NASCAR prevented Cleetus McFarland, a driver who gained popularity on YouTube, from competing at Talladega. They stated the decision was based on safety issues, not his large online fanbase.
Garrett Mitchell, who most people know as the YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, wanted to race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway.
Despite his request, NASCAR officials didn’t approve it, and they emphasized that their decision wasn’t based on how popular he was or how many people might watch.
Instead, the sanctioning body pointed directly to experience and driver readiness.
NASCAR says Cleetus McFarland too ‘inexperienced’ for Talladega
According to NASCAR’s John Probst, although McFarland is cleared to race in several series like ARCA and on short tracks, racing at fast, high-risk tracks like Talladega demands more experience.
We’re all big fans of Cleetus and really enjoy his videos. We’re grateful for everything he’s contributed to the sport and expect he’ll continue to be a positive force.
Jeff Probst clarified that NASCAR isn’t rejecting potential drivers, but rather wants them to gain more experience before competing. He stressed the decision is about making sure drivers are well-prepared for the demands of high-speed racing.
We’ve given other drivers similar challenges to help them improve, and we’re doing the same with him. He’s still learning quickly, and we want to help him develop at a pace that’s both fast and safe, avoiding any risky situations.
Talladega is a famously fast and risky NASCAR track. Cars often race at speeds over 200 mph, and the close-quarters racing style can cause huge crashes. Because of these dangers, drivers need significant experience before they’re allowed to race there.
It wasn’t a simple decision regarding Cleetus, even considering viewership and finances. Our priority is doing what’s best for him as a driver. We need to be absolutely certain, with complete confidence, that he’s truly prepared before giving him the go-ahead, according to Probst.
McFarland is still new to national-level racing, with limited experience so far. He recently started competing in the series at Rockingham, but struggled with several spins and finished towards the end of the race.
In his last three races, the YouTuber also crashed twice.
For this reason, NASCAR wants to see continued improvement and reliable performance at shorter tracks before allowing him to compete in races at the faster, larger superspeedways.
Full video from McFarland’s instagram post
— Matthew Jackson (@Mjackson1224) April 7, 2026
McFarland wasn’t too upset about not being selected. He saw it as a learning experience. “My goal wasn’t just to quickly reach the top in someone else’s car, but we gave it a shot and it didn’t work out, so that’s okay,” he said. “I just need more experience and there’s still a lot for me to learn.”
A popular car creator on YouTube will have to postpone his first race at Talladega, though he’s aiming to compete there as soon as next year.
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2026-04-16 18:19