Electric Cars

In a thrilling and tumultuous turn of events, social media sensation Cleetus McFarland, also known as Garrett Mitchell, recently made his much-anticipated Super Late Model debut at the legendary Berlin Raceway in Michigan. The race, a highly competitive event dubbed the 'Tekton 250 Battle at Berlin', saw McFarland navigate a demanding course in his newly acquired No. 33 Late Model vehicle.

McFarland's Challenging Debut and Future Racing Ambitions

The race, held on August 13, 2026, proved to be an eventful one for McFarland. Starting from the 22nd position in a field of 27 cars, he quickly found himself embroiled in the thick of the action. Early in the race, he was forced to execute a skillful spin to avoid a collision ahead, a testament to the unpredictable nature of stock car racing. Throughout the event, McFarland's car endured constant fender-to-fender contact and battled a persistent tire rub, adding to the intensity of his inaugural outing. A particularly notable moment occurred mid-race when fellow competitor Evan Szotko expressed his displeasure with a hand gesture while being lapped by McFarland.

However, McFarland's night took an unfortunate turn with less than 20 laps remaining. While battling for position, his car became loose directly in front of the race leader, causing him to spin and slide across the track. Although the leader narrowly avoided contact, Keith Herp, who was running a lap down in 14th place, was not as fortunate. The ensuing heavy collision left both cars severely damaged, forcing McFarland's No. 33 out of the race. He ultimately finished in 19th position.

Reflecting on the experience with FloRacing, McFarland candidly admitted, 'Well I just suck, you know. I just suck.' He elaborated on the difficulties of adapting to the new car, stating, 'I was fighting for my life out there, trying to just learn this thing. Got a couple of good runs and then I would overheat my right-rear, trying to overdrive it.' He attributed the final incident to driving too aggressively, resulting in the car getting loose and being hit from the inside. Despite the disappointing end, McFarland expressed genuine enthusiasm for the experience, adding, 'I was having the time of my life. Honestly, it was so fun and great.' He also extended an apology to Herp's team, hoping their car wasn't too severely damaged.

The Battle at Berlin was ultimately won by Tristan McKee, who is set to make his NASCAR Truck Series debut the following weekend in Richmond. Bubba Pollard secured second place, with NASCAR Cup Series star Carson Hocevar finishing third.

Looking ahead, Cleetus McFarland plans to continue his late model racing endeavors at the Freedom Factory, a 3/8-mile oval track he owns in Florida. His next scheduled NASCAR appearance is the Craftsman Truck Series event at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23rd, where he previously achieved a close second-place finish in an ARCA race earlier this year.

Cleetus McFarland's debut in the Super Late Model, while ending in a wreck, serves as a powerful reminder of the steep learning curve and inherent challenges in motorsports. His willingness to compete, embrace the difficulties, and maintain a positive outlook, even after a setback, is truly commendable. It underscores the passion and resilience required to pursue racing dreams, even for established figures. His journey highlights that success isn't always about winning, but about the experience, the lessons learned, and the unwavering dedication to the sport. It will be exciting to see how his skills develop as he continues to chase his NASCAR aspirations.

Dynamic Ascents: Dominant Performances Redefine National Racing Hierarchy

Willmott's Ascendancy to Second Place

Oli Willmott, the reigning Mini Challenge Clubsport champion, demonstrated an exceptional display of skill at Donington Park. His commanding performance resulted in a clean sweep across all three races, adding significantly to his season's victory tally. This hat-trick of wins propelled Willmott an impressive 14 positions higher, securing him the second spot in the prestigious Autosport National Rankings. His consistent excellence throughout the season is truly reflected in this remarkable leap.

Thompson's Strategic Climb into the Top Five

Aaron Thompson, a prominent figure in the Pickups series, mirrored Willmott's success at Donington, remaining undefeated in the two races held. Although his series had one less race due to rescheduling, Thompson's stellar showing allowed him to subtly advance six places, landing him firmly in the top five of the national rankings. Both Willmott and Thompson now share the distinction of achieving 11 victories this season, underscoring their formidable presence in their respective categories. The relatively smaller grid size in the Pickups series, however, plays a role in determining tie-breaks, positioning Thompson strategically among other top contenders like Legends racer Chris Needman and Junior Saloons favorite Ollie Smith, neither of whom were active during this particular race weekend.

Defining the Autosport National Rankings

The Autosport National Rankings serve as a definitive metric for recognizing the most accomplished drivers in UK and Irish car racing over the course of a season. This comprehensive table is primarily based on the number of race wins a driver achieves. It provides a clear snapshot of who is excelling in the diverse landscape of national motorsport.

Connor Kay Maintains Lead Despite Class Win Limitations

Historics specialist Connor Kay currently holds the coveted top position in the rankings with an impressive 13 wins. Despite securing two class victories and an overall second place in the Midgets and Sprites double-header at Oulton Park, these particular class successes did not count towards his ranking total. This is due to a rule requiring a minimum of six starters in a class for wins to be eligible, and Kay's class in those races had only five entrants. This highlights the specific criteria governing the Autosport National Rankings.

Robinson's Significant Leap and Other Notable Movers

The Classic Sports Car Club meeting at Oulton, while not contributing to Kay's class wins, proved to be a pivotal event for Jack Robinson. A dominant force in the club's Jaguar Championship, Robinson secured a double victory in his XK8. Furthermore, his shared class win with brother Tom in the Powered by Jaguar with Future and Modern Classics race, driving an XJR6, allowed him to surge dramatically from outside the top 50 straight into 14th place. Elsewhere, Ash Sutton, a leading contender in the British Touring Car Championship, moved up six spots to 18th following his win at Knockhill with his Ford Focus Titanium, placing him alongside Historic FF2000's Ben Glasswell based on wins and average grid size. Additionally, Eddie Mawer climbed seven places to 20th after a Ma7da win at Brands Hatch, and Luke Cooper advanced six positions to 22nd with a success in the Castle Combe FF1600.

Understanding Ranking Criteria and Tie-Breaking Rules

The Autosport National Driver Rankings include all car races in the UK and Ireland, excluding qualification, repechage, consolation, and handicap races, and no international events are considered. Class wins are only recognized if there are at least six starters in that specific class, with exceptions for multi-stage events or merged championships where overall winners from slower championships can claim a class win if the championship has at least 10 starters across all classes. Only classes defined by car characteristics are included, not those based on driver attributes like ability or experience. Each race victory is counted only once, meaning an overall winner's class victory is not added separately. In the event of a tie, overall wins take precedence, and if a tie persists, the average grid size for a driver's wins is used to determine the final order.