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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