Report: Ram May Make a Comeback to NASCAR Alongside YouTube Star Cleetus McFarland.

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      Every few months, speculation arises in the NASCAR community regarding a potential return of Dodge and/or Ram to stock car racing. These rumors sometimes gain credibility when notable figures, like NASCAR President Steve Phelps a few years ago, comment on them. Now, another report suggests that Ram may soon come back to the Craftsman Truck Series with well-known YouTuber Cleetus McFarland driving. Here's why this could hold water.

      The report originates from Adam Stern at Sports Business Journal, who has reliable sources within NASCAR. He published an article on Sunday indicating that McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, could be a significant factor in Ram's NASCAR plans by 2026. Stern references "four individuals familiar with the situation and a document reviewed by SBJ" as his sources, and the proposed move seems to make considerable sense.

      Ram shares similarities with Dodge in that its branding heavily relies on macho marketing. Whether it's referencing "premature electrification" in high-profile Super Bowl commercials or emphasizing the growing masculinity associated with truck ownership, its reputation is robust—both positively and negatively. It wouldn’t be surprising if Ram signed Mitchell, as his 4.4 million YouTube subscribers significantly outnumber NASCAR’s viewership on that platform. Additionally, he resonates with the core demographic of 20- and 30-somethings who are enthusiastic about both burnouts and Baja trucks.

      Moreover, Mitchell possesses some legitimate experience in stock car racing. (Keyword: some.) As noted by Stern and SBJ, Mitchell has participated in three ARCA races thus far, achieving two top-10 finishes. NASCAR capitalized on this media opportunity last Sunday in Charlotte by streaming Mitchell’s in-car feed and promoting his post-race interview across all its social channels. Both Mitchell and NASCAR are savvy in this regard.

      That said, it may be risky for Stellantis, Ram's parent company, to place so much trust in a relatively inexperienced driver. It is currently undergoing a change in leadership, which is not typically indicative of a flourishing business.

      The notion that Ram is genuinely contemplating a NASCAR comeback isn’t solely based on SBJ’s recent report. A leaked dealer memo back in March also ignited discussions around this possibility. Importantly, there haven’t been any updates since then suggesting these plans have been discarded, and the idea of a new celebrity driver potentially leading the charge seems to lend further credibility to the situation. For now, though, no official announcements have been made, so we will have to wait and see what happens.

      I’ll be keeping an eye on this in the meantime.

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