Cleetus McFarland's Daytona Truck debut ends in early crash; eyes ARCA outing the next day
DAYTONA BEACH — Cleetus McFarland's much-anticipated NASCAR Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway ended in dramatic fashion just six laps into the Fresh From Florida 250 on Feb. 13, 2026 (ET). The social-media star and racer, whose given name is Garrett Mitchell, spun coming out of Turn 4 and slammed into the outside wall, bringing out the night’s first caution and leaving his No. 4 entry sidelined early.
Spin in Turn 4 cuts debut short
The sequence unfolded almost immediately after the start as the pack jockeyed for position in tight tri-oval conditions. McFarland said the field was three-wide in the early laps and that he lost rear grip exiting Turn 4, which sent him spinning into the wall. He lowered his window net and climbed from the car under his own power, visibly shaken but not seriously injured.
McFarland offered a candid assessment of the miscue on the live TV broadcast, saying, "It was immediately three-wide, and it was insane. I mean, I was having the time of my life literally again. I just did not check myself before I wrecked myself... I put too much wheel into it because I was getting a little tight because we were freaking three-wide from the second lap on. " The comment captured both the exhilaration and the cost of aggressive pack racing at Daytona.
The early exit ended what was supposed to be a headline-grabbing debut for the driver, whose online following has helped draw extra attention to an already star-studded Truck Series lineup. With his entry done for the night, McFarland pivoted quickly to focus on the ARCA program scheduled at the same track the following day.
ARCA return, perspective and audience impact
McFarland is slated to compete in the General Tire 200 ARCA event on Saturday, and team officials and the driver indicated he would continue with that plan despite the Truck crash. The quick turnaround underscores the different stakes and approaches drivers often take when toggling between series in a single race weekend — the Truck event was a marquee debut, but the ARCA race presents its own championship and developmental value.
Beyond immediate results, McFarland’s presence has broader implications for the sport. His sizeable online audience has been credited with bringing fresh eyeballs to the race weekend, and his candid post-crash reaction highlights how crossover personalities navigate the learning curve of pack racing at Daytona. McFarland’s willingness to talk openly about mistakes and the thrill of racing resonated with fans in the broadcast and on social channels.
What this means for crossover competitors
The episode at Daytona is another example of a growing trend: performers and personalities from other corners of action sports and digital media stepping into stock-car competition. Those crossover efforts often generate buzz but also come with steep on-track lessons — close-quarters racing in restrictor-plate-style packs punishes even small errors.
For McFarland, the crash is a setback but not an endpoint. He has another competitive opportunity at Daytona in ARCA, and the experience will likely serve as a valuable data point for both the driver and his team as they refine setups and race strategy. For fans, the incident provided a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change at Daytona and how high-profile entrants can reshape weekend storylines, whether through triumph or misstep.
As the weekend continues, attention will shift to whether McFarland can turn the early disappointment into redemption in ARCA and how his presence continues to influence interest around stock-car events that feature crossover talent such as Travis Pastrana and others who have bridged action sports and motorsports in recent years.
