'I’m trying to develop,' Cleetus McFarland predicts his future with Richard Childress Racing

If you had told the old-school NASCAR purists a decade ago that a guy famous for doing massive, tire-shredding burnouts on YouTube would be signing a two-year contract with Richard Childress Racing, they probably would have tossed you out of the garage area.

But here we are. Garrett Mitchell, better known to his millions of digital fans as Cleetus McFarland, is officially taking his talents to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

This is exactly the kind of jolt the sport needs. McFarland has inked a deal to run a part-time schedule in the iconic No. 33 RCR Chevrolet, beginning in early April 2026. This isn’t just a weekend joyride for a guy with a camera.

This is a legitimate, calculated move by both a legendary racing organization and a driver who wants to prove he belongs on the big stage.

1. The YouTube Star Hits the Big Time

For the uninitiated, McFarland isn’t just a guy who talks to a lens. He’s an entrepreneur, a promoter, and the mastermind behind the Freedom Factory—a grassroots racing haven in Florida. He has already dabbled in professional stock car racing, making appearances in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona. But jumping into the Xfinity Series with a powerhouse like Richard Childress Racing? That is a massive step up in weight class. McFarland will run three to four races a year over the next two seasons. His ultimate dream is to one day compete in the Daytona 500, but he has been refreshingly grounded about the process. He isn’t looking for a flashy, one-off PR stunt. He wants to actually develop his race craft. “I think my future in NASCAR looks a lot longer now, and I’m trying to develop myself into a driver capable of competing at higher levels,” McFarland stated after the announcement. He made it clear that he wants to stick around RCR for the long haul.

2. Why Richard Childress is Betting on McFarland

You might be wondering why a Hall of Fame team owner like Richard Childress is handing the keys to a YouTube star. The answer is incredibly simple: eyeballs. NASCAR is in the middle of a massive cultural shift. They are desperately trying to court a younger, digitally native audience. Enter McFarland. The guy brings an army of incredibly loyal, gearhead fans who watch his every move. This partnership gives RCR massive marketing leverage while providing NASCAR with a direct pipeline to a younger demographic that might otherwise spend their Saturdays watching Twitch streams instead of 250-lap stock car races. But don’t get it twisted, as McFarland is highly motivated. Motorsport analysts have already pointed out that while he might lack the reps of a driver who grew up racing late models every single weekend, his raw car control and dedication make this a solid investment for RCR.

3. The Rockingham Debut: What to Expect

The rubber meets the road on Saturday, April 4, 2026. McFarland will make his highly anticipated Xfinity Series debut at Rockingham Speedway in the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. Rockingham, affectionately known as “The Rock,” is an unforgiving, abrasive, high-wear track. It is a brilliant place to test a rookie’s mettle because you can’t just mash the throttle and hope for the best; you have to manage your tires. It will be a massive trial by fire for McFarland. Fans looking to witness the spectacle can catch the broadcast live on the CW at 2:30 PM ET, or listen in via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. So, what happens next for the internet’s favorite gearhead? McFarland is going to have his hands full balancing his responsibilities as a part-time Xfinity Series driver and his duties running the wildly popular events at the Freedom Factory. While a full-time NASCAR ride remains a question mark, McFarland himself has admitted that if RCR slid a full-time contract across the table, it would be awfully hard to walk away from. For now, the focus is on Rockingham and proving that he can hang with the heavyweights of the Xfinity Series. NASCAR teams are paying very close attention to this crossover. If McFarland can keep the fenders clean and run competitive lap times, you can bet other owners will be scouring the internet for the next digital sensation.

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