NASCAR Star Earnhardt Jr. Weighs In on Cleetus McFarland's Daytona Truck Debut

Earnhardt says McFarland needs more experience before returning to NASCAR Trucks

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. has commented on the controversial NASCAR Truck Series debut of social media star Garrett "Cleetus McFarland" Mitchell at Daytona International Speedway. McFarland, who has over 4 million YouTube subscribers, crashed out early in the race, finishing last in the 37-car field. Earnhardt, who has supported McFarland's racing aspirations, said the driver's inexperience showed and that he needs more seat time in various series before returning to the Truck Series.

Why it matters

McFarland's NASCAR debut generated significant interest and attention, as the social media personality has a massive online following. However, his early crash raised questions about whether NASCAR should have cleared him to race at the high-speed Daytona track with limited experience. Earnhardt's comments provide insight into the challenges of transitioning from social media stardom to professional motorsports.

The details

McFarland, known for his popular YouTube channel "Cleetus McFarland", made his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Daytona. He got loose and crashed on Lap 6, finishing last in the 37-car field. Earnhardt, who has been a supporter of McFarland's racing aspirations, said the driver's lack of experience showed, noting a similar incident where McFarland crashed at Rockingham Speedway during a test. Earnhardt believes NASCAR should focus on getting McFarland more seat time and experience in various series before allowing him to compete in the Truck Series again.

  • McFarland made his NASCAR Truck Series debut on February 18, 2026.
  • Earnhardt commented on the incident on his podcast, the Dale Jr. Download, on February 21, 2026.

The players

Garrett "Cleetus McFarland" Mitchell

A social media personality with over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, known for his automotive-focused content. He made his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Daytona in 2026.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A former NASCAR driver and current NBC Sports analyst, who has been a supporter of Cleetus McFarland's racing aspirations.

NASCAR

The sanctioning body for the NASCAR Truck Series, which cleared Cleetus McFarland to make his debut at Daytona despite his limited experience.

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What they’re saying

“Cleetus busted his ass off the corner, which I figured might happen. If you watched his test at Rockingham, which I did, he busted his ass off Turn 2 in a similar situation and got in the wall with his truck. They cleared him, which is fine. Is he ready to race trucks right now? No. Will he be, could he be? Yes. If I was NASCAR, I would be doing everything I could to get him better.”

— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Analyst (Dale Jr. Download)

“I just think he needs a bigger library of experience, so that he can be better at the truck and go back there and really compete. I want him racing in the Truck Series, I want him racing in NASCAR, I want him bringing his followers to our sport, I want him to have success, I want him to have fun. I would say that he probably wouldn't tell us, but that probably wasn't too much fun, what happened [at Daytona].”

— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Analyst (Dale Jr. Download)

What’s next

McFarland is scheduled to run a partial ARCA schedule in 2026, and it remains to be seen if he will get another start in the NASCAR Truck Series this season.

The takeaway

Earnhardt's comments highlight the challenges of transitioning from social media stardom to professional motorsports, and the importance of gaining sufficient experience before competing at the highest levels. NASCAR will need to balance the desire to attract new fans with ensuring driver safety and competitiveness.