Mentorship under a NASCAR veteran is crucial in stock car racing. And it is especially important ahead of the sport’s visit to Bristol Motor Speedway. The 0.533-mile high-banked concrete oval can be treacherous to most seasoned drivers, and that is why Cleetus McFarland is taking a calculated approach. The famous YouTuber, aka Garrett Mitchell, has garnered over 4 million followers and now seeks the million-dollar advice of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The popular icon made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2025, racing in Daytona, Talladega, and Charlotte. Cleetus McFarland improved his pace with every passing event, fetching his first top ten in ‘Dega in April and then following that up with a 9th-place result in Charlotte. However, Dale Jr. is here to gear him up for the ultimate test in Bristol.

Dale Jr. has confidence in his mentee

Well, the 26-time Cup Series race winner has already taught Cleetus McFarland a thing or two. Both Dale Jr. and Cleetus took a drive in the ‘Dale Truck’ at Talladega Superspeedway. With Junior’s 6-win dominance at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Cleetus learned a lot for his April 26 start. Now, the YouTuber is gearing up for his season’s fourth NASCAR start. He will wheel his Rette Jones Racing vehicle on Thursday night’s Bush Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Often called the ‘Last Great Colosseum,’ Bristol may be McFarland’s greatest challenge yet. And Dale Jr., who won a Cup race and an Xfinity race at the track in 2004, is here to help him.

In a recent episode of ‘The Dale Jr Download,’ T.J. Majors unfurled a host of instructions for Cleetus McFarland. He said, “Just race the track. Don’t try to force anything that’s not there… It’s easy to get in trouble at Bristol by putting yourself in a bad spot.” But then, Dale Jr. reminded Majors about McFarland’s prior experience – he ran Stadium Super Truck races back in 2022. Dale said, “I think that he’s actually run there at Bristol, so he’s seen the track before…When you go to a racetrack you’ve never been to and you drive out there for the first time, you’re lost for a little bit. So at least he’s seen it. Pulled out on the banking, which was dirty, pulled out on the track, and he kind of knows what it looks like and what’s coming.”

Thereby, Dale Jr. feels confident in Cleetus McFarland’s chances. The veteran rolled out his advice, nevertheless, echoing T. J. Majors’ concerns. “It’s gonna have a lot of grip with the tire and the car… For the most part, I would just take the easy spots. Don’t get yourself in trouble racing somebody for a spot that’s difficult to get.” Another thing that bothered Dale Jr. was Cleetus’ financial concerns. He continued, “He has the damage clause, if he crashes the car, he’s gotta repair it…So he has concerns about expenditure…So let’s just go out there and not have to write another check when it’s all said and done.”

As Dale Jr. wishes the YouTuber the best of luck, the latter is preparing in his own way.

Hoping to improve after his last debacle

Despite Cleetus McFarland’s soaring popularity, the racer made a mistake in Charlotte. In his last ARCA Menards outing, he spun the tires of his No. 30 RJR Ford with 62 laps left. This sent Isabella Robusto’s car head-on into the wall, collecting several other cars as well. McFarland escaped with only minor damage to the left front and could manage a solid 9th-place finish. But as his unexpected wreck ended several rivals’ days, he was apologetic. “I feel terrible about it. I know those guys work hard to be out here. It sucks to send them home,” McFarland said back in May. Now, he reflected back on that debacle, hoping to turn things around in Bristol.

Cleetus McFarland highlighted his hopes at a recent press meet. “Charlotte gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “I made a big mistake early, but the team never gave up, and we were able to come away with a top-10. That showed me what this group is capable of, and it makes me even more excited to see what we can do together at Bristol.” Most of all, he is excited to make his first NASCAR start in Bristol, with Dale Jr.’s blessings. He continued, “I’m beyond excited to get back behind the wheel in the ARCA Menards Series. Daytona, Talladega, and Charlotte were all incredible experiences, but Bristol is a whole different animal. The fans, the atmosphere, and the challenge of 200 laps around this short track make it one of the most iconic places in racing.”

Clearly, Dale Jr.’s mentee is eager to take up his newest challenge. As the ARCA race approaches, let’s see how Cleetus performs in Bristol.