From YouTuber to NASCAR driver, Cleetus McFarland set to run full 2027 ARCA season for Childress

WELCOME, N.C. (AP) — Social media influencer Garrett Mitchell — better known as YouTuber “ Cleetus McFarland ” — will race fulltime in the ARCA stock car series next year for Richard Childress Racing.

McFarland will race the No. 33 Chevrolet in RCR's return to ARCA and be paired with crew chief Robert Strmiska.

“Ever since I got behind the wheel with RCR, I’ve wanted more," McFarland said. "The goal has always been to become the best race car driver I can be, and running the full ARCA Menards Series schedule gives me that opportunity. Richard Childress and everyone at RCR believes in me, and having the support of a legendary team gives me a ton of confidence to focus on learning everything I can about stock car racing. I’m ready to get after it every week.”

McFarland has more than 4.8 million subscribers on his YouTube channel and the racing enthusiast soon parlayed his popularity into a blossoming racing career.

He made two starts this season in NASCAR's second-tier developmental series and three more in the Truck Series. McFarland has one top-five finish in four ARCA races this season. He made his Truck Series debut in February at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR in 2018 acquired the ARCA series, a launching pad for drivers looking to reach stock car racing’s top level.

McFarland will now compete in 2027 for the ARCA championship. He made four ARCA starts in 2025, beginning with the season opener at Daytona. He crashed 17 laps into that one — and made headlines for saying he felt like “the best racer there ever was” for some of his driving moves.

“Cleetus has an undeniable passion for racing and a work ethic that has impressed everyone at our organization,” said RCR president Mike Verlander. “Cleetus is a perfect fit for RCR. He’s earned this opportunity, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish over the course of a full season."

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