Garrett Mitchell Bio
Lawrence Garrett Mitchell, known professionally as Cleetus McFarland, is an American racing driver, YouTube content creator, and automotive entertainer born on April 5, 1995, in Omaha, Nebraska. He is best known for his popular YouTube channel, “Cleetus McFarland,” where he shares automotive builds, drag racing content, and behind-the-scenes looks at his racing operations. Mitchell currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing, while also making appearances in Stadium Super Trucks events. His combination of entertainment appeal and genuine racing ambition has made him one of the most recognizable independent personalities in American motorsports.
Early Life and Background
Lawrence Garrett Mitchell was born on April 5, 1995, in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was raised before eventually relocating to the southeastern United States. From a young age, Mitchell developed a strong interest in cars and mechanical work, spending much of his early years around engines and automotive culture. This early fascination laid the foundation for what would later become a career centered on building, racing, and sharing high-horsepower vehicles with a wide online audience.
Before launching his own brand, Mitchell worked in the digital media space, taking a job as the social media manager for 1320Video, a well-known car media company. On January 28, 2009, he started his own YouTube channel, eventually leaving 1320Video to pursue content creation full-time. In 2015, he adopted the persona “Cleetus McFarland,” a character that first went viral at the Rocky Mountain Drag Week event alongside drag racing veteran Tom Bailey. The nickname quickly became associated with his channel and brand, replacing his real name in most public settings.
Path to NASCAR
Mitchell’s path toward NASCAR’s development ladder began with grassroots-level racing at short tracks and drag strips across the country, where he built his skills behind the wheel of a variety of purpose-built race cars. He earned attention with bodyless Chevrolet Corvette C5, named “Leroy,” which featured an exo-cage and set personal and world records, followed by a Chevrolet El Camino known as “Mullet.” These builds, paired with his growing YouTube audience, helped him transition from a content creator who occasionally raced into a legitimate stock car racing competitor.
In 2022, Mitchell expanded his stock car resume by debuting in the Stadium Super Trucks series at Long Beach, California, driving the No. 1776 truck. He scored his first podium with a third-place finish in Race 2 at the Bristol 1000 later that year. By 2025, he had progressed to the ARCA Menards Series, where he competes part-time in the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing, running selected events at Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway.
Garrett Mitchell Career
Early Career
Mitchell’s early competitive career was built largely around drag racing, where he quickly established himself as a serious competitor. On November 6, 2022, Mitchell and his crew won first place in the McLeod Racing Warriors VS Tres Cuarto category at the 26th Annual Haltech World Cup Finals Import and Domestic Drag Races, driving the Chevrolet El Camino “Mullet” to a 6.474-second elapsed time at 222.95 mph in the final round. The victory marked a defining moment in his transition from YouTube entertainer to a respected racer in his own right.
Returning to the World Cup Finals in 2023, Mitchell won in the Grannas Racing