Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, revealed during a live FOX Sports broadcast at Michigan International Speedway that popular automotive YouTuber Cleetus McFarland (real name Lawrence Garrett Mitchell) is expected to join the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next year. Waltrip mentioned that McFarland would be teaming up with a rumored Ram team, with an official announcement anticipated on June 8, 2025.
Cleetus McFarland, who debuted earlier this year in the ARCA Menards Series, has quickly gained recognition with two top-10 finishes in three starts, leveraging his large online following. The Ram team is believed to be a new entry in NASCAR, with Ram being a pickup truck brand formerly part of Dodge. Both brands are under the Stellantis umbrella and are expected to collaborate in this new stock car racing venture.
Ram has teased an announcement with short videos showing a truck performing burnouts on an oval track, featuring Goodyear tires, NASCAR’s official tire partner. If McFarland joins the Truck Series with Ram, the brand could benefit from his substantial fanbase, while McFarland would gain more NASCAR experience, advancing his ambition to eventually compete in the prestigious Daytona 500.
In a separate interview with Kevin Harvick, McFarland expressed his desire to race in the Daytona 500 but acknowledged the challenge and high level of competition. He originally targeted the 2027 Daytona 500 but now considers that timeline potentially too soon, given the skill level of current drivers. McFarland emphasized the importance of gaining experience before making the leap to NASCAR’s top level.
The interview took place at Talladega Superspeedway, where McFarland earned his first top-10 ARCA finish driving the #30 Rette Jones Racing Ford. His in-car camera attracted around 70,000 viewers, highlighting his growing popularity.
This development marks a significant step for Cleetus McFarland as he transitions from a YouTube personality to a serious competitor in NASCAR’s national series, with the support of a major manufacturer brand like Ram.
This information was reported by Zarec Sanchez for Sportskeeda, who has extensive experience in automotive and motorsports journalism1.
