When asked what Tony Stewart felt about the Indy 800 11 months ago, his response was unfiltered, “I got a bulls eye on my back from listening to my competitors. My attitude, I am gonna treat them like I wanted to treat Joey Logano at California, I am gonna treat them all like little b——-.” Stewart clearly wasn’t mincing any words, and when the action at the track unfolded, it was incredible.
An adrenaline-packed freedom show at the Indianapolis raceway park, INDY 800 at Cleetus and Cars 2025 with Tony Stewart riddling on the race track and launching in reverse while Cleetus McFarland shows off with donuts mid-race.
Nevertheless, Greg Biffle and Kevin Smith were dueling it out for the lead. And before Kevin Smith drives off into victory lane with the win, as the biff tries to take over from the inside, trying to snatch the lead with a tight turn.
However, what caught most fans’ attention was Tony Stewart and Cleetus McFarland’s crossing at the Indianapolis 800 was unexpected, and they instantly wanted more. Now, McFarland is becoming a big name in NASCAR. From talking to Dale Jr. on his podcast, taking Junior racing in drag cars, and appearing on Kevin Harvick’s show, McFarland is making the rounds of the community, and after he helped victims of Hurricane Helene earlier in 2024, it was hard not to like him. It’s seen him be liked in the NASCAR community as YouTubers like another famous creator, Mr. Beast.
This time around, Cleetus McFarland, standing atop his car, yelled to Tony Stewart in a now-viral video from the racetrack, “Good news is, you’re the number one qualifier. Bad news is, we’re doing a full invert.” It was classic Cleetus—excessive, horribly inaccurate, yet nevertheless perfectly appropriate.
It’s not the first time Stewart has had a moment with McFarland. Just a few weeks ago, Smoke admitted, “He’s got his persona. But keep in mind this guy has his pilot’s license. He’s got his helicopter pilot’s license. You aren’t going to be a d—— and do things like that. He knows how to have a great time, he knows how to entertain people. It’s just fun to know him.”
A flurry of online laughter was triggered by the moment, which was delivered with all the sincerity of a man who once placed a Christmas tree on a drift vehicle. The Stewart-Cleetus exchange became a meme goldmine as followers began to add levels of interpretation rather than just making jokes.
The Internet delivers as Stewart and Cleetus spark memefest
“Brother, why does a giraffe need to stand on a car?” The tall stature and gangly stance of Cleetus as he leaned over Stewart’s car in the video are referenced in this joke. Stewart’s snarky reply, “Valid question,” solidified the humorous timing, even if the image was already ridiculous. Fans have already drawn comparisons to previous incidents in which Cleetus stood awkwardly next to short-statured drivers, like as Kevin Smith, during the shenanigans of the Freedom 500.
“Pit maneuver, everyone.” Not just a casual remark; it’s a recurring joke that targets Cleetus’s extensive history of “pit maneuvers” from his YouTube series. Cleetus frequently spins out or inadvertently taps rivals during demo derbies or drifting competitions at the Freedom Factory. Fans found it hilarious to think that he would bring that excitement to Stewart’s meticulous race preparation.
“Since Cleetus McFarland is delving into other types of racing, do you think you can help him out with trying out a sprint car at Eldora sometime?!?” This was a thoughtful recommendation rather than merely a meme. Top-tier sprint car competitions, such as the Eldora Million, are held at Stewart’s dirt track, Eldora Speedway. Cleetus, meantime, has publicly talked about going into dirt racing and has even entered crossover competitions with modified cars. Fans view this as a reality rather than just wishful thinking, particularly in light of Stewart’s track record of coaching out-of-the-box racers.
“Put Tony in mullet.” This response was more than a simple request for a costume exchange; it was a parody of the Cleetus McFarland brand itself. To create fan-favorite content, it repeated previous crossover events where traditional racers dressed up or embraced “Cleetus energy.” The ultimate tribute to the increasing fusion of showmen from the digital era and classic racing legends would be Stewart sporting a mullet.
“I can’t recall a time recently when he hasn’t inverted some or all of the field.” It struck deeper than it appeared. In SRX Racing, which he co-founded, Stewart has employed wacky formats and field inversions. Fans interpreted Cleetus’s playful announcement of an “invert” as an homage to both of their chaotic impulses, as Stewart has demonstrated a preference for unusual racing formats, from random grid shuffles to full-field flips following heat races.
A moment of cultural crossover resulted from what began as a pit-lane joke between two very different motorsport personalities. Tony Stewart contributes his unadulterated grit and racing heritage, while Cleetus McFarland provides his Mr. Beast-style intensity and viral reach. Together? They brought the laughs, and fans now want more than just a moment. They want a movement.
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