Motorsport.com has confirmed that Cleetus McFarland, the popular YouTube personality known off-track as Garrett Mitchell, will contest the full 2027 ARCA Menards Series season for Richard Childress Racing. Fellow content creator George Siciliano, widely recognized online as Squirrel McNut, will also run a full campaign next year with Rette Jones Racing.
An official announcement is expected this week. McFarland will pilot the No. 33 Chevrolet for RCR with Robert Strmiska serving as crew chief, while Siciliano joins Rette Jones Racing.
McFarland signed a two-year development deal with Richard Childress Racing earlier this year, making two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts for the organization at Rockingham and Nashville. He also logged three Truck Series starts with Niece Motorsports during the current season. While results at the national level have been elusive, McFarland has shown promise in ARCA competition. Across eight starts spanning the 2025 and 2026 seasons, he captured a pole position at Michigan and earned a runner-up finish at Talladega after leading 19 laps. He also placed fourth in an ARCA East event at Rockingham.
Siciliano made three ARCA starts in 2026, securing a top-ten finish at Michigan and placing ninth in the ARCA East race at Rockingham. All previous ARCA starts for both drivers have come with Rette Jones Racing.
The ARCA Menards Series, widely regarded as the primary developmental ladder below NASCAR’s top three national divisions, features a 20-race schedule in 2027. The season opens at Daytona International Speedway on February 20 and concludes at Kansas Speedway on October 1, encompassing short tracks, superspeedways, intermediate ovals, road courses, and dirt tracks. Full-time participation remains rare, with typically fewer than a dozen drivers attempting the complete slate annually; Thomas Annunziata claimed the 2026 championship via tiebreaker.
McFarland has previously stated his long-term ambition is to compete in the Daytona 500.
“Cleetus has an undeniable passion for racing and a work ethic that has impressed everyone at our organization,” said Mike Verlander, President of Richard Childress Racing. “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 Robert Strmiska gives him the support of a talented leader who is equally passionate about racing.”
McFarland added: “This is a dream come true. 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.”
