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What Does SVG NEED To Do to Be Cup Series Ready in 2025?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 02: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #91 Enhance Health Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course on July 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Joshua Lipowski

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Royal T Grafix

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Shane Van Gisbergen took the NASCAR world by storm this summer by winning the Chicago Street Race. He is signed to Trackhouse Racing for 2024 on a development deal, but, according to Daniel Herrero of speedcafe, the goal for SVG is full-time Cup in 2025. However, what needs to happen for SVG to run full-time in Cup in 2025?

Mastering Ovals

This is the biggest thing that SVG needs to work on as he works his way up to full-time Cup Series racing. He has proven that he can compete and win in the Cup Series car on road courses, but he has to gain experience on ovals. He ran one Truck Series race this year where he finished 19th, which was respectable.

However, he needs to learn how to handle high-banked superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, and he needs to learn how to handle intermediate tracks as well. Every race track in the Cup Series is just a little bit different, and SVG will have to learn how to handle it all. There truly is no substitute for just doing it over and over and over again.

The road courses make him a threat to make the Playoffs on wins once he does start racing full-time. However, if he wants to be one of the top drivers in the sport, he needs to learn how to run every type of race track well. If he can master that, then he can be successful in NASCAR.

Keep Up Performance on Road Courses

SVG’s biggest asset is forever going to be his prowess on road courses. The fact that he won the Chicago Street Race proves that he can win at the Cup Series level on road courses. As long as this format exists, SVG can sneak his way into the Playoffs via a win at a road course.

While Trackhouse and SVG will work tirelessly to make sure this is not the only asset that SVG has, they need to make sure not to take that away either. Being a legitimate threat to win every road course race on the schedule is a good thing for SVG, and it should serve as a confidence boost for SVG every time he pulls up to a road course.

While improving on other types of tracks is a must, keeping up his strengths is vital as well. Being good on road courses could be what gets SVG into the Playoffs, and, as NASCAR adds more road courses to the Playoffs, maybe he could sneak his way past a round or two.

How Does Trackhouse Field a Car for Him?

The biggest question for Trackhouse is how they field a potential car for SVG. They have Zane Smith signed, but he is out on loan to Spire for 2024. That means that Trackhouse could be looking at expanding to a four-car team for 2025.

This means not only one, but two charters would likely have to be purchased by Trackhouse. That’s a pretty tall task given that the last charter sold for around $40 million. However, Justin Marks is not so sure that a charter is required for a full-time team.

Justin Marks Had Some Surprising Comments About the Charter System

Could Marks be looking at either one or two non-chartered teams for 2025? If anyone would attempt it, it would be Justin Marks and Trackhouse. However, expanding to four teams is a massive endeavor, so, could another driver be on the hook for 2025?

Well, Daniel Suarez signed a multi-year extension heading into the 2023 season, and Ross Chastain did as well. This means Suarez is likely at Trackhosue at least through 2025 given the timing of the contract extension the weekend of the Daytona 500, so, after the season began. Unless Trackhouse wants to buy out Suarez, he may not be going anywhere. Then again, it is Trackhouse, and they do attempt crazy things.

Both from a competition standpoint and a contract standpoint, SVG joining the Cup Series full-time in 2025 would require a lot to happen. Will everything that needs to happen come to fruition for SVG?

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Cleetus McFarland Explains The One Catch to His NASCAR O’Reilly Series Schedule

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Garrett Mitchell, better known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, says his 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule isn’t set in stone, something the YouTube star explained to Dale Earnhardt Jr on the latest episode of The Dale Jr Download.

One of the biggest surprises in recent NASCAR news is that YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut next month at Rockingham Speedway.

Mitchell, who has just won a NASCAR National Series start to his name, will make this start with Richard Childress Racing in their No. 33 car as part of a part-time development contract that will see him make starts in 2026 and 2027.

Per Mitchell, his contract will cover three races per season, though he hinted it could be more in a Facebook post. Nonetheless, fans are eagerly awaiting an official schedule of what other tracks Mitchell and RCR will tackle in 2026.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a little longer for this schedule, as the 30-year-old Floridian explained during a recent interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr, his 2026 schedule is still up in the air a month ahead of his first race.

