The season-opening race for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Daytona has a number of noteworthy entries. Among those entered include X Games gold medalist Travis Pastrana and retired three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart.
On Thursday, February 5, Niece Motorsports threw another prominent name in the mix with their announcement. Garrett Mitchell, known by his internet name Cleetus McFarland, will pilot the team’s #4 truck in the February 13 race at Daytona.
McFarland will be making his NASCAR national touring series debut in this year’s Daytona Truck race. The internet personality will race under the condition he’s approved in a test at Rockingham Speedway.
Cleetus McFarland Teams With Travis Pastrana at Daytona
Niece Motorsports made the announcement regarding McFarland via social media. The team noted that McFarland will pilot the #4 Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet Silverado, and is teammates alongside Travis Pastrana.
Pastrana will field the #42 Niece Motorsports truck in the season-opening race at Daytona. The 42-year-old has made six starts in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, last coming at Daytona in 2023.
Meanwhile, as McFarland noted in an Instagram post, he’ll only be able to compete in the Daytona Truck race if he’s cleared by NASCAR in a test at Rockingham Speedway.
“Guys… I’ll be testing next week to see if I’m eligible for some [NASCAR] truck racing!!! That’s all I can say for now, but it’s all possible because of [Black Rifle Coffee] and [BRUNT] supporting me on this opportunity! [Niece Motorsports] has the truck ready for some testing I’m FIRED UP,” McFarland wrote.
McFarland joins a list of noteworthy drivers competing in the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona. Along with McFarland and Pastrana, Tony Stewart, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carson Hocevar, and John Hunter Nemechek are among the drivers all competing.
The Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona is the season-opening race for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The race is scheduled for 100 laps and 250 miles, with the green flag scheduled to drop on Friday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Cleetus McFarland Delivered Heartfelt Message Honoring The Late Greg Biffle
Prior to the announcement of his NASCAR national series debut, Cleetus McFarland honored his late friend, Greg Biffle, at the latter’s memorial service on January 16. Biffle, along with his wife, two children, and three others perished in a plane crash on December 18.
At the memorial, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, McFarland spoke about what it means to “Be Like Biff,” a nod to the late driver’s nickname. As McFarland spoke about, it’s about taking opportunities.
“Whether you are taking the opportunity to pass somebody on the track or getting off your couch to chase a dream you have only been talking about for the past five years. It means showing up for your friends and family. It means using your heart to make the world a better place. It means being generous whenever you can and helping other humans when they’re down. That is what it means to be like Biff,” McFarland said.
Cleetus McFarland is best known for his internet presence. He has over 4.6 million subscribers on YouTube and has posted over a thousand videos.
Internet Personality Lands Ride for NASCAR Daytona Truck Race