Cleetus McFarland at Talladega Superspeedway – Motorsport America Photo
Cleetus McFarland Returns to ARCA Menards Series Competition at Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla: He’s back. Cleetus McFarland — flanked by
his millions of YouTube subscribers, returns to ARCA Menards Series
competition this weekend at Daytona International Speedway for Saturday
afternoon’s General Tire 200.
McFarland heads back to the site of his ARCA Menards Series debut — a
performance that showed promise before two early-race incidents
ultimately sidelined the Bradenton, Florida native.
He returns to the World Center of Racing with momentum on his side,
including a top 10 finish at Talladega Superspeedway last April — the
other drafting track on the ARCA schedule — and a strong preseason
showing at the 2.5-mile superspeedway that saw Rette Jones Racing place
inside the top 10 with McFarland at the helm.
Confident heading back to Daytona, McFarland eyes his third top 10
finish in just his fifth series start — while also embracing the
opportunity to shock the field with his first career ARCA Menards Series
victory on one of the discipline’s biggest stages.
“Daytona demands respect,” said McFarland. “Last time we were
here, we showed speed but didn’t get the finish we deserved. That’s
just how superspeedway racing goes sometimes.
“I’ve learned a lot since that first start, and the Rette Jones
Racing guys have brought a fast hot rod. If we execute, stay out of
trouble and put ourselves in position late, there’s no reason we
can’t be in the mix with 10 to go. And once you’re there, anything
can happen.”
Since his debut, McFarland has capitalized on every opportunity to gain
experience, adding two superspeedway races and two practice sessions to
his résumé as he prepares for the 80-lap showdown and the chance to
demonstrate his growth in front of his more than 4.07 million
subscribers.
“Seat time is everything at these places,” McFarland said. “You
can study film and talk about it all you want, but until you’re in the
draft making decisions at 190 miles per hour, it’s different.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is how the air works and how to
manage the runs. Two races and a couple of practice sessions might not
sound like much, but that experience adds up. I’m a lot more confident
in the pack now, and that lets you focus on racing instead of just
surviving.”
It’s a busy weekend for Cleetus.
In addition to his duties in the ARCA Menards Series garage, he’ll
also make the walk over to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series garage,
where he is set to make his series debut in Friday night’s Fresh From
Florida 250, piloting the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece
Motorsports.
McFarland earned his NASCAR superspeedway clearance following a
productive test session at Rockingham Speedway on February 10,
positioning him for his first start at the national level in the Truck
Series.
The event will also feature action sports legend Travis Pastrana,
placing two crossover icons under the same Niece Motorsports banner for
the superspeedway showdown.
McFarland, 30, intends to carry over the experience gained in Friday
night’s Truck Series opener into Saturday afternoon’s third career
ARCA Menards Series superspeedway start.
“There’s no substitute for real race laps,” McFarland said.
“Running the Truck race Friday night gives me another chance to feel
the draft, understand the runs and get comfortable making moves in
traffic. The goal is to take everything I learn and apply it right away
on Saturday.”
Though the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series trucks demand different inputs
behind the wheel than their ARCA counterparts, the lessons learned in
the draft — timing runs, managing air and navigating tight packs —
are transferable skills that McFarland intends to carry from Friday into
Saturday.
“The Truck and the ARCA car definitely drive different, but the
fundamentals at a superspeedway are the same,” McFarland said.
“You’re still managing air, reading runs and making split-second
decisions in the draft. The more laps I get in that environment, the
better I understand the rhythm of it — and that’s what really
carries over.”
Kenetik, a ketone-based performance drink formulated to enhance energy,
focus and mental clarity, will return to support McFarland in ARCA
Menards Series competition this season.
“I’m excited to have Kenetik back with us for ARCA this season,”
McFarland said. “They believed in what we’re building, and I take a
lot of pride in representing partners who invest in our program.
“We’ve built something special together, and I’m committed to
giving them maximum visibility both on the track and across our
channels. As we continue to grow in 2026, I want to make sure Kenetik
stays right there in the spotlight with us.”
Rette Jones Racing co-owner and crew chief Mark Rette is confident
McFarland can surpass expectations this weekend at Daytona.
“Cleetus has put in the work,” Rette said. “You can see the
progression every time he straps in. He’s more comfortable in the
draft, he’s asking the right questions and he’s starting to
understand the rhythm and decision-making that superspeedway racing
demands. If we execute and stay out of trouble, I believe we can
surprise some people.”
Rette Jones Racing and McFarland will also honor the memory of former
NASCAR icon Greg Biffle, who tragically died in a plane crash in
December 2025 along with his wife, two children and three others in an
accident in Statesville, North Carolina.
The NASCAR community has embraced the phrase “Be Like Biff” in
recent weeks as a tribute to Biffle’s competitive spirit, generosity,
selflessness and love of life — a mantra McFarland and the team plan
to carry with them into this weekend’s event as they celebrate his
legacy while pursuing success at Daytona.
Just like last February, McFarland will have a Rette Jones Racing
teammate for Saturday afternoon’s General Tire 200 at Daytona
International Speedway. Late Model standout Kole Raz will pilot the No.
76 Ford Mustang in association with Wayne Peterson Motorsports.
For more on Cleetus McFarland, like him on Facebook (Cleetus
McFarland) and follow him on Instagram (@garrett_1320video), TikTok
(@cleetusmcfarland) and YouTube.
For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com,
like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on
Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).
The General Tire 200 (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on
the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thursday,
February 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. ET. General Tire group pole
qualifying is set for Friday, February 13, at 1:30 p.m. ET. The race is
scheduled to take the green flag the following afternoon, shortly after
12:00 p.m. ET. The start of the 74th season of ARCA competition will be
televised live on FOX for the second consecutive year, with the Motor
Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 providing
radio coverage. ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring
throughout the day’s festivities.