Typically, the NASCAR community rewards and applauds drivers as they advance and climb the ranks in the sport. But that wasn't the case for Cletus McFarland. Prior to this, the famous YouTuber recently transitioned into a stock car driver and achieved significant success. Yet fans felt things weren't going smoothly.
On Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing announced that Cletus McFarland had signed with the legendary team. McFarland signed a two-year deal with RCR, committing to compete in at least three O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races each season.
While this marks a major victory for Cletus McFarland, it comes after his first foray into NASCAR. Earlier this season, it was announced that McFarland would compete in the Daytona NASCAR Truck Series.
However, McFarland's NASCAR debut quickly turned disappointing. The 30-year-old driver started the season opener in 12th place. But the hype surrounding his participation ended within the first six laps when he spun out in Turn 4, subsequently hitting the inside wall and ultimately finishing with a DNF.
His performance at Daytona and his current contract with RCR have left a negative impression on a segment of the NASCAR community. There is a widespread perception that McFarlane's contract is undeserved, with his lack of experience cited as a key factor. Many fans argue that the fact he hasn't even completed a full ARCA season clearly indicates he isn't ready for this leap.
Many accuse Cletus of favoring him due to his large fan base, which benefits the sport.
McFarland will debut under his new contract at Rockingham. His deal also includes races at Daytona and Talladega. In a statement released by the YouTuber, he shared his thoughts on the deal.
“Getting the chance to debut in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series with a legendary team like Richard Childress Racing is a dream come true,” McFarlane said.
He called it a “huge honor” and thanked Richard Childress.
Things have been going well for McFarlane in racing. In six ARCA Series starts, he has two top-10 finishes and three top-20 finishes. In fact, one of his top-10 finishes came at Talladega Speedway, where he is expected to race under his new agreement with RCR.
Despite Daytona's heartbreak, Jr. still shows confidence in McFarland
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of Cletus McFarland's staunchest supporters. The NASCAR Hall of Famer also appeared on McFarland's YouTube channel, which boasts nearly 5 million subscribers, to share his thoughts following the driver's unfortunate Daytona outing.
Earnhardt Jr. stated that McFarland isn't ready for the Truck Series just yet. Nevertheless, he possesses not only potential but Jr. urged NASCAR to “do everything possible” to develop him.
“He needs to race more than ever, gain more experience, and improve. What happened to him at Daytona could happen to anyone—it happened to me, and it could happen to anyone,” the two-time Daytona 500 champion stated on his podcast.
Enhardt's comments suggest he sees a better racer in Cletus McFarland. Now, the 30-year-old also has the backing of RCR's top team and premier program. The question is, will it pay off?
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