Garrett Mitchell—better known to millions of YouTube subscribers as Cleetus McFarland—has undeniably injected a massive dose of adrenaline and new eyeballs into stock car racing. But whenever a viral sensation straps into a race car, the old guard inevitably asks the same question: Is this guy a genuine competitor, or just a sideshow here to sell merchandise and boost TV ratings?
The answer isn’t entirely black and white, but his 2026 ARCA Menards Series campaign has given us plenty of data to weigh.
The Talladega Triumph
If you strictly look at the Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 at Talladega Superspeedway this past April, it’s hard to argue against Mitchell’s bravery. Starting 20th in the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford, he didn’t just ride around in the back hoping to survive. He charged forward, navigating the draft like a veteran, and even led the first ARCA laps of his career.
When the late-race chaos erupted—including the inevitable superspeedway “Big One”—Mitchell kept his nose clean. It all came down to a frantic, three-wide overtime shootout against Gus Dean and Andy Jankowiak. Mitchell crossed the line in second, a mere 0.111 seconds behind Jankowiak.
Finishing as the runner-up at Talladega requires massive intestinal fortitude, spatial awareness, and absolute trust in the spotter. It proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mitchell isn’t afraid of the speed or the pack.
The Reality of the Pavement
However, drafting tracks can mask a lot of deficiencies. Superspeedway racing is its own distinct discipline, largely built on aerodynamic manipulation and holding the pedal to the floor. The true measure of a stock car driver is often found on the intermediate and short tracks—the abrasive asphalt where handling, tire conservation, and finding mechanical grip are paramount.
When the schedule shifts to tracks that require more than simply mashing the throttle and turning the wheel left, Mitchell’s lack of lifelong seat time becomes painfully obvious.
Take his run at Rockingham Speedway, a notoriously technical track that eats tires for breakfast. Mitchell struggled mightily, finishing 32nd and winding up six laps down. The story was similar at Nashville Superspeedway, where he finished 35th, again trapped six laps off the pace. When the aerodynamic draft disappears and a driver has to muscle a loose, heavy stock car through the corners on older pavement, internet fame doesn’t translate to lap times.
The Verdict
So, is Cleetus McFarland a racer or a sideshow? Right now, he’s a raw rookie with an incredibly loud megaphone.
He brings a desperately needed younger demographic to the grandstands, transforming his track presence into a massive win for the sport’s overall health. He has the sheer nerve required to mix it up at 190 mph, but he lacks the nuanced car control that only comes from decades of grinding it out on local short tracks.
He isn’t just a sideshow, because a sideshow wouldn’t be genuinely disappointed with a runner-up finish at Talladega. But until he figures out how to wheel a car on a slick, flat piece of asphalt when the handling goes away, he still has a long way to go before the garage fully drops the “YouTuber” label.
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