From YouTuber to NASCAR driver: Cleetus McFarland expands his racing resume at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Garrett Mitchell is better known as “Cleetus McFarland” to his millions of followers gained over the years as a racing influencer. He's pretty much always been called a YouTuber, until he was out to dinner last week when a fan stopped by and referred to him as a NASCAR driver.

It was the first time anyone has given McFarland that title.

“I’ve been called a YouTuber forever,” McFarland told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I was like, ‘Awwwe. That’s sooo much better.’”

It might be more accurate, too.

McFarland will make his Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night and then will race in the ARCA Series the following day. He has more racing in his future, too, hinting that details are dropping soon.

He made four ARCA starts in 2025, beginning with the season opener at Daytona. He crashed 17 laps into that one — and made headlines for saying he felt like “the best racer there ever was" for some of his driving moves — but found more success by finishing 10th at Talladega, ninth at Charlotte and 17th at Bristol.

It should pay dividends on the high banks at Daytona.

“I feel a little more comfortable,” he said. “Last year, I couldn’t even get to the garage. I’m like, ‘Where the hell is my car even at?’ Now, I know where to go. I know some familiar faces. I know the track, so I feel a lot better.”

McFarland will be one of 36 drivers in a star-studded Truck Series event at Daytona. The field includes three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, X Games and RallyCross standout Travis Pastrana as well as five Cup Series regulars.

Stewart, whose nickname is “Smoke,” is helping launch Ram’s return to the Truck Series.

“I love Smoke,” McFarland said. “To go hang out with him and hopefully get to hit his bumper at some point, I’m wound up.”

McFarland and Pastrana are teammates at Niece Motorsports, with Black Rifle Coffee and Brunt Workwear serving as sponsors. McFarland earned NASCAR superspeedway clearance following a test session at Rockingham Speedway on Tuesday and arrived at Daytona with more confidence than he had a year ago.

“My expectations are much higher this year,” he said. “I understand when and where risk matters. Last year, I ended up falling out (of the draft) because someone was spinning out in front of me and I kept trying to push it and get around them to not lose the field. Now I would just be like, ‘There’s a caution coming anyway. Just stop. This is so stupid.’ So, I’m learning.”

Pastrana has learned about McFarland, too. They raced against each other in several made-for-YouTube events like the Freedom 500.

“Cleetus always downplays his driving skills, but he’s a wheel man,” Pastrana said. “He can wheel anything.”

McFarland and Pastrana will race with Greg Biffle tributes on their trucks. Biffle was among seven killed when his plane crashed in Statesville, North Carolina, in December. Biffle, 55, was named one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers, was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.

He drew headlines last year for his humanitarian efforts as a helicopter pilot supplying aid in North Carolina following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

“Be Like Biff” adorns their truck beds, with Biffle’s No. 16 topped by a halo. McFarland even cut Pastrana’s shirtsleeves off during a media availability Thursday in a tribute to Biffle.

“I wouldn’t be here without Biff,” said McFarland, who delivered a eulogy at Biffle's funeral. “We’re representing. I never really talked to him about trucks, unfortunately. This would have been so cool. He would have been so stoked that we’re doing this.

“He was actually going to race with us. He was going to race ARCA with me here this weekend. I imagine he would have found a truck. It would have been sick. But we’re representing Biff out here. If I do anything dumb, it wasn’t something Biff taught me. But I’m going to use everything else he taught me to hopefully do well.”

And maybe move closer to being better known as a NASCAR driver.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

NASCAR Truck driver Garrett Mitchell, better known as "Cleetus McFarland, left, speaks to crew in the garage area during a practice at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

NASCAR Truck driver Garrett Mitchell, better known as "Cleetus McFarland, leaves the garage area for the track during a practice at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

NASCAR Truck driver Garrett Mitchell, better known as "Cleetus McFarland, prepares for a practice at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Utah appeared to find a loophole in the NBA's player participation policy, but the league sent a message Thursday by hitting the Jazz with a $500,000 fine.

The NBA also docked the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and two other starters in a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz.

The policy was put in place in September 2023 to try to discourage clubs from purposely losing in order to improve their chances with the draft lottery. This year's draft is considered the strongest in several years, possibly incentivizing clubs like the Jazz to position themselves for a high pick.

The Jazz did not play stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of recent close games. Both played three quarters in recent road games against Miami and Orlando. The Magic rallied from 17 points down to win 120-117, but the Jazz defeated the Heat 115-111.

Jazz coach Will Hardy was asked after the game at Miami whether he considered playing Markkanen and Jackson in the fourth quarter.

“I wasn’t,” Hardy said succinctly.

In fining the Jazz said, the NBA said in its release “these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement the competition committee and team owners will work "to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” Silver said.

Silver likely will further address the topic when he meets with the media Saturday during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

“Agree to disagree ...,” Jazz owner Ryan Smith posted on social media. “Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense ...”

The NBA fined Utah $100,000 last season after the Jazz rested Markkanen in multiple games.

He and the recently-acquired Jackson are the building blocks for the Jazz to try to get back into contention. They traded with Memphis on Feb. 3 for the two-time All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.

Jackson, however, will be out for the foreseeable future. He will undergo surgery over the NBA all-star break to remove a growth from his left knee, discovered by an MRI in a physical following the trade. Jackson averaged 22.3 points in 24 minutes per game after joining the Jazz.

Utah has prioritized player development with younger players on its roster at the expense of chasing wins. The front office is motivated to hold onto a first-round pick in this year's draft that is top-eight protected. Falling outside the bottom eight in the standings means Utah would lose that pick to Oklahoma City.

A number of teams, including the Jazz, would seem to have a great interest in securing a high selection for this year's draft.

One of those top prospects plays just south of Salt Lake. BYU's AJ Dybantsa is considered a likely top-three and potentially franchise-changing pick along with Duke's Cameron Boozer and Kansas' Darryn Peterson.

But it's also a deep draft where simply getting into the lottery could mean still getting a shot at a difference-making player.

The Jazz, 18-37 entering Thursday night's game against Portland, will miss the postseason for the fourth year in a row. This comes after a six-year stretch in which the Jazz made the playoffs each season.

Under the direction of CEO Danny Ainge and his son and team president, Austin, the Jazz ultimately are trying to return to the glory days when they didn't just make the playoffs. The John Stockton-Karl Malone teams in 1990s were regular championship contenders, making the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.

Freelance writer John Coon in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) is defended by Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)