When Cleetus McFarland took Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his first-ever drag racing experience, nobody expected the NASCAR legend to be caught off guard. However, Cleetus couldn’t resist roasting Earnhardt Jr. for lifting his foot off the accelerator, giving him the playful nickname of “chicken foot” in the process. This amusing moment encapsulated the spirit of their time on the track.
The YouTube sensation and ARCA Menards Series driver, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, has long admired Dale Earnhardt Jr. For years, Cleetus’s audience encouraged him to have Junior drive the ‘Dale Truck,’ a fan-favorite machine that has featured prominently in Cleetus’s content for nearly eight years. The dream finally materialized on April 16 at Talladega when Earnhardt Jr. joined Cleetus for a quarter-mile run.
At a recent NASCAR press conference, Cleetus shared how special Dale Jr.’s drag racing debut was and noted that the NASCAR star was slightly caught off guard by the raw power of the truck. He recalled, “It was amazing to see him in action for the first time in a different kind of racing.” Cleetus elaborated that in his circle, “chicken footing” refers to lifting off the throttle prematurely, a light-hearted instance guaranteed to earn teasing from the team. When asked how he managed to call out the legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr. so publicly, Cleetus laughed, explaining that the data logs confirmed Dale Jr.’s hesitation, making it impossible to hide from the good-natured ribbing.
The 30-year-old YouTuber was genuinely surprised by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s skills with the Dale Truck, acknowledging his racing prowess, especially during burnouts. Beyond the banter, Cleetus McFarland recognized how crucial figures like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle, and Alex Bowman have been in shaping his racing journey. While Biffle has been a part of his career since the beginning, McFarland has developed a friendship with Dale Jr. following their outing at Talladega Superspeedway. These seasoned veterans have provided invaluable guidance as Cleetus transitions from content creator to serious competitor.
Although still early in his ARCA Menards Series career, Cleetus emphasized his attempt to absorb as much wisdom as possible, particularly regarding patience and survival tactics vital in pack racing. With just 19 laps at Daytona in a chaotic 2025 ARCA Menards Series opener, Cleetus’s race ended prematurely after a couple of wrecks. By combining perspectives from multiple mentors, he strives to make improved decisions during upcoming events, including the General Tire 200 at the historic 2.66-mile tri-oval, where he is set to start from P24.
The #30 Kenetix Ford driver was the ninth fastest in practice, clocking a best lap time of 53.498 seconds. William Sawalich is slated to take pole position in the race, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 12:30 p.m. ET. The anticipation surrounding Cleetus McFarland, and his growing partnership with Dale Earnhardt Jr. promises an exciting future as both continue to capture the hearts of racing fans worldwide.
