After a year of part-time outings and viral exposure, the duo of Garrett Mitchell – better known to fans as Cleetus McFarland – and internet personality George Siciliano (a.k.a. Squirrel McNut) have locked in full-time seats for the 2027 ARCA Menards Series. The announcements, expected this week, pair McFarland with a car prepared by Richard Childress Racing and Siciliano with a Rette Jones Racing entry, signaling a decisive step toward regular competition at the sport’s fourth-tier level.
McFarland’s two-year agreement with Childress, signed earlier in the calendar year, already yielded two starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Rockingham and Nashville. In addition, he accumulated three starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving the No. 4 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports. Those appearances, though limited, gave him valuable exposure to superspeedway and short-track racing at the national level.
Recent ARCA performances for McFarland and Siciliano
Between 2025 and 2026, McFarland logged eight ARCA starts, securing a pole at Michigan International Speedway and a runner-up finish at the high-banked Talladega Superspeedway, where he led 19 laps before fading to second. He also posted a fourth-place finish in an ARCA East event at Rockingham. Those results illustrate his ability to compete on both ovals and speedways, despite limited seat time.
Siciliano, meanwhile, contested three ARCA races during the 2026 season, achieving a top-ten finish at Michigan and a ninth-place result in the ARCA East race at Rockingham. All of his ARCA outings to date have been under the Rette Jones Racing banner, a partnership that will continue into the forthcoming full-time campaign.
2026 ARCA calendar and context for the 2027 field
The ARCA Menards Series scheduled 20 events for the 2026 season, kicking off at Daytona International Speedway on February 20 and wrapping at Kansas Speedway on October 1. The itinerary spans short tracks, superspeedways, intermediate ovals, road courses and even a dirt oval, providing a comprehensive proving ground for emerging talent. Historically, fewer than twelve drivers attempt the full schedule each year; the 2026 champion, Thomas Annunziata, clinched the title in a tiebreaker after a tightly contested season.
With the series’ diverse track mix, a full-time commitment represents a significant investment of time and resources. Both McFarland and Siciliano will join a select group of drivers pursuing every race, aiming to translate their part-time success into consistent points finishes. Their shared background in digital media adds a fresh promotional angle to a series that traditionally relies on grassroots fanbases.
Long-term ambitions beyond ARCA
McFarland has repeatedly expressed a personal dream of earning a seat in the Daytona 500. The 2027 ARCA season, combined with his existing multi-year contract with Childress, could serve as a platform to demonstrate eligibility for superspeedway competition in the top-level NASCAR Cup Series. Similarly, Siciliano’s growing on-track résumé and online following may open doors to future O’Reilly or Truck opportunities, especially if the duo can deliver strong finishes throughout the full schedule.
In sum, the 2027 ARCA lineup will feature two distinctive personalities transitioning from viral content creators to serious stock-car competitors. Their full-time entries, backed by established teams, promise to add a new narrative layer to a series already rich with emerging talent.
