Cleetus McFarland’s NASCAR Superspeedway Bid Rejected at O’Reilly Raceway

Emerson Raymont

Published: April 7, 2026 10:52 PM ET

Garrett Mitchell, known as Cleetus McFarland, recently announced on Facebook that his bid to compete at NASCAR superspeedways has been denied. This decision comes as a result of NASCAR’s assessment of his performance during recent races.

Cleetus McFarland’s NASCAR Superspeedway Bid Rejected

In his announcement, Cleetus shared, “They did not see enough.” He reflected on the hectic nature of a recent race where he struggled to maintain control. Cleetus attempted to race three-wide early on but ended up spinning out multiple times. Although he did not crash or collide with other racers, the issues contributed to NASCAR’s decision.

Next Steps for Cleetus McFarland

Cleetus acknowledged that his experience in NASCAR is still limited. He noted that he has only been involved in the sport for a year. “It was never my mission to get to the top as fast as I could,” he explained. NASCAR officials have suggested he participate in more ARCA and Truck Series events to gain additional experience.

Cleetus is currently approved for short tracks in the O’Reilly Series.
He needs to add more races to his schedule for better preparation.
Cleetus hopes to qualify for competitive events at Daytona and Talladega next year.

Industry Insights

Richard Childress Racing’s Danny Lawrence commented on this outcome, indicating that NASCAR may require Cleetus to run additional races. He pointed out that during the last race, crucial activities like live pit stops were not executed, which may have influenced NASCAR’s decision. Lawrence emphasized the need for preparedness at superspeedway events due to their fast pace.

NASCAR’s Executive Vice President, John Probst, expressed his support for Cleetus. He confirmed that while Cleetus is limited to short tracks now, the sanctioning body appreciates his contributions to the sport. Probst stated, “We’d like to see more out of Cleetus in the short tracks,” reiterating that further experience will be beneficial before considering him for major events.

As Cleetus McFarland continues to back his desire to rise in competitive racing, he remains focused on honing his skills and gaining the essential “windshield time” needed to advance his NASCAR career.