Cleetus McFarland Vows to Keep Racing Despite NASCAR Backlash

The YouTuber-turned-driver remains unfazed by criticism over his upcoming partnership with Richard Childress Racing.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Cleetus McFarland, a YouTuber with limited racing experience, has faced immense backlash over his upcoming partnership with NASCAR team Richard Childress Racing. However, McFarland remains defiant, vowing to keep racing in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series despite the criticism. He believes that his critics' words won't affect him, and he'll keep showing up to races until they run out of breath.

Why it matters

McFarland's partnership with RCR has raised eyebrows in the NASCAR community, as he has just six ARCA Menards series races and a single, short-lived Truck Series debut under his belt. Critics argue that he lacks the necessary experience to compete at the higher levels of NASCAR, and they question the decision to give him this opportunity. This case highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between providing opportunities for new talent and ensuring driver safety and competitiveness in the sport.

The details

Under the deal, McFarland will feature in six O'Reilly Auto Parts Series events across 2026 and 2027, with the 30-year-old racing in three races each season. However, he will first have to clear a Rockingham test in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series-spec car before he gets the all-clear to race in the April event. This comes after his disastrous Truck Series debut, where he crashed out within the first six laps.

  • McFarland will race in six O'Reilly Auto Parts Series events across 2026 and 2027, with three races each season.
  • McFarland must first clear a Rockingham test in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series-spec car before he can race in the April event.

The players

Cleetus McFarland

A YouTuber-turned-driver who has faced immense backlash over his upcoming partnership with Richard Childress Racing, despite having limited racing experience.

Richard Childress Racing

The NASCAR team that has partnered with Cleetus McFarland, providing him the opportunity to compete in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Freddie Kraft

Bubba Wallace's spotter, who has publicly questioned RCR's decision to partner with the relatively inexperienced McFarland.

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What they’re saying

“When I went into drag racing, I was the class clown. They all thought I was a joke because of the way I had my car set up and the way we ran it. It was a joke, you know. And I think right now I'm the rookie and people can say whatever they want. But when I keep coming back every time and they realize that their words don't affect me time and time again, they're gonna run out of breath.”

— Cleetus McFarland (Dale Jr. Download)

“As long as I'm having fun, I'm gonna keep showing up at these NASCAR races. And whether I'm an ARCA, Truck or O'Reillys, their words on Facebook will not change the fact that I'm gonna come back and try again.”

— Cleetus McFarland (Dale Jr. Download)

What’s next

McFarland will first have to clear a Rockingham test in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series-spec car before he gets the all-clear to race in the April event.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate in NASCAR about balancing opportunities for new talent with ensuring driver safety and competitiveness. While McFarland's enthusiasm and determination are admirable, his lack of experience has raised concerns among some in the NASCAR community about the sport's policies regarding inexperienced drivers.