Niece Motorsports will field its No. 4 Chevrolet at North Wilkesboro Speedway with Donovan Strauss behind the wheel, replacing Cleetus McFarland for the FaithFest 250. The race will mark the 20-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina native’s NASCAR national series debut.
McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, remains scheduled to return to the No. 4 later in the season at Talladega Superspeedway. His latest Truck Series appearance at Michigan International Speedway produced a 25th-place finish after an early crash ended his Daytona opener.
A Different Driver in the Extra Niece Entry
The No. 4 is not a full-time Niece Motorsports entry, unlike the team’s three regular trucks, so its return at North Wilkesboro brings a change of driver. Strauss will race the Chevrolet in Saturday’s 250-lap event on the four-turn, 0.625-mile oval.
According to beyondtheflag.com, Strauss began his racing career on iRacing before moving into the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour. He competed full-time in that series in 2025 and recorded a best finish of seventh at Caraway Speedway.
| Series | Track | Result | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman Truck Series | Daytona International Speedway | Crash | McFarland’s season opener ended after only a few laps. |
| Craftsman Truck Series | Michigan International Speedway | 25th | McFarland’s most recent Truck Series start. |
| O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | Rockingham Speedway | 32nd | One of McFarland’s two starts in the series. |
| O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | Nashville Superspeedway | 35th | His other confirmed finish in the series. |
Strauss Brings Late Model Experience
Strauss has continued competing in the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour in 2026, with an eighth-place result at Langley Speedway standing as his best finish so far. North Wilkesboro will offer his first opportunity to translate that experience to NASCAR’s national level.
McFarland has made two Truck Series starts in the No. 4 Chevrolet this season, and Michigan’s 25th-place result was stronger than either of his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series finishes. He was also ruled ineligible to compete in the O’Reilly Series race at Talladega, while the rest of his schedule in that division remains undecided.
McFarland’s Next Confirmed Truck Race
McFarland is the only confirmed driver for the No. 4 beyond the North Wilkesboro event, with his next scheduled appearance set for the October playoff race at Talladega. For now, Strauss has the one-race opportunity to make his first NASCAR national series start in the same truck.
The FaithFest 250 is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 18, with Fox Sports 1 carrying the live broadcast from North Wilkesboro Speedway.
