Cleetus McFarland bites again on backlash to racing in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: ‘I am having enjoyable’

News broke Wednesday that Cleetus McFarland will race part-time within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He will man a automotive for Richard Childress Racing for 3 races, beginning at Rockingham.

Already there’s been important pushback on NASCAR for its approval course of. Freddie Kraft, a spotter for Bubba Wallace within the Cup Series, expressed his dismay at Cleetus getting cleared.

But simply as shortly thereafter, Cleetus McFarland punched again. He’s not apprehensive concerning the criticism.

“I think being a YouTuber for so long, like I’ve just had everything in the world said about me,” McFarland mentioned on the Dale Jr. Download. “I expect way more. When I went into drag racing, I was the class clown. They all thought I was a joke because of the way I had my car set up and the way we ran it. It was a joke.”

This feels completely different for Cleetus McFarland, who’s simply starting to get his toes moist behind the wheel of some very highly effective racecars. He defined.

“I think right now I’m the rookie and people can say whatever they want,” he mentioned. “But when I keep coming back every time and they realize that their words don’t affect me time and time again they’re going to run out of breath. Because as long as I’m having fun, I’m going to keep showing up at these NASCAR races. Whether I’m in ARCA, Truck or O’Reilly’s, their words on Facebook will not change the fact that I’m going to come back and try again as long as I’m having fun.”

Cleetus McFarland doesn’t have a lot expertise. He has 4 begins within the ARCA Menards Series and one at Daytona this yr within the Truck Series. He’s set to run a part-time ARCA schedule in 2026 with Rette Jones Racing.

Now he’s bought the chance with RCR. It’s a giant one. Not everybody is bound he’s prepared.

“Crash at the Rockingham truck test. Crash Lap 5 of your only truck start. Good enough for me. Approved,” Kraft wrote on Twitter. “I don’t blame Cleetus one bit. We’d all jump at the chance to just show up and get approved.”

Now it’ll be on Cleetus McFarland to show he can play the half. It received’t be simple.