Garrett Mitchell, widely recognized as Cleetus McFarland, recently secured a part-time driving contract with Richard Childress Racing, marking an important milestone in the early 2026 NASCAR season. With his scheduled debut at Rockingham Speedway next month, McFarland is drawing attention as fans and industry experts debate the implications of NASCAR’s approval of his move given his relatively limited track record in lower-tier series.
The excitement around Mitchell’s debut is matched by skepticism from various corners of the NASCAR community, who question whether his racing experience in the ARCA Menards and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series sufficiently prepares him for a more competitive division. These concerns reflect broader discussions about NASCAR’s entry standards and the balance between fan engagement and driver readiness.
Denny Hamlin’s Perspective on NASCAR’s Driver Approval Standards
As discussions heated up following Mitchell’s contract announcement, Denny Hamlin, a prominent driver and team owner, shared his insights during an episode of his podcast, Actions Detrimental. Hamlin acknowledged that McFarland brings increased attention to the sport, especially after notable gains in viewership related to his participation in 2025 and at early 2026 events like Daytona.
Despite recognizing McFarland’s influence on audience growth, Hamlin voiced concerns about NASCAR’s current approval process, suggesting it might be too lenient for drivers making significant jumps into higher levels.
I think that our approval process should be more tough than what it is,
Hamlin said.
I think that there’s a certain standard that we need to hold to ourselves, certainly in the Cup Series.
— Denny Hamlin
His comments echoed a widespread sentiment in the sport: that more rigorous criteria should govern which drivers are allowed to compete in top-tier series to maintain safety and competition integrity.
Cleetus McFarland’s Approach and Aspirations Within NASCAR
Although McFarland has yet to race in the NASCAR Cup Series, he remains open to the possibility in the future. So far, he has passed NASCAR’s evaluations to compete in the Truck Series, including a challenging debut at Rockingham where he sustained damage and spun out early in the race. NASCAR’s approval allowed him to participate despite these early struggles, highlighting the trial-and-error nature of driver development.
Hamlin closely followed McFarland’s Truck Series race at Daytona and expressed concern about the rookie’s early laps, noting a lack of control behind the wheel.
“I watched him [Mitchell] in that Truck race at Daytona, and truthfully, he was out of control for all 12 of the laps before he wrecked. You could just see, I could see it. I know this sport. I know what’s in control and out of control. And I was like, ‘Oh man, this is not gonna end well.’”
— Denny Hamlin
Hamlin raised questions regarding the presence of new drivers in the second-highest division, especially when seasoned drivers are vying for championships. With this in mind, his expectation for McFarland’s upcoming race at Rockingham was modest yet clear:
“Hopefully he can just not be part of the story. That’s the goal. I think that would be part of the goal, is just Cleetus just go out there, run some laps, enjoy yourself, have fun, get your content. He’s good, he’s a great guy. That is the deep end, that is the deep end, going to a track like that.”
— Denny Hamlin
Hamlin emphasized that while this challenge may seem small, McFarland will inevitably face a steep learning curve moving forward. Improvement is expected through experience, which McFarland is already demonstrating in his ARCA starts.
From the first race he ran last year to the ARCA race that I saw at Daytona this year, he was better,
Hamlin noted.
He was no doubt better. So I think he needs to just keep on his path, get you some more short track experience, intermediate experience, at some lower levels.
— Denny Hamlin
Mixed Responses From NASCAR Fans and Industry Figures
The reception to Cleetus McFarland’s promotion has been varied within the NASCAR community. While many welcome the fresh attention and new fanbase he brings to the sport, others remain uneasy about the swift nature of his advancement and the potential risks posed to competition quality and safety.
As McFarland prepares for his first race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Rockingham, the spotlight will be on how well he adapts to a more demanding racing environment. His performance will likely influence ongoing debates about how NASCAR evaluates and integrates emerging drivers with unconventional racing backgrounds.
Ultimately, McFarland’s journey represents a crossroads between traditional development paths and the evolving landscape of motorsport popularity driven by social media personalities, making his progress a subject of keen interest among fans and professionals alike.
