The high-octane world of motorsport recently saw a familiar online personality, Cleetus McFarland (real name Garrett Mitchell), navigate the challenging waters of competitive short track racing, a journey closely observed and staunchly defended by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., according to a recent report from sportsamo.com. McFarland, widely known for his vibrant YouTube presence and automotive antics, has been making serious strides in his transition from digital content creator to a legitimate real-life racer, and his latest outing at Berlin Raceway in Michigan proved to be a harsh, yet invaluable, lesson in the demanding art of stock car racing.
McFarland’s commitment to honing his racecraft is evident in his recent investment in a Pro Late Model car, a move designed to immerse him in the cutthroat environment of short track competition. This decision aligns with the conventional wisdom in racing circles: if you want to become a truly skilled driver, you must master the intricacies of short track racing – tire management, close-quarters combat, and adapting to ever-changing track conditions. Berlin Raceway, a venerable 7/16-mile asphalt oval known for its tight turns and demanding layout, was precisely the kind of proving ground McFarland sought.
The initial stages of the race day were promising for McFarland. After a solid qualifying effort, placing him 18th amidst a field of seasoned short track veterans, he demonstrated a commendable ability to maintain position and learn the nuances of his new machine. He wasn’t just making up the numbers; he was actively competing, holding his own just outside the top 15 and battling within the top 20. This performance, especially for a driver relatively new to this level of structured competition, spoke volumes about his raw talent and dedication.
However, racing, particularly on short tracks, is an unforgiving mistress. With less than 20 laps remaining in the event, McFarland found himself pushing the limits, trying to extract every ounce of performance from his Pro Late Model. He got loose, a common symptom of overheating tires and aggressive driving, and subsequently spun out. The ensuing collision with fellow competitor Keith Herp brought both of their nights to an abrupt and premature end.
In the immediate aftermath, McFarland, ever the candid personality, was visibly frustrated with his own performance. Speaking to the FloRacing broadcast, he offered a brutally honest assessment: "Well I just suck, you know." He elaborated on his struggles, "I just suck. I was fighting for my life out there, trying to just learn this thing. Got a couple of good runs and then I would overheat my right-rear, trying to overdrive it." This self-deprecating analysis, while harsh, highlighted the steep learning curve he was navigating and his deep desire for improvement.
Cleetus McFarland (real name Garrett Mitchell) had himself quite a busy few days last week. The popular YouTuber turned real-life racer recently invested in a new car and took it out racing at Berlin Raceway in Michigan with the goal of sharpening his race craft.
The racing day was going well for McFarland right up until it wasn’t. After a solid performance to open the race, McFarland got loose with less than 20 laps left to run. He spun out and collided with Keith Herp, ending both of their nights early.
McFarland was critical of his own performance, telling the FloRacing broadcast, “Well I just suck, you know.”
He continued:
“I just suck. I was fighting for my life out there, trying to just learn this thing. Got a couple of good runs and then I would overheat my right-rear, trying to overdrive it.”
But Dale Earnhardt Jr. had some positive comments in McFarland’s defense on the most recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download. As Earnhardt explains it, there’s only one way to learn to drive race cars, and that’s by driving them.
“Cleetus is trying to drive race cars,” he said. “He had that O’Reilly start with RCR, he ran some ARCA races. He did pretty good in his ARCA stuff. And everybody is like, ‘Dude, he needs to go run short tracks. He needs to go run short tracks and learn how to race.’ So he gets a Pro Late Model, just like everybody told him to do, and he goes to a short track, and he races.
“He was doing what everybody said he should do. And he qualified like, 18th, pretty damn good first time. Berlin, all these great cars, all these tough competitors, in a big race. He’s sitting there, he’s not running last, he’s running somewhere in the top 20, just outside the top 15, and he busted his ass. Spun out. Wrecked. Who hasn’t done that? Who hasn’t shit the bed in their first race?”
Earnhardt gave credit to McFarland for being out on the track, and noted that wrecks are simply a part of racing, at all levels.
“He wrecked, and another guy gets caught up in it. And there were so many people being assholes about it. It’s like, what do you expect?” he said. “The guy’s doing what you told him to do. Going and running a short track, and yeah he wrecked. So f***ing what? Wrecks happen at short tracks. They put his damn race car back together. They had a little 75-lapper at the same track a couple night’s later, and he runs second for like 30 laps. Qualified really good and ran up towards the front. He burnt his tires up, which he’s going to do, and he faded to 13th, but still.”
