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Talladega Today
By the People, for the People
NASCAR Delays Cleetus McFarland's Talladega Debut
The YouTube star must build more experience before racing NASCAR's biggest superspeedway
Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:34pm
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NASCAR's cautious approach to new drivers reflects the challenges and risks of racing at high-speed superspeedways like Talladega.Talladega TodayNASCAR has decided not to approve YouTube personality Cleetus McFarland for the upcoming O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, citing the need for him to gain more experience before competing at the high-speed oval. McFarland, whose legal name is Garrett Mitchell, will instead run the lower-level ARCA race that weekend as he continues to work his way up the NASCAR ladder.
Why it matters
Cleetus McFarland has built a large online following through his automotive-focused YouTube channel, and his transition to NASCAR competition has been closely watched. However, NASCAR wants to ensure he is adequately prepared before allowing him to race at one of the sport's most challenging and high-risk tracks.
The details
In a video posted to Facebook, McFarland said NASCAR "did not see enough" in his O'Reilly Series debut last Saturday, which he described as "hectic" with several spins but no crashes. NASCAR executive John Probst praised McFarland as a "huge" fan favorite, but said the sanctioning body would like to see him gain more experience, particularly at larger venues, before approving him for the Talladega race.
- McFarland finished in the top five of an ARCA race at Rockingham this past weekend.
- McFarland struggled to a 32nd-place finish, six laps down, in his second-tier O'Reilly Series debut on the same day.
- Earlier this year, McFarland had a DNF after spinning and crashing early in his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Daytona.
The players
Cleetus McFarland
A YouTube personality and burgeoning NASCAR driver, whose legal name is Garrett Mitchell.
John Probst
A NASCAR executive who described the sanctioning body as "huge Cleetus fans" and said they want to see more from him before approving him for the Talladega race.
Richard Childress Racing
The Cup Series stalwart team that was previously scheduled to field a car for McFarland at Talladega.
What they’re saying
“We did not see enough in his O'Reilly series debut last Saturday.”
— John Probst, NASCAR Executive
“It was hectic, I spun out a few times but didn't crash or crash anybody.”
— Cleetus McFarland
What’s next
The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series next races at a superspeedway at the end of August, so McFarland has some time to build his resume before seeking NASCAR's approval to race at Talladega again.
The takeaway
This decision by NASCAR highlights the sanctioning body's commitment to ensuring driver safety and preparedness, even for popular personalities like Cleetus McFarland. It also underscores the challenges of transitioning from online stardom to professional motorsports competition.
