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Racing legend and YouTube sensation team up for the true Shake & Bake

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season opener features real life Talladega Nights

By Mark D McKee Feb 12, 2026 5:17 PM

Clothing, T-Shirt, Baseball Cap — Niece Racing

“If you ain’t first, you’re last.” If you are a fan of motorsports or going fast, these are words to live by. If you grew up (or if you are my age, then it happened in your twenties), you watched Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly take the world of NASCAR into the mainstream in their movie Talladega Nights. Of course, it was just a movie, right? It was. But now Travis Pastrana, a multi-time X Games gold medalist and rally champion who has made numerous high-profile starts across NASCAR’s Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, is uniting on the track tomorrow with Cleetus McFarland, architect behind one of the largest followings in motorsports through his viral YouTube content, grassroots racing programs, and high-performance automotive builds for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13.

I’ve been lucky to drive a lot of really cool stuff, but Daytona in a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck is a whole new level. This is my first time in the series, so I know it’s going to push me way outside my comfort zone, and that’s what makes it so exciting. – Cleetus McFarland

More than a race

But it is more than a race. While the Shake & Bake part is great, good fun. There is more going on than just these two thrilling us with their driving. Team sponsors BRUNT Workwear and Black Rifle Company are teaming with Niece Racing to donate $100,000 to the Boot Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting Americans to honor and restore the lives of veterans and military families through individualized, life-improving care.

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With the people who should be winning already getting help from the donations, we can sit back, relax, and watch the real-life Shake & Bake liven up the track.

I’m pumped to get back on track at Daytona. This will be my first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race since 2023, so jumping back into the Niece Chevrolet is going to be a blast. – Travis Pastrana

Mark cut his teeth in the men’s style world when he sold suits first at box stores such as Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank… Read Full Bio

Porsche just proved the Cayenne Electric is the most impressive performance vehicle you can drive

Car, Transportation, Vehicle

I have seen the movies. I know there is no way that a car can survive in the jet blast of a plane. I remember the scene from Casino Royale. And for me, that is science. But the engineers at Porsche and Stratolaunch aren’t so sure. They operate in the real world of science, and they came together to see if the Porsche Cayenne Electric could withstand the take-off power of one of the largest and most powerful aircraft in the world. Why? Because they can and because curiosity oftentimes leads to something awesome. Spoiler alert…the car holds up. But don’t take my word for it.

The car is its own beast. It’s got the ability to keep up and play in this space. – Orlando Bloom, Porsche ambassador

Indian commits to American artistry with Signature Series

Machine, Spoke, Helmet

There is something about sitting on the back of a motorcycle that you can’t feel anywhere else. Road trips feel different on the back of a bike versus in a car. Maybe it is the solo aspect of it. Maybe there is the feeling of the wind. Who knows? What I do know is that there is nothing like a bike ride through the countryside. The winding roads, the sunsets through the visor of the helmet, all of it is unrivaled. Indian Motorcycle understands this, and they have since they became the first American motorcycle company. Now, they have dropped a new Signature Series of four motorcycles echoing their commitment to American artistry and craftsmanship.

Since 1901, Indian Motorcycle has pursued the ultimate intersection of form and function – motorcycles that are as beautiful in design as they are sophisticated in performance – Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle

Is the BMW XM a perfect blend of practicality and performance

Car, Transportation, Vehicle

The BMW XM has received a bit of a mixed response, but there’s a strong argument that it’s a logical next step on from the BMW M5. Think about it, the M5 is special because it combines practicality with exceptional performance. The BMW XM does the same thing, though you’re trading a little handling quality for far more practicality.

On a recent venture in BMW’s performance SUV, I weighed up the pros and cons of BMW’s most divisive vehicle. And it may be a better choice than BMW’s flagship.