Cleetus McFarland, an ARCA Menards Series driver and popular YouTuber, recently inked a two-year contract with Richard Childress Racing to compete in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The deal, announced on March 4, 2026, will see McFarland driving the #33 Chevrolet in select races alongside teammates Jesse Love and Austin Hill. McFarland is set to make his series debut at Rockingham Speedway in April as part of a three-race program spanning the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
McFarland’s transition to higher-tier NASCAR competitions has drawn attention amid mixed reactions. He made his debut in the Craftsman Truck Series earlier this year at Daytona International Speedway, driving for Niece Motorsports. Unfortunately, the race ended in a spin within the first six laps, reflecting a challenging start in the Truck Series. Prior to this, McFarland earned six starts with Rette Jones Racing in the ARCA Menards Series, with his best finish being ninth place at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2025.
Freddie Kraft Voices Strong Reservations About McFarland’s NASCAR Advancement
Freddie Kraft, who serves as Bubba Wallace’s spotter in the NASCAR Cup Series, has openly criticized NASCAR’s choice to advance McFarland into higher series competition. Kraft expressed his disapproval through posts on X, highlighting concerns about McFarland’s preparedness for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Referencing McFarland’s history, Kraft pointed out the driver’s crash during a Rockingham Truck Series test and the early spin at Daytona in his only Truck start.
“Crash at the Rockingham truck test. Crash lap 5 of your only truck start. Good enough for me. Approved (I don’t blame Cleetus one bit. We’d all jump at the chance to just show up and get approved)”
Kraft’s remarks suggest a discord between NASCAR’s approval processes and the criteria for driver readiness, sparking debate within the racing community.
Critique of McFarland’s Performance in the Truck Series
Before the announcement about McFarland’s O’Reilly Series participation, Kraft and Tommy Baldwin expressed skepticism regarding his capabilities during a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast. Both criticized his Truck Series debut at Daytona, emphasizing that McFarland was not yet equipped to compete at top levels in NASCAR.
During the 2025 season, the duo reflected on McFarland’s incidents at both Daytona and Talladega, noting multiple crashes which raised doubts about his progression. While McFarland qualified 12th for the 100-lap Truck Series race, he later lost control exiting turn 4 and struck the inside wall, underscoring the concerns.
“This is going to be very unpopular. Are we trying to get the best race car drivers on the racetrack, or are we trying to get the biggest social media following?”
“I’m sure he’s a great guy. Seems like a phenomenal person. He’s got great car control. In the videos that I watch, he drives everything in the world. He’s not ready for what he’s doing. I want to make it clear that it’s not Cleetus’ fault. It’s NASCAR’s fault.”
Baldwin also suggested that McFarland should continue gaining experience in lower-tier series before advancing, advising adherence to the traditional driver development path common in the sport.
Implications of NASCAR’s Driver Selection Approach
The debate around Cleetus McFarland’s rapid progression into higher-level NASCAR competition highlights underlying tensions regarding the balance between marketing appeal and driver skill development. Freddie Kraft’s pointed criticism underscores concerns that decisions may prioritize social media presence over racing readiness, potentially impacting the competitive integrity of the series.
As McFarland prepares for his debut in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the upcoming races will serve as an important test of his abilities and NASCAR’s vetting process. The situation raises questions about how governing bodies might manage future driver promotions, and whether they will strengthen requirements to ensure participants meet established performance standards.
Crash at the Rockingham truck test.
Crash lap 5 of your only truck start.Good enough for me.
Approved ✅(I don’t blame Cleetus one bit. We’d all jump at the chance to just show up and get approved) https://t.co/SJUPnwq5DT
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) March 4, 2026
