The latest notable news I found on NOAPS/NASCAR is that NASCAR denied Cleetus McFarland approval for the April 25 Talladega O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, after his NOAPS debut at Rockingham on April 4. NASCAR officials said he can still earn approval later, but they want to see more progression first.[1]
What happened
McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, is currently approved for NOAPS short tracks plus Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series races. He made his Truck debut at Daytona this season, then struggled at Rockingham with spins and near-misses, which likely influenced NASCAR’s decision.[1]
What NASCAR said
Steve O’Donnell said the decision was tough but focused on safety and on-field performance, and John Probst said the team is balancing the entertainment side with the sport’s competitive standards. Their comments suggest NASCAR is willing to revisit approval if McFarland shows improvement in upcoming races.[1]
Other recent NOAPS items
A recent NOAPS preview page also mentioned several 2026 series developments, including Brent Crews’ planned full-time Toyota ride, Corey Day moving to a full-time Xfinity seat, and Christian Eckes returning to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in Trucks.[2]
Would you like a tighter roundup focused only on Cleetus McFarland, or a broader NOAPS news digest?