Cleetus McFarland finally made his NASCAR debut in the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona. Starting from the 30th spot, he showed promise before an accident cut his race short. Still, McFarland came away with more than just track time. He visited JR Motorsports in Mooresville and met with legendary NASCAR figure and Xfinity Series team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Excited to meet the man, the myth, the legend,” McFarland shared. The next day, he appeared on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, engaging fans with a nearly two-hour conversation about motorsports.

But that wasn’t the end of the excitement. McFarland later posted a photo with Dale Jr., teasing a possible collaboration. Fans immediately reacted with enthusiasm. Days before, the YouTuber — whose real name is Lawrence Garrett Mitchell — was seen driving a truck styled after Dale Earnhardt’s iconic black #3 car. The truck even sported a massive spoiler, added on the advice of Manuel from Midnight Performance, who said it was essential for quarter-mile runs.

While Dale Jr. never raced this particular truck, McFarland’s tribute was clear. Hints of a bigger project emerged when the YouTuber posted a photo of him and Earnhardt Jr. with the caption, “Big video dropping in the morning,” tagging both Dale and Dirty Mo Media. Not long after, Dale Jr. shared the same photo on X with a curious eyes emoji, sending fan anticipation through the roof.

Supporters couldn’t contain their excitement, especially at the thought of Dale Jr. possibly appearing in McFarland’s signature event, the Freedom 500. Hosted at his own Freedom Factory and co-owned Bradenton Motorsports Park, the event would surely sell out if Dale Jr. participates. Fans expressed their admiration, with one writing, “If you race the Freedom 500 next year I’m buying the tickets yesterday!”

Though Dale Jr. retired from full-time racing in 2017, he remains a powerful voice in the sport through his podcast, media appearances, and now collaborations like this one. Fans are loving this more personal and active version of Jr., who continues to connect with a younger audience. Many hope he’ll take a turn behind the wheel in a Truck Series race before stepping away for good.