Cleetus McFarland’s step up into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has certainly sparked debate among the fanbase and the industry as a whole. His two-year deal with Richard Childress Racing to run three O’Reilly races per season has drawn fire from veterans and the media. On the other side, McFarland’s fans have closed ranks behind him, even before he has taken the green at Rockingham.
McFarland has not arrived empty-handed. His runs in the ARCA Menards Series have shown he can keep the car on track, having finished in the top 10 in two of five starts, while his tribute to Greg Biffle struck an emotional chord with fans.
Yet the garage has not held back. Big names Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have both questioned NASCAR’s approval process, pointing to McFarland’s track record behind the wheel. Talk has also swirled that his rise owes more to reach on YouTube than laps on track, branding him a marketing draw in a driver’s seat.
The noise, however, has not knocked him off course as fans are still rallying behind him.
Sitting in the No. 33 Chevrolet for RCR after a practice run in which he finished 27th, McFarland spoke from the cockpit ahead of qualifying.
“Well, I was pretty terrified for a minute there. The radios were going in and out. I had no idea where the hell I was here on the Rock. But, we powered the Tommy’s Express RCR No. 33 into a decent spot. I’m living the American dream out here, having the time of my life. Just going to go and hit this qualifier hard.”
He kept his target pretty easy: “If I get better than last place, I’m going to be happy.”
Looking ahead to the challenge at Rockingham, he added, “I think this might be where some of these professional drivers are going to outrun me is because they have such a commitment to just staying on the gas into the turn, and that’s one thing I’m struggling with a little bit is having the cojones to take this sucker in there and make it turn left. So I’m just going to go with it.”
McFarland managed to qualify 35th for the race on Saturday, ahead of Garrett Smithley, Blake Lothian, and Joey Gase.
One fan asked to stop the hate toward McFarland, saying, “People need to stop hating. He made himself a success and is living his dream. This is the American dream.”
Another fan showed love to the YouTuber, sharing, “I seriously don’t know how ANYONE cannot LOVE Cleetus McFarland! Cletus IS US if we got to do that for a living! Can’t you all see that?!? 👀 Y’all are missing out brother!!!”
A third fan commented, “Cleetus is the best thing to happen to NASCAR in a very long time.”
Another rooting for McFarland’s NASVAR success said, “I have never wanted a person to succeed like I do Cleetus.”
An older fan stated, “Who couldn’t love this kid ? Hope he wins a championship in a couple years.”
One die-hard fan approved of McFarland’s enthusiasm toward NASCAR, stating, “Cleetus is the best! If I had a spirit animal, he would be one of them! How can you not root for a guy that is so passionate about trying his very best to run and compete very well at the highest level and trying his heart and soul out to come home with the best possible finish!”
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