YouTuber Cleetus McFarland’s deal with Richard Childress Racing that would see him make his debut in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this season has left the NASCAR community divided. Many are questioning how someone who doesn’t have any solid racing experience was able to crack into the top levels of stock car racing using internet popularity alone.
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Icons like Kyle Busch and Kyle Petty have taken a strong stance against McFarland’s participation. Denny Hamlin, however, has come out with a more balanced opinion.
Hamlin stated on Actions Detrimental that NASCAR’s driver approval process should be questioned instead of pointing fingers at McFarland’s legitimacy to be a driver at the top level. Hamlin sees them as two different things and explained why.
“I think he, without a doubt, has an effect on bringing eyeballs to the sport that maybe wouldn’t be paying attention otherwise. I don’t know what’s right,” said Hamlin.
“Well, I’ll say this. Uh, I think that our approval process should be tougher than what it is. I think that there’s a certain standard that we need to hold to ourselves,” he added.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver knows that McFarland’s current path would take him into the Cup Series eventually. While Hamlin sees McFarland as a humble person who values the opportunities he gets, he also understands that this quality shouldn’t be the yardstick for a seat at this level.
Hamlin’s worry, of course, is that McFarland’s inexperience could end up costing those around him, particularly his competitors. “I watched him in that truck race at Daytona, and truthfully, he was out of control for all 12 of the laps before he wrecked. I could see it,” he said.
“I know the sport. I know what’s in control and out of control. And I was like, ‘Oh man, this is not going to end well,” added Hamlin.
It certainly isn’t fair for full-time drivers to face an increased risk on the track because of having an inexperienced competitor with them. There is only one solution to the issue. Make the approval process a lot more stringent.
Hamlin said that McFarland’s participation wouldn’t have been an issue at all if he’d driven a few more races at the lower rungs of the sport before getting the chance to move up. Had he done so, he would have also learnt to control his car better and make more sensible decisions on the track.
McFarland will make his O’Reilly debut at the Rockingham Speedway on April 4, 2026.
