“I’ve got the bug bad. I’m fired up to go superspeedway racing.” These words by Garrett Mitchell in February this year were enough to convince Dale Earnhardt Jr. Mitchell, also known as ‘Cleetus McFarland’ vis-à-vis his YouTube popularity, embarked on a part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule this year. He finished 30th in Daytona after a multi-car accident. However, that could hardly muffle his enthusiasm – and a Talladega genius took note of it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr has dominated the 2.66-mile Alabama superspeedway 6 times in his NASCAR Cup Series career. So he knows the track’s steep banking and unique layout like the back of his hand. Dale Jr accordingly rolled out some useful advice to McFarland, whose debut is approaching this weekend.
Dale Earnhardt Jr gives crash-saving advice
If there is one thing ‘Dega’ is famous for, it is its ‘Big Ones.’ NASCAR’s largest oval is notoriously known for causing multi-car wrecks. Just look back upon the Cup Series playoff race in 2024 – a 25+car wreck unfolded, the biggest in the track’s history. All the main race contenders were caught in it, including veterans like Joey Logano and Chase Elliott, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr became an unlikely winner. The General Tire 200 is coming up at Talladega Superspeedway this Saturday, April 26th. Mitchell will strap himself into the No. 30 Ford Mustang. But before getting into battle gear for the ARCA Menards race, he harnessed some golden advice from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The two popular motorsports personalities previously interacted in a Dale Jr Download episode on February 19th. Dale Earnhardt Jr hopped on the bandwagon of fans cheering for Cleetus McFarland who had some quirky remarks for Daytona. In Talladega as well, McFarland gave a live commentary as Dale Jr wheeled a car on the track. He asked Dale Jr to show him some tricks, “Can you do a…go full speed and then pit, and then show me exactly where you would come down? …It’s crazy how there’s no side force ’cause the bank just cancels it out…It’s smooth! We’re turning left with Dale Jr.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr obliged more than what was demanded. The 26-time Cup Series race winner explained exactly how to do a pit stop in Talladega. If Cleetus McFarland puts too much pressure on the brakes, he may be setting off a crash. Dale Jr said: “I need to know a couple of laps beforehand that I’m going to pit, so I can be in the bottom groove. I’m going to start rolling out of the gas here. But don’t mash the brakes until you get straight. So that when you do mash the brakes, all four tires go into the asphalt together. If I brake while I’m turning, I’m going to slide one of these tires. Because the tire’s not perfectly, symmetrically loaded.” Then he added optimistically for McFarland: “I think you’re going to be fine.”
The Omaha, Nebraska native will get into the ‘Dega’ action under Rette Jones Racing’s banner. With sponsorship from energy drink brand Kenetik, he will be good to go. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s support may have been the highest he received – as the veteran has emotional ties with the track.
A track that reminds him of home
Only one person may have completely tamed Talladega. That is none other than Dale Earnhardt Sr, who owns ten victories at the oval. After the Intimidator passed away at Daytona in February 2001, his son embarked on a dazzling streak. Dale Earnhardt Jr won four consecutive races at Talladega from 2001 through 2003. He then finished runner-up in back-to-back Talladega races before clinching his fifth victory in 2004. Clearly, Dale Jr and Talladega’s bond runs deeper than it seems. Recently, Cleetus McFarland offered the veteran his ‘Dale Truck,’ a converted drag racing truck based on a 1990s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series truck with a Dale Earnhardt Sr.-inspired paint scheme. Dale Jr was bubbling with enthusiasm when he completed a rip behind the wheel of this truck.
That enthusiasm has persisted for years, as a quiet tribute to his bygone legendary father. In 2017, Dale Earnhardt Jr clinched his sixth and final trophy at Talladega. It came after a long gap of 13 years, but the emotions were intact for Dale Jr. He admitted so after reaching Victory Lane: “I think about all the races he won here and at Daytona, I love when we go to Victory Lane because I feel like I add to his legacy there. All I ever want to do is make him proud. I feel like when we win at those tracks where he was successful, that’s exactly what we’re doing. I don’t really get to think about him that much. His birthday came and went. (This win), it made me think about his birthday, how much I miss him, how much he meant to me and so many more people.”
Evidently, Dale Earnhardt Jr is rooting hard for Cleetus McFarland to spew gold on his Talladega debut. Let us see how far the YouTuber can impress the veteran at the upcoming ARCA Menards Series race.
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