Garrett Mitchell, more commonly known as Cleetus McFarland by motorsports enthusiasts is a racer/YouTuber. Hailing from Nebraska, the content creator has amassed millions of followers on social media thanks to his unique car builds, participation in drag racing competitions as well as motorsports-related videos. From creating engaging content on social media to participating in the ARCA Menards Series, the American racer has had quite a journey throughout his career and his future is looking brighter than ever.

Who is Cleetus MacFarland?

Cleetus McFarland (Garrett Mitchell) is an American content creator, racer, and entrepreneur, who is known for his motorsports-related videos. Based in Florida, he made a name for himself on YouTube, amassing over 4 million followers by showcasing his love for building unique cars, living in the fast lane, and undertaking one-of-a-kind projects. Segments such as ‘Leroy the Savage and the ‘Leroy Build Series’ have helped the influencer build a loyal fanbase, who have stuck by him for years.

McFarland regularly appears in videos with his wife, Madi Mitchell, who also shares his love for cars and racing. The couple have two children, a son named Ripper and a daughter called Ella, who also feature on his YouTube channel. In a bid to give back to the community that has embraced him with open arms, the content creator alongside Greg Biffle flew their helicopters across North Carolina to provide supplies to stranded communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Even though McFarland lives in Florida, Biffle offered his home in Leicester to the YouTuber while the pair took part in the airlifting donations. The YouTuber’s helicopter, an MD 500 named Consuela worked alongside locals on the ground to create landing zones, and described the devastation by the tropical cyclone by saying, “Take what you’re seeing on the news and multiply it 10x.”

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From YouTube content creator to racing at Daytona: Cleetus McFarland foraying into racing

Cleetus McFarland started his YouTube channel on January 28, 2009, just four years after the platform was launched. In 2015, he adopted the name ‘Cleetus McFarland’ after creating a character that went viral at the Rocky Mountain Drag Week with Tom Bailey. Soon, his followers began to identify the content creator with his screen name, which meant Garrett Mitchell was rarely heard outside his close friends and family.

The Nebraska native’s motorsports journey began when he created a bodyless Chevrolet Corvette C5 with an exo-cage named ‘Leroy’. The vehicle instantly became a fan favorite, securing numerous trophies as well as personal and world records. That’s when McFarland’s fame grew, and the racing enthusiast also ended up building a multi-purpose race car using a Chevrolet El Camino as the foundation.

In January 2020, the YouTuber purchased the abandoned Desoto Speedway located in Florida and renamed it Freedom Factory. The 1/3rd mile venue has since featured in several videos and was also the center of controversy after Parker Whitlock suffered third-degree burns during one of Mitchell’s “Cleetus and Cars” events. On April 6th, 2022, Cleetus McFarland announced his debut in the Stadium Super Trucks, where he was going to drive the No. 1776 truck. Despite leading the last lap, McFarland spun on the final jump, enabling Robby Gordon to snatch the win instead.

However, Mitchell and his crew got lucky on November 6th, 2022. The racer managed to defeat Carlos Olivo in the McLeod Racing Warriors VS Tres Cuarto category, securing first place in the 26th Annual Haltech World Cup Finals Import & Domestic Drag Races. The following year, the YouTuber went on to win the Grannas Racing Stick Shift class category while competing in his body-less Chevrolet Corvette “Leroy”.

Promising results in the Stadium Super Trucks earned him a place in the ARCA Menards Series for 2025, where he made his debut for Rette Jones Racing while driving the No. 30 Ford as Garrett Mitchell. The racer went on to finish 30th at Daytona International Speedway on his debut, a promising result for the rookie in his very first ARCA race.

Will Cleetus McFarland make a debut in NASCAR’s national series?

Now that Cleetus McFarland has made his ARCA Menards Series debut, many fans are expecting him to compete in either of the three NASCAR national series as well. That will be easier said than done though, as the Nebraska native needs more experience at the grassroots level before making the jump. However, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the content creator will make it into the stock car racing series one day, particularly if his performances improve in ARCA. Given his stature, popularity and a strong brand presence, finding sponsors for a NASCAR seat won’t be a difficult task. But before that, the YouTuber will need to prove himself on the track a little longer before earning a place amongst the sports’ heavyweights.

What is in store for Cleetus McFarland after Daytona debut?

After making his debut at Daytona International Speedway, Cleetus McFarland is eyeing his second ARCA Menards Series appearance. The racer told Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his podcast, “Yeah, I’m goin to Dega.” Revealing his plans for the second appearance, McFarland went on to say, “We’re good for Dega—and we’re actually building some content around it on the YouTube channel that’ll that’ll cover it.” While he didn’t reveal the type of content that will be released at the General Tire 200, an in-car livestream is a realistic possibility. Will he be able to do better than his 30th-place finish at the Daytona ARCA 200? Time will tell. However, that will be his aim going into his second race of the season.