While others wanted to harp on McFarland’s struggles, Dale seems impressed with the improvement he’s already shown.
“He did incredibly well. He did way better than I thought he was going to do in that car in Berlin. And you know what? He freakin’ loved it. He loved it. He was texting me about how much fun it is.”
It might be easy to dismiss McFarland’s efforts, but as Earnhardt notes, if you want to become a better driver, you have to be out there driving. McFarland is clearly putting in the effort, even if last week’s race didn’t finish how he had hoped.
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Enter Dale Earnhardt Jr., a man whose lineage and career are synonymous with short track grit and the arduous path to racing success. On a recent episode of his widely popular Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr. stepped up to defend McFarland, offering a seasoned perspective that cut through the noise of online criticism. His central argument was simple yet profound: "there’s only one way to learn to drive race cars, and that’s by driving them."
Earnhardt Jr. eloquently articulated the context of McFarland’s efforts, noting his previous forays into more structured racing, including an O’Reilly Auto Parts start with Richard Childress Racing and several ARCA Menards Series races where he showed considerable promise. The consensus among many, including Earnhardt Jr. himself, was that McFarland needed to immerse himself in short track racing to truly develop his racecraft. "He was doing what everybody said he should do," Earnhardt Jr. stated, highlighting that McFarland was following the prescribed path for aspiring racers.
The Hall of Famer didn’t shy away from acknowledging the difficulty of Berlin Raceway or the caliber of its competitors. "Berlin, all these great cars, all these tough competitors, in a big race," he emphasized, underscoring that McFarland wasn’t testing the waters in a minor league. To qualify 18th in such a field for his first outing was, in Earnhardt Jr.’s estimation, "pretty damn good." He then normalized the incident itself, posing the rhetorical question: "Who hasn’t done that? Who hasn’t shit the bed in their first race?" This blunt assessment served to remind listeners that wrecks are an inherent, often unavoidable, part of the learning process in racing, regardless of a driver’s experience level. Even the greatest drivers, including Earnhardt Jr.’s legendary father, have had their share of early career mishaps and learning moments on short tracks.
The criticism McFarland faced online, which Earnhardt Jr. candidly described as "so many people being assholes about it," missed the larger point. Racing is a contact sport, and incidents happen. The real measure of a driver isn’t whether they avoid every wreck, but how they respond to them. Earnhardt Jr. lauded McFarland’s resilience, noting that his team quickly put the damaged car back together for another 75-lap event at the same track just a couple of nights later.
In that subsequent race, McFarland’s improvement was undeniable. He qualified strongly and ran impressively towards the front, holding down second place for a significant portion of the race – nearly 30 laps. While he eventually faded to 13th due to burning up his tires, a classic rookie mistake indicative of overdriving, this outcome was still a massive step forward. It showcased not only his raw speed but also his rapid assimilation of new information and adaptation to the demanding conditions. Tire management, particularly on abrasive short tracks, is an advanced skill that takes years to master, and McFarland’s experience highlighted the ongoing journey.
Earnhardt Jr. was genuinely impressed by this immediate bounce-back. "He did incredibly well. He did way better than I thought he was going to do in that car in Berlin," he remarked. Beyond the statistics, what truly resonated with Earnhardt Jr. was McFarland’s palpable enthusiasm. "He freakin’ loved it. He loved it. He was texting me about how much fun it is." This passion, coupled with a willingness to learn from mistakes, is often a more significant indicator of future success than a flawless debut.
Cleetus McFarland’s journey is a microcosm of the modern racing landscape, where traditional paths intersect with the digital age. His large social media following brings a new audience to short track racing, an invaluable contribution to a segment of motorsport that thrives on grassroots support. While his celebrity status might attract undue scrutiny, it also provides a unique platform to demystify the arduous process of becoming a race car driver.
Ultimately, Earnhardt Jr.’s defense of McFarland serves as a powerful reminder of the fundamental truths of motorsport development. Success on the track is not merely about talent; it’s about seat time, resilience, learning from failure, and maintaining an unwavering passion for the sport. Cleetus McFarland, with the backing of one of racing’s most respected voices, is clearly committed to this journey, proving that even a spin and a wreck can be pivotal moments on the path to becoming a better racer. His efforts, even when they don’t culminate in victory, embody the very essence of competitive spirit and the relentless pursuit of racecraft.
