Spire Motorsports Brings in Another Trackhouse Driver For Truck Series Duties
What’s Happening? Shane van Gisbergen is the latest Trackhouse Racing driver to join Spire Motorsports for a start in the NASCAR…
NASCAR recently turned down a request for Cleetus McFarland and Richard Childress Racing to enter the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Talladega on April 25, drawing a line in the sand on the YouTuber-turned-driver’s push for a superspeedway start.
Fresh off his run at Rockingham last Saturday, his debut in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, hoped to clear a bar set by NASCAR for a future start at Talladega.
In his effort, Mitchell started 35th and finished 32nd, keeping his nose clean and avoiding contact with other drivers.
He entered that race aiming to show he could hold his own at a track where cars run in packs at high speeds with little room for error. NASCAR, however, erred on the side of caution.
With risks at superspeedways higher than at short tracks and Mitchell still short on seat time in stock cars, the sanctioning body opted to hold off on approval, seeking more evidence before giving the green light.
His Rockingham outing, while steady on the surface, was not without moments either. Mitchell completed 244 of 250 laps and avoided incidents that could have derailed other drivers, but he spun twice and had two half spins.
Furthermore, the race marked only his second start at the National Series level.
His earlier run at Daytona in the Craftsman Truck Series this year did not help his case.
In February, he lined up for the Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway, a sister track to Talladega, but his debut ended after five laps with a solo spin. Taken together, the Daytona result, the Rockingham run, and his limited experience formed the basis for NASCAR’s call to deny entry into the Talladega race.
NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst outlined the stance, saying, “He [Mitchell] is approved right now for O’Reilly Series short tracks, which means he’s good for all of ARCA, all of truck, and then O’Reilly up through the short tracks. We’d like to see more out of Cleetus in the short tracks. So we’re not saying no, but there is more that we would like to see out of Cleetus before we would approve him for Talladega.”
Mitchell, for his part, addressed the call on his YouTube channel, conceding that his Rockingham debut may not have sealed the deal.
“They did not see enough. Granted, it was a pretty hectic race. I tried to pass someone three-wide on the third lap, spun out, spun out a few more times … didn’t crash or crash anybody but still … it was pretty hectic.”
What’s Happening? Shane van Gisbergen is the latest Trackhouse Racing driver to join Spire Motorsports for a start in the NASCAR…
The call to deny Mitchell a start at Talladega has set off a wave of reaction, with fans weighing in from both sides of the fence and turning the decision into a talking point.
Some, who have followed Mitchell since his YouTube days and see him as a draw for viewership and reach, voiced disapproval, arguing that the move shuts the door on a chance to bring new eyes to the sport.
Others backed NASCAR, saying experience must come before a shot at races where packs run tight, and margin for error runs thin.
One fan, reacting to the denial, said, “@DGodfatherMoody I’m happy to see NASCAR not allow Cleetus McFarland to run Talladega. Let him run Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond, maybe an intermediate track or two such as Chicago or Darlington. If he proves successful maybe @NASCAR can let him run Talladega or Daytona.”
Another echoed that line of thought, adding, “In a sane world this wouldn’t be controversial. However, that ship sailed long ago. I’ve seen enough over the years to know when someone has it and they don’t. Cleetus McFarland has shown absolutely nothing to warrant running Bowman Gray, let alone Talladega. Sorry if that hurts some feelings, but the truth doesn’t care about your feelings.”
However, not all took that view. A section of fans pushed back, taking aim at the decision and the message it sends.
One wrote, “@NASCAR really CLEET worked hard. Have put time in. He would have got practice before Talladega. You took an experience from fans that can’t be replaced. You let wall riders in races and you won’t let Cleetus McFarland. Sad day in the history of nascar.”
Another questioned the call, saying, “Is the car difference that big at a super speedway? He has already run ARCA at Talladega in the past!”
Where McFarland goes next in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is still a question mark. But what stands clear is that he has definitely made a following within NASCAR, and the debate around his path forward is far from over.
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