Does Garrett Mitchell Have Enough Experience For NOAPS?

Published: Thu, 03/05/26

Frontstretch Newsletter: March 5, 2026
Volume XX, Edition XXXII

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What to Watch: Thursday

- Today is the first day of the race weekend in Phoenix. ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West teams are preparing right now for tonight's General Tire 150.

Practice will start at 3:30 p.m. ET with qualifying shortly afterwards. These sessions will not be televised.

Coverage of the General Tire 150 will begin at 6 p.m. ET today on FOX Sports 1. The green flag will fly around 6:10 p.m. ET.

- Formula 1's 2026 season will get underway tonight in Australia. Free Practice No. 1 will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET. Coverage will begin at 8:10 p.m. ET on Apple TV. Coverage of Free Practice No. 2 will start at 11:40 p.m. ET.

We will have a full recap of tonight's ARCA Menards Series/ARCA Menards Series West combination race and any other news that breaks for you at Frontstretch.

TV Schedule: Here

Today's Top News:

(Photo: NASCAR Media via James Gilbert of ARCA Racing)

Cleetus McFarland Joins RCR O’Reilly Program

Richard Childress Racing announced Wednesday that they have signed Garrett Mitchell, also known as "Cleetus McFarland," to a part-time deal to drive in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series this season.

Brayton Laster Announces 2026 ARCA Schedule

Brayton Laster announced Wednesday that he will compete in nine ARCA Menards Series races this season.

Photos are courtesy of NASCAR Media via James Gilbert of ARCA Racing and our own Josh Calloni.

Have news for Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com with a promising lead or tip.

Frontstretch Videos:

Bringing the Heat: Author Andrew Clarke Talks NASCAR's Immortals

Has Shane van Gisbergen Lost His Road Course Advantage? | NASCAR Mailbox

Newsletter Exclusive:

Frontstretch Line of the Week

From Sheldon Creed Details Big Celebration & What’s Next After 1st O’Reilly Win

"It was cool to do all the media stuff. It’s been a while, right? So to experience it after winning is awesome. And then I had a few beers at the track, and then I got home and my wife already had like — there’s probably 15 to 20 people at my house and a lot of my guys came and drank a bunch of beers on Saturday night and then fired it back up again Sunday. I was definitely feeling it on Monday when it was time to go back to work." - Sheldon Creed, on what he did after winning at Atlanta.

Today at Frontstretch:

The Newest Season of ‘Law & Order: NASCAR’

by Ava Ladner

Eyes on O’Reilly: Hey, Who Invited ‘Cleetus McFarland’?

by James Krause

Truckin’ Thursdays: FRM’s Truck Drivers Might Put Pressure on Its Cup Guys

by Anthony Damcott

Reel Racing: ‘We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt’ Takes Different Look at Infamous Daytona 500

by Adam Cheek

NASCAR Mailbox: Has Shane van Gisbergen Lost His Road Course Advantage?

by Ben Lloyd

2026 IndyCar Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Preview

by Brad Harrison

ARCA Preview: General Tire 150 at Phoenix

by Josh Calloni

Bringing the Heat: Author Andrew Clarke Talks NASCAR’s Immortals

with Caleb Barnes, Andrew Clarke and Trey Lyle

Tomorrow at Frontstretch.com:

In this week's edition of Friday Faceoff, we discuss who's most likely to take the battle to Tyler Reddick in Phoenix, who has been the most pleasant surprise so far, whether the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series should return to St. Petersburg and more.

Talk Back!

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