“He’s a really good racecar driver that fakes it as a YouTuber.” Max Papis, the Italian motorsports veteran, commented on a people’s champion who is rising in the ranks of stock car racing. Most people know him as Cleetus McFarland, the popular YouTuber who has 4.26 million subscribers. Others know that this is just a pseudonym hiding his real name, Garrett Mitchell, from Omaha, Nebraska. However, the popular icon embraces both names.

Cleetus McFarland is in the spotlight of NASCAR currently. He embarked on his ARCA Menards Series journey this year with a charging personality, entering Daytona and Talladega. Although both superspeedway starts resulted in untoward crashes, McFarland is determined. He uses that same fierce personality everywhere, despite having dual names.

Cleetus McFarland is at peace with his ‘duality’

After all, the star shot to fame with fans recognizing both names. Growing up as Garrett Mitchell, he soon made a brand image for himself with his work. That is how Cleetus McFarland was born, as he owns the Freedom Factory in Florida and holds various “Cleetus and Cars” events each year at places like Bristol Motor Speedway. McFarland’s varied racing experience also helped him garner fame, like Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Truck series starts and taking part in Greg Biffle’s Triple B 100. His noble efforts during Hurricane Helene also stood out, as McFarland piloted his helicopter to deliver supplies. So, after having done so much, the iconic guy is not bothered about which name suits him.

In a recent press conference at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR journalist Jenna Fryer asked about Cleetus McFarland’s duality. McFarland explained how his bipolar situation works. “When i first started the Cleetus thing, it was like a redneck persona. Then, like slowly, Garrett and Cleetus had merged into one. It really depends on the environment, right? When I get in trouble and per se, have to go to the ARCA hauler for a chat, that’s Garrett…The other night, we were at a campground. Jack Stand fired up the water slides, and the employees were really mad. You know, Garrett had to go handle that situation. I had to go talk to the owner. But then, when I pulled through the gates of ‘Dega, I’m just Cleetus. It’s like I really can’t control it.”

Cleetus McFarland hailed Jenna Fryer for bringing up the question. “I don’t know, it’s a good question, actually.” Yet he went on to explain that it does not really matter to him which name people identify him with. After all, he is simply concerned with living his life purposefully. “I think I just lived my life at both. Or maybe it’s just one now. Yeah, I mean, it really doesn’t matter what people call me. I just am who I am now. I just try to live my life how I want and have as much fun as possible with my friends. Winning with your friends is the best, so we just travel around and have a good time, no matter who we are.”

As Cleetus McFarland wades through his personality in a new world, he has help. None other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. jumped aboard to aid his NASCAR pursuits.

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When the GOAT came to help him

Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66-mile oval behemoth in NASCAR. Given the ravages that the superspeedway is infamous for, there are only a few drivers who have tamed it well. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of them, owning the second-highest number of race trophies (six) from ‘Dega. So, as Cleetus McFarland was preparing for his Talladega debut this weekend, he sought the help of the GOAT. They took a ride around the monstrous track in a passenger vehicle. From a good launch to winding it up by keeping it against the outside wall for the warm-up lap, Dale Jr. explained all the basics. He also offered little tricks and variations in ways to build speed while coming to the green flag. But, this all might be the ‘gift’ Junior looked forward to giving McFarland after the swans!

Jokes apart, Cleetus McFarland could finish in the top 10 down a cylinder in the ARCA race Saturday after these lessons. So post-race, he lauded Dale Jr.’s help, and also mentioned how the veteran raced his limited edition ‘Dale track’ in a drag race at Talladega recently. “He did the most awesome burnout in it, made great runs, and he was just impressed…It was a big win for my whole team…He let off the gas on his first hit ’cause it was so fast…He’s so cool, we all love Dale Jr. So to even spend time walking around the track with him was cool.” 

Evidently, Cleetus McFarland can only reach for the sky with his unlimited fame. Let us see what magic Garrett/Cleetus can conjure for us in the races ahead!