of camaraderie and sponsorship. Travis Pastrana, his Niece Motorsports teammate and a veteran of both rally and stock car racing, was instrumental in bringing McFarland aboard. The pair are backed by Black Rifle Coffee Company and Brunt Workwear, with both sponsors quickly jumping in to support their Daytona bid. Their combined efforts also resulted in a $100,000 donation to the veteran’s care nonprofit Boot Campaign, adding a philanthropic twist to their racing adventure.<\/p>\n
Both McFarland and Pastrana are racing with heavy hearts, carrying tributes to their late friend and mentor Greg Biffle, who tragically died in a plane crash in December 2025. Biffle, a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and one of the sport\u2019s top 75 drivers, was a guiding force for McFarland. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be here without Biff,\u201d McFarland said in a moving tribute. \u201cWe\u2019re representing. I never really talked to him about trucks, unfortunately. This would have been so cool. He would have been so stoked that we\u2019re doing this.\u201d Their trucks proudly display \u201cBe Like Biff\u201d decals and Biffle\u2019s No. 16 topped by a halo, a visible reminder of the legacy they\u2019re honoring on the track.<\/p>\n
For the ARCA Menards Series, McFarland returned to Rette Jones Racing\u2019s No. 30 Ford Mustang, again sponsored by Kenetik. His car carried not just the sponsor\u2019s branding, but heartfelt tributes to Biffle\u2014a sticker on the name rail and the \u201cBe Like Biff\u201d message on the bumper. The ARCA General Tire 200, held on Saturday, February 14 at noon and aired live on FOX, marked his fifth career ARCA start and the next step in a four-race ARCA schedule for 2026. After Daytona, fans can expect to see him at Talladega on April 25, Michigan on June 5, and at Kansas later in the season.<\/p>\n
Mitchell\u2019s entry into the Truck Series was no small feat. He earned NASCAR superspeedway clearance after a test session at Rockingham Speedway just days before his Daytona debut. \u201cMy expectations are much higher this year,\u201d he said. \u201cI understand when and where risk matters. Last year, I ended up falling out (of the draft) because someone was spinning out in front of me and I kept trying to push it and get around them to not lose the field. Now I would just be like, \u2018There\u2019s a caution coming anyway. Just stop. This is so stupid.\u2019 So, I\u2019m learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pastrana, who\u2019s preparing for his 50th NASCAR national series start, has been a source of support and inspiration. \u201cCleetus always downplays his driving skills, but he\u2019s a wheel man,\u201d Pastrana said. \u201cHe can wheel anything.\u201d The duo\u2019s plan for the race was simple: work together in the draft, leverage their friendships across the field, and see if they could shake up the order. \u201cTrav and I have definitely talked, and our plan is to shake and bake,\u201d McFarland told Road & Track. \u201cWe really should probably get a few more guys to help us, though. I know Carson [Hocevar] is down to help us, I\u2019m sure if we find Tony [Stewart] out there and give him a nudge he’ll hang out with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The excitement in the paddock was palpable. The Daytona Truck Series opener is always a wild affair, but this year\u2019s race\u2014with its blend of established stars, charismatic newcomers, and heartfelt tributes\u2014felt even more electric. Pastrana summed up the mood: \u201cThe coolest part about what Cleetus does is that he has re-inspired even guys like me, that are kind of known for having fun. Sometimes you take it too serious. You go down to [McFarland\u2019s Panther platform race] the Freedom 500 and you see the fans, you\u2019re just running Crown Vics, you have an ear-to-ear grin no matter where you are. And you realize, \u2018We get to drive cars and trucks for a freakin\u2019 living, and this is awesome.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
For fans watching at home, the spectacle was accessible on multiple platforms\u2014FS1 for the Truck Series, FOX for ARCA, radio coverage on NRN and MRN, and streaming via the NASCAR and SiriusXM apps. Social media buzzed with anticipation as fans debated McFarland\u2019s chances and shared memories of Biffle\u2019s impact on the sport.<\/p>\n
As the dust settles on this action-packed weekend, one thing is clear: Cleetus McFarland\u2019s evolution from YouTube star to NASCAR driver is more than just a viral moment. It\u2019s a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the enduring bonds of motorsport. While his future Truck Series schedule remains unconfirmed, McFarland\u2019s star is undeniably on the rise\u2014and the racing world will be watching closely as he continues to chase his Daytona dreams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Garrett Mitchell, better known to millions as Cleetus McFarland, is no stranger to the high-octane world of motorsports\u2014but…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":474203,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,634,82],"class_list":["post-474202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nascar","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474202\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}