22 drivers have raced in both the Stadium Super Trucks and a NASCAR national tier (Cup, O’Reilly, Truck), and that number grows to 29 if you include regional levels like ARCA.

We’ve covered the successes of SST founder Robby Gordon and his protégé Sheldon Creed in both stadium trucks and NASCAR before, and Creed also boasts an ARCA Racing Series title that he claimed in 2018. He isn’t the only driver with SST experience and an ARCA crown either, as Justin Lofton claimed the 2009 ARCA title before heading to off-road.

Garrett Mitchell hopes to join that duo next year. On Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing announced The Artist Professionally Known As Cleetus McFarland would drive the #33 Chevrolet full-time in the ARCA Menards Series in 2027.

While a YouTuber first, McFarland has been dabbling in NASCAR’s lower divisions since 2025. He ran eight ARCA races over the past two seasons for Rette Jones Racing, just missing out on the win at Talladega in April. McFarland also tried out the Truck Series on three occasions and even the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series twice, the latter with RCR but to not much success.

Whereas his national series efforts have only yielded a best result of 25th in the Trucks at Michigan, he has three top tens in ARCA. Given the smaller schedule and lower pressure to succeed compared to the national levels, it made sense for McFarland to focus on ARCA as it’d give him his best chance to be competitive and a better workload for his YouTube channel.

“This is a dream come true,” McFarland stated. “Ever since I got behind the wheel with RCR, I’ve wanted more. The goal has always been to become the best race car driver I can be, and running the full ARCA Menards Series schedule gives me that opportunity. Richard Childress and everyone at RCR believes in me, and having the support of a legendary team gives me a ton of confidence to focus on learning everything I can about stock car racing. I’m ready to get after it every week.”

Before trying professional stock car racing, McFarland ran nearly the full SST schedule in 2022. While he was competitive in some races, most notably losing Long Beach Race 2 when he spun coming to the finish, he did wrap up his SST stint with a third in Race 2 of the Bristol 1000 weekend.

He is the first SST alumnus to compete in ARCA since Jett Noland in 2021, though Zoey Edenholm did Daytona testing in 2023. Justin Allgaier, the 2008 ARCA champion, is not included in the above 29 but did practice with the Stadium Super Trucks at Mid-Ohio in 2021.

RCR last fielded an ARCA effort in 2011 for Tim George and Childress’ grandson Ty Dillon, the latter winning that year’s championship.

“Cleetus has an undeniable passion for racing and a work ethic that has impressed everyone at our organization,” RCR president Mike Verlander added. “Cleetus is a perfect fit for RCR. He’s earned this opportunity, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish over the course of a full season. Pairing Cleetus with (crew chief) Robert Strmiska gives him the support of a talented leader who is equally passionate about racing.”

Incidentally, Creed and Gordon have both raced for RCR in NASCAR.

Featured image credit: Richard Childress Racing