Stellantis, the automotive giant worth $26.70 billion, has stayed remarkably quiet at the brewing whispers, but at the same time, sports analyst Adam Stern dropped bombshell details about Ram Trucks’ wild NASCAR comeback strategy.
The plan reportedly involves Pat McAfee, YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, and UFC boss Dana White in what’s being called a “gong show” approach to picking drivers and promoting the team.
What Is Pat McAfee’s Connection to NASCAR?
The drama started when Pat McAfee talked about Ram Trucks’ NASCAR program on his popular show, accidentally confirming that he was part of what Adam Stern from Sports Business Journal described as a planning document.
Stern’s report showed McAfee was specifically mentioned in Ram’s strategy papers alongside other big names, suggesting his role goes way beyond just casual talk about racing.
“@PatMcAfeeShow brought up the @RamTrucks NASCAR program on his show last week, and that comes after he was included in a Ram planning document seen earlier this year by @SBJ, along with Cleetus McFarland and the Dana White-involved gong show,” Stern revealed on social media.
The timing of McAfee’s comments has people wondering if this was part of a coordinated marketing plan or if he accidentally spilled some confidential information. With McAfee’s show reaching millions of viewers every week, he’s exactly the kind of asset Ram needs for their stated goal of growing NASCAR’s fan base from 20 million to “80 or 100 million” viewers.
What Is Dana White’s Reality TV Vision for NASCAR?
Perhaps the most interesting part of Ram’s strategy involves UFC president Dana White potentially appearing on a reality TV show designed to select drivers for Ram’s 2026 NASCAR Truck Series entry.
Industry insiders are calling this concept “the gong show,” and it would work similarly to White’s successful “Ultimate Fighter” format that has launched many UFC careers since 2005.
When Sports Business Journal asked White about his possible involvement, he said it was “very possible” before refusing to say more. The UFC boss has already worked with Ram on their patriotic “Never Stop Being American” TV ad, where he did voice-over work showing their relationship.
YouTube sensation Garrett “Cleetus” Mitchell, known as Cleetus McFarland, represents maybe the most unconventional part of Ram’s NASCAR plan. With over 4.5 million YouTube subscribers and a growing presence in ARCA racing, McFarland has been consistently linked to Ram’s driver lineup for their 2026 Truck Series entry.
Despite all the speculation and direct questions from media outlets, Stellantis has refused to comment on the specific details of Ram’s NASCAR strategy.
The company’s silence covers everything from driver selection to team partnerships to the reality show concept, leaving racing fans and industry watchers to piece together information from leaked documents and insider sources.