Garrett Mitchell, better known online as Cleetus McFarland, announced that the upcoming fall Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega will mark the final start of his 2026 season.
A Season of Firsts
The 2026 campaign has been a breakthrough for the YouTube star‑driver, who made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2025 and expanded into multiple NASCAR National Series events this year.
Mitchell’s schedule included his first ever NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start and his inaugural appearance in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the latter being a developmental program under Richard Childress Racing that promises two to three races per season.
He celebrated a pole position in the ARCA Menards Series and followed it with a second‑place finish at Talladega, a result many analysts believe could have turned into a victory had circumstances aligned.
Despite rumors of additional appearances, Mitchell clarified that he has only one more race left on the calendar, the October 23 Truck Series event, and that he will not be pursuing further starts later in the year.
The driver addressed criticism that his focus on NASCAR detracts from his YouTube commitments, emphasizing that the limited schedule is intentional and designed to maximize learning and performance in each series.
With a developmental partnership with Richard Childress Racing and a growing presence in the sport, Mitchell’s final Talladega start is being viewed as a pivotal moment that could shape the next chapter of his racing career.