Cleetus McFarland’s move to join Richard Childress Racing for a two-year stint, with three races each season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, has created a lot of buzz across the garage, drawing reactions from insiders, drivers, veterans, and fans alike. The deal has also put the spotlight on NASCAR’s driver approval process, with many questioning the green light handed to a driver with limited time in a stock car.
Ty Dillon has thrown his weight behind the opportunity, going a step further by revealing he played a hand in bringing the deal to life.
Speaking ahead of the Martinsville race this weekend, Dillon opened up on what McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, brings away from the public eye and why he backed him for a seat at RCR in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
“He’s a fun guy. He brings such great energy to our sport. But he cares about this, and he cares about making a good impact in NASCAR, and he’s working really hard. I’m excited to see how this thing grows. It’s going to be awesome,” Dillon said.
Before that, in a conversation with Jeff Gluck on the Gluckast podcast earlier in March, Dillon recounted what led to his grandfather’s team signing Mitchell, noting he first reached out after coming across the online sensation on social media about a year ago. The two soon found common ground over Mitchell’s dream of one day racing in the Daytona 500.
Before carrying the pitch to RCR, where his grandfather Richard Childress remains the decision-maker, Dillon had one condition that Mitchell had to stay true to himself. The Kaulig Racing driver made it strictly clear he did not want the content creator to drift away from what defines ‘Cleetus’ on his channel to the style that draws his audience. In Dillon’s view, if Mitchell is not enjoying the ride, the plan would fall flat.
For now, Mitchell is ready to make his first start with RCR at Rockingham in the Tier 2, with Talladega in sight should the outing at “The Rock” go to plan. The broader plan is to expand his footprint in NASCAR without severing ties to his online identity. The move, however, has not gone down without a fight.
NASCAR media, such as Eric Estepp, have argued Mitchell’s entry leans on the driver’s online reach and pull, warning it could place others at risk given his limited laps in stock cars.
Kyle Busch, RCR’s Cup Series driver, met the debate with a touch of sarcasm. While calling it a good chance for Mitchell, Busch pointed to the role funding often plays in opening doors.
But he added that former teammate Denny Hamlin probably logged “10,000 races” before his big break, remarking that his own son, Brexton Busch, may have turned more laps than McFarland to date.
Hamlin, speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, also turned the lens toward NASCAR’s system rather than the driver. He conceded Mitchell could draw new eyes to the sport, bringing in viewers who might not otherwise tune in. Yet, he argued that the process that clears drivers for competition should hold the line, insisting that the bar must be set higher.
Having watched drivers leap before their time, Hamlin noted that Mitchell is on a road that could lead to the Cup Series, though it also carries risks for the fellow drivers and the sport overall.
However, not all voices have lined up in opposition. Hall of Famer Mark Martin backed the move, pointing to the fan base Mitchell brings and the opportunity to attract more viewers to the sport.
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