TALLADEGA, Ala: Following a respectable weekend at Kansas Speedway, famed content creator George Siciliano, better known in the online community as Squirrel McNutt, has received his superspeedway license and will compete in Saturday’s Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
Siciliano will pilot the No. 0 Heat Wave Visual Ford Fusion for Wayne Peterson Motorsports in alliance with Rette Jones Racing, continuing his transition from digital creator to race car driver while taking another significant step in his rapidly evolving motorsports journey.
Taking what he learned from a pre-race practice session at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway last weekend, Siciliano used that track time and the knowledge around him to have a clean race in the Tide 150, ultimately finishing 12th in his national ARCA Menards Series debut.
Set to tackle a completely different beast this weekend at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, Siciliano’s focus on and study of what to expect in the 80-lap contest will be paramount.
Unlike the ARCA Menards Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, the two-day schedule for Talladega is completely flipped upside down with limited practice and no qualifying.
Knowing that he’s guaranteed to make his second consecutive start in the ARCA Menards Series, Siciliano is planning to make the most of his limited track time on Friday afternoon, which is traditionally a five-minute session, allowing teams to shake down their race vehicles ahead of Saturday’s track doubleheader.
The track time, which will see the field split into groups, will provide limited drafting for Siciliano, but he hopes to make the most of it and get a small preview of what to expect in his superspeedway ARCA debut.
“Making my Talladega Superspeedway debut is incredibly important to me and everyone who is a part of this journey,” said Siciliano. “I’m appreciative and thankful that we had a solid race at Kansas Speedway that allowed us to receive the clearance to compete at Talladega.
“This weekend will be the opportunity to showcase that they made the right decision. I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself, but I’m confident that all the time and effort into this race will pay off with another solid showing on Saturday afternoon.”
Siciliano will lean on the expertise of his race team and his racing colleagues for their input on how to make his first Talladega Superspeedway start a memorable one.
“I’m expecting to get a bunch of pointers following the on-track time on Thursday,” explained Siciliano. “It’s just taking all of that, processing it and then hoping to execute.”
As for a goal on Saturday? That is simple. Finish.
“Seeing the checkered flag is the most important right now,” added Siciliano. “Planning to do more races in the future, every lap on the track will help towards that next start. I know the racing this weekend will be like nothing that I’ve experienced over the last month, but I believe I am ready.”
Like Kansas, Siciliano won’t have to go far to speak to his biggest cheerleader, as fellow YouTube personality and close friend Cleetus McFarland will also be on hand competing in Saturday’s Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 in a separate Rette Jones Racing entry.
Cleetus McFarland returns to Talladega Superspeedway, where he earned his first career ARCA Menards Series top-10 finish last April and recorded a strong 11th-place performance earlier this year at Daytona International Speedway.
“Cleetus and I have talked about a bunch and he’s given me a layout of what to expect,” added Siciliano. “He has pretty much experienced it all when it comes to superspeedway racing. I plan to talk to him after the track time on Friday and just give him my feedback and listen to any advice he may have to offer.”
Rette Jones Racing co-owner Mark Rette believes Siciliano’s development has been evident each time he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 0 Heat Wave Visual Ford and expects the Talladega Superspeedway weekend to serve as another pivotal benchmark in his progression.
“George continues to impress us with his commitment and willingness to learn,” Rette said.
“He’s taken every opportunity seriously, especially last weekend at Kansas Speedway and applied what he’s learned each time out and has shown steady improvement in a short amount of time.
“Talladega is a completely new ball game for him, but thankfully, he is surrounded by good people who have his best interest and want him to succeed. He’ll learn more this weekend than he probably has with all the prior races combined.
“But it’s taking that knowledge, experience and using his head to have a productive race. We believe he’s ready for the challenge and eager to see what he can do.”
Siciliano will continue to be supported by Heat Wave Visual, an independent, California-based eyewear brand founded in 2012, known for combining bold, customizable street-style aesthetics with functional, action-sports-oriented design.
They feature specialized, removable lenses and offer Z87+ safety-rated options, popular in automotive, motorcycle, and off-road, and outdoor cultures.
Following Talladega Superspeedway, Siciliano’s remaining schedule on the ARCA Menards Series platforms will be announced at a later date.
For more on George Siciliano, like him on Facebook (george.siciliano.1) and follow him on Instagram (@ls__george).
For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).
The Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 (80 laps | 200 miles) is the fourth of 20 races on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Friday, April 24, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. The race is scheduled to take the green flag the following morning, April 25, shortly after 11:30 a.m. CT. (12:30 p.m. ET). The continuation of the 74th season of ARCA competition will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90 handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).
About Rette Jones Racing:
Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the vision of building a competitive racing organization grounded in hard work, preparation and a relentless, never-give-up attitude.
Owned by veteran racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR continues to expand its footprint across multiple platforms. In 2026, the team plans to field a full-time entry in the ASA STARS National Tour, while also competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Euro Series and other motorsports disciplines as part of its continued growth and competitive expansion.
Beyond its on-track efforts, Rette Jones Racing provides technical and setup expertise through its technical alliance partnership program, supplying teams with engineering support, chassis consultation, and race-day insight designed to elevate performance and foster long-term success.