A rumor has circulated that Cleetus McFarland will run full-time with the ARCA Menards Series in an RCR car
Cleetus McFarland is a YouTube sensation that moves the needle. His presence at NASCAR events brings fans to the track along with TV ratings. He’s an important piece of NASCAR’s near-term future.
The driver has spent the season learning how to race. He ran two racing in O’Reilly, three in Trucks and four in the ARCA Menards Series and one in the ARCA Menards Series East. On top of that, he recently ran his first Super Late Model event.
And, he’s not done in 2026. Later this season, he’ll race a dirt late model in the famed Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Cleetus McFarland is racing in the Gateway Dirt Nationals
Earlier this year, he nearly grabbed the ARCA Menards Series win at Talladega Superspeedway. He finished 2nd.
On Friday, he was unfortunately involved at Talladega Superspeedway. The NASCAR Truck Series crash collected Tony Stewart and many others.
But, this won’t be the last of McFarland.
Matt Weaver said on the The Burnout Podcast via Kenny Wallace Media that McFarland is going full-time ARCA Menards Series racing in 2027. He’ll do it in an RCR fielded car.
Cleetus McFarland signs with Richard Childress Racing (March 2026)
Cleetus McFarland talks 2027
The driver himself did not confirm the news above at Talladega Superspeedway. However, he did tease upcoming announcements.
“Some of the things we have pretty close to set in stone are so cool and unexpected,” McFarland said. “Not only from a competitor standpoint, but the partnership with NASCAR.”
“My first day with them, I got two penalties, and so I thought the relationship got off to a bad start,” McFarland said. “But after a few of the phone calls, I can’t believe NASCAR is letting us bring some of these ideas to the table.”
Cleetus McFarland denied by NASCAR
McFarland owns the Freedom Factory. It’s a bullring paved oval near Tampa, Florida. And, it appears NASCAR is heading to the short track…
“There will be things in the Freedom Factory with NASCAR’s name on it in the future,” McFarland said.
“Every race now, NASCAR is watching,” McFarland said. “That all counts towards me being able to do other things like racing O’Reilly on a superspeedway next year, which I really want to do.”
“It’s hard to turn a profit with short tracks and you really have to have a whole other business to really support it,” McFarland added.
“We have some cool things coming that’ll make for a busy schedule next year,” McFarland said.
ARCA Menards Series 2027 schedule released
