Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland, will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut next month at Rockingham Speedway. But with his swift promotion, fans are already asking if the 30-year-old is ready for such a big step in his career.
Mitchell’s debut in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will come off the back of five career ARCA Menards Series starts and just one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start.
While this is far from the smallest resume a driver has had to race in one of NASCAR’s top two divisions, that lone Truck Series start, at Daytona in February, saw Mitchell spin himself out and crash just five laps in.
To many fans, this is a sign that Mitchell is not ready for this next step, one that would propel him to the second-highest level of stock car racing in the United States.
But others point out that his quick adjustment to racing in ARCA, alongside the support of Richard Childress Racing, could be what Mitchell needs to get his feet under him.
Relying on a general account of the fan base obscures the nuances of their actual feelings.
For one, there are many fans excited about Mitchell’s promotion and his new relationship with RCR. As user @joshelliott6364 said in the comments section of Eric Estepp’s YouTube video covering Mitchell’s signing:
“People are not factoring in that RCR will help him develop as a driver… he finally has help from a real team and not just by himself.”
Though others are concerned that RCR, who reached out to Mitchell, jumped the gun on this move, focusing on the celebrity of the YouTube star, rather than what he will bring to the track. In response to that same video, user @nathanielbailey108 says that any controversy to come of the decision, the promotion is not on Mitchell, but rather, RCR.
“I respect Cleetus. RCR is the truly reckless party here.”
Other fans are worried about the impact this could have on morale at RCR, specifically, while it continues to struggle at the Cup Series level.
While race fans have their own opinions, many will turn to those who work in and around the sport to get a second opinion on topics like Mitchell’s shocking promotion.
In a tone that also takes the heat off Mitchell, spotter Freddie Kraft of the Door, Bumper, Clear Podcast sarcastically ran over the driver’s resume while saying that he doesn’t blame Mitchell for taking the opportunity.
Pete Pistone of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio put it straight and simple, saying that while Mitchell is great for the sport, he is getting thrown headfirst into the deep end.
Brakehard was one content creator who pushed back at Mitchell’s promotion, posting in response to RCR, “What are we even doing at this point?” before posting, “Some of the dumbest arguments are being made today.”
Daniel Baldwin of DannyBTalks posted that his concerns go beyond Mitchell and how he will race at tracks like Talladega and Daytona with teammate Austin Hill, who, while amazing at drafting tracks, is quite aggressive.
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Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland, will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut next month at Rockingham Speedway. But with his swift promotion, fans are already asking if the 30-year-old is ready for such a big step in his career.
Mitchell’s debut in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will come off the back of five career ARCA Menards Series starts and just one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start.
While this is far from the smallest resume a driver has had to race in one of NASCAR’s top two divisions, that lone Truck Series start, at Daytona in February, saw Mitchell spin himself out and crash just five laps in.
To many fans, this is a sign that Mitchell is not ready for this next step, one that would propel him to the second-highest level of stock car racing in the United States.
But others point out that his quick adjustment to racing in ARCA, alongside the support of Richard Childress Racing, could be what Mitchell needs to get his feet under him.
Relying on a general account of the fan base obscures the nuances of their actual feelings.
For one, there are many fans excited about Mitchell’s promotion and his new relationship with RCR. As user @joshelliott6364 said in the comments section of Eric Estepp’s YouTube video covering Mitchell’s signing:
“People are not factoring in that RCR will help him develop as a driver… he finally has help from a real team and not just by himself.”
Though others are concerned that RCR, who reached out to Mitchell, jumped the gun on this move, focusing on the celebrity of the YouTube star, rather than what he will bring to the track. In response to that same video, user @nathanielbailey108 says that any controversy to come of the decision, the promotion is not on Mitchell, but rather, RCR.
“I respect Cleetus. RCR is the truly reckless party here.”
Other fans are worried about the impact this could have on morale at RCR, specifically, while it continues to struggle at the Cup Series level.
While race fans have their own opinions, many will turn to those who work in and around the sport to get a second opinion on topics like Mitchell’s shocking promotion.
In a tone that also takes the heat off Mitchell, spotter Freddie Kraft of the Door, Bumper, Clear Podcast sarcastically ran over the driver’s resume while saying that he doesn’t blame Mitchell for taking the opportunity.
Pete Pistone of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio put it straight and simple, saying that while Mitchell is great for the sport, he is getting thrown headfirst into the deep end.
Brakehard was one content creator who pushed back at Mitchell’s promotion, posting in response to RCR, “What are we even doing at this point?” before posting, “Some of the dumbest arguments are being made today.”
Daniel Baldwin of DannyBTalks posted that his concerns go beyond Mitchell and how he will race at tracks like Talladega and Daytona with teammate Austin Hill, who, while amazing at drafting tracks, is quite aggressive.
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman is out for this weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway following a vertigo diagnosis. Hendrick Motorsports has tabbed Anthony Alfredo to drive the No. 48 in his place.
Hendrick Motorsports says that the sensations caused by vertigo were the mysterious illness that resulted in Bowman stepping out of the No. 48 car during the later portions of this past Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas.
That substitution led to a viral moment where NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series veteran and TV pit spotter Myatt Snyder took over for Bowman mid-race.
Unfortunately, Bowman will not be back behind the wheel this weekend, as Bowman is not medically cleared to race.
In his place, veteran Anthony Alfredo, who races full-time in the NASCAR OAP Series for Viking Motorsports, will drive the No. 48.
Alfredo, HMS’ reserve driver, has not made a Cup start since Talladega last fall, but qualified for the Daytona 500 earlier this season before missing out due to a post-duel disqualification.
The press release from the team did not give a solid timeline for Bowman’s return, saying the Arizona native had driven a street car this week at the private Ten Tenths Motor Club road course in Concord, North Carolina.
In a statement from Hendrick Motorsports, team President Jeff Andrews said:
“We’re encouraged by the progress he’s making, but we have to prioritize his health above all else. It’s obviously frustrating for him because he’s a competitor and wants to be in the race car, especially at his home track. We’ll continue to support Alex and look forward to his return as soon as he’s medically cleared.” — Jeff Andrews
This injury is another major pause in Bowman’s career, with the now 32-year-old missing five races due to a concussion in 2022, and missing three races as a result of a sprint car crash in 2023.
Alongside those injuries, Bowman has seen a fall off in performance over the past few seasons, narrowly making the playoffs last season, while sitting on a now 51-race losing streak that dates back to the 2024 Chicago Street race.
Entering this season, a reported contract year for Bowman, the pressure was mounting. Nonetheless, Bowman currently sits last in points among full-time drivers and has now seen another major blow to his 2026 Chase hopes.
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Lionel Racing has dropped the second batch of Wave 1 of its 2026 line of retail-exclusive 1:64 scale NASCAR Authentics diecast.
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