Travis Pastrana and Cleetus McFarland are bringing more than horsepower to Daytona this weekend — they’re pairing high-speed racing with visible charity work aimed at veterans and first responders. Both drivers are entered in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opener (and related ARCA events) at the Speedway, where their on-track efforts will be matched by off-track fundraising and outreach.
A return to Daytona with stakes and emotion
Pastrana heads back to Daytona after a memorable — and physically intense — first Daytona 500. He’s spoken about heart rates that climbed above 180 bpm during that outing, a reminder that sustained oval racing tests both body and mind in ways different from his motocross and rally roots. Cleetus McFarland (born Garrett Mitchell) arrives having graduated from viral YouTube builds to formal race entries. He’ll compete in Friday night’s Truck race and an ARCA event the next day, adding to a budding superspeedway résumé that already includes crashes and steady improvement at places like Talladega, Charlotte and Bristol.
Both drivers will race for Niece Motorsports, pairing Pastrana’s varied motorsports experience with Cleetus’s growing profile in stock-car feeder series. On the high banks, success will depend on drafting savvy, timing and split-second decisions — the kind of pack-racing judgment calls that can turn attention into a competitive finish.
Charity partners and measurable impact
This weekend’s program has a clear philanthropic thread. Race partners Black Rifle Coffee and BRUNT Workwear have pledged a combined $100,000 to the Boot Campaign, which supports veterans and military families with programs focused on mental health, housing and financial wellness. The brands — a veteran-founded coffee company and a maker of durable workwear — see motorsports as a platform for gratitude and support, and they want their activation to lead to tangible results for beneficiaries.
Organizers plan to track the impact: donations, program uptake and service-delivery metrics such as beneficiary counts and hours of support will be monitored so donors and stakeholders can see where the money goes. The goal is transparency — a clear line from sponsorship dollars to veteran services — and to treat the weekend as both a racing event and a accountable community initiative.
Experience, preparation and expectations
Cleetus earned superspeedway clearance after testing at Rockingham and says that experience changed his approach: he’s learned when to push and when to hold back, and that patience can preserve a shot at a strong result. Pastrana, who cut his teeth in two- and four-wheel disciplines outside the oval world, has emphasized how endurance, telemetry and race-craft shape performance on long, high-speed laps. Both drivers stress that learning remains steep, but they’re betting that disciplined tactics will keep them in contention.
Tributes, teamwork and broader storylines
The weekend also carries emotional weight. Teams will carry tributes to the late Greg Biffle — trucks wrapped with the message “Be Like Biff” and Biffle’s No. 16 marked with a halo — honoring his mentorship and community work. McFarland, who delivered a eulogy at Biffle’s funeral, described the tribute as personal and motivational, a reminder of the relationships that matter in racing.
The Truck Series field mixes crossover talents and series regulars and features high-profile names like three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart. Ram’s return to the Truck Series has added further media buzz, and the presence of Pastrana and Cleetus — backed by Black Rifle Coffee and BRUNT — keeps the weekend’s focus split between competition and cause.
What success will look like
On the track, success will be judged by lap times, positional gains and finishing spots. Off the track, organizers will look to donation totals, attendance at veteran-focused events and social engagement as signs the effort resonated. Expect post-race figures on attendance, funds raised and online reach; those numbers will show whether the weekend delivered both adrenaline and genuine community impact. Pastrana and Cleetus are racing for results, yes — but they’re also using their platforms to spotlight causes, invite veterans into the paddock, and make donations that organizers intend to track and report. Whether measured by the finish line or by program uptake, this weekend aims to produce wins both on and off the track.