During an interview on the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Mitchell told Earnhardt that while he plans to race the superspeedways after Rockingham, with his sights set on Talladega’s April 25 or October 24 race weekend, the decision lies in the hands of NASCAR.

“NASCAR said I cannot run Talladega unless I go to Rockingham first and do well,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell then clarified that while he will have a rookie test for Rockingham, the race at Rockingham will determine his eligibility to race at Talladega.

Stirring the Pot

Mitchell, who has two ARCA starts at Daytona and one at Talladega, has already taken a rookie test this season at Rockingham for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Despite a minor crash during this test, Mitchell was cleared to race in the season-opening race at Daytona, crashing himself in a single truck spin five laps into the race, after a valiant qualifying effort.

Even with the barrier of Rockingham in the way, fans are already somewhat concerned about McFarland’s skills, given the result of his short time behind the wheel of a truck.

During this episode of The DJD, Mitchell expressed his intentions to work his way up the ladder and learn, but with the caveat that if an opportunity presents itself to him, he will take it, using the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series as a metaphorical example.

“I don’t want to drive a Cup car right now. But, brother, if someone calls me and says, ‘We got a spot in a Cup car in the Daytona 500?’ I mean, what am I supposed to do?” — Cleetus McFarland

Despite his doubters, with the support of RCR and their developmental tools, Mitchell seems confident about the opportunity, already getting in some sim time with RCR.

Either way, no matter how much support he has in his corner, Mitchell is diving in headfirst once again with this opportunity.

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Cleetus McFarland’s First NASCAR Diecast is Officially Available for Pre-Order

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Lionel has officially opened pre-orders for Garrett Mitchell’s (better known as Cleetus McFarland) first-ever NASCAR diecast.

  • This announcement comes as part of his upcoming debut in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series next month. While the sponsor, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, and car number, No. 33, are known, there has yet to be an official render of his paint scheme released to the public.
  • Lionel Racing is offering two diecast options for Mitchell: the first option is the 1:64 scale diecast at $11.75, and the second is a 1:24 scale diecast at $70.00. As of press time, it appears the car will not receive any other options, such as Special Finishes like Color Chrome or Galaxy Colored.
  • Mitchell announced his first NASCAR OAP Series race on Wednesday afternoon, signing a two-year, three-race-per-year deal with RCR. This is a major step for the YouTube star turned NASCAR driver, who made his ARCA debut last season.
  • Due to his popularity both in and out of NASCAR, Mitchell’s diecast may be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. Many race fans are already giving bold predictions for the large order quantity this car will receive by the time it reaches production.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 11: Garrett Mitchell, also known as Cleetus McFarland, driver of the #30 Kenetik Ford waits on the grid prior to the ARCA Menards Series Bush's Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 11, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

UPDATE: Cleetus McFarland Will Race in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series This Year

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

YouTube star-turned-NASCAR driver Garrett Mitchell, best known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, has signed a part-time deal to race with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the next two seasons.

UPDATE 3:00 PM EST: Per RCR Mitchell will make his debut at Rockingham Speedway on April 4.

  • Mitchell announced his signing with RCR in a Wednesday afternoon post on his Facebook. The 30-year-old says that RCR reached out, offering to make him “a better driver and give you an opportunity to grow in this sport.”
  • The Floridaian will drive the team’s part-time No. 33 on a part-time basis over the next two seasons. Mitchell claims in his post that the deal is three races a year, but hints it could be more, saying “3 races a year right now.”
  • Mitchell, who made his NASCAR debut last season with a four-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series, has brought a legion of fans to NASCAR in his few starts. So far, Mitchell has made five career starts in the ARCA Menards Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
  • That start in the Truck Series, at Daytona earlier this season, was a spark of controversy, as, after crashing in his test for approval, Mitchell crashed himself early on in the race. While he has his supporters, including many in the garage area, this move up the NASCAR ladder will likely see some pushback from fans across the board.
  • As of press time, Mitchell has yet to announce his first race of this part-time schedule with RCR.

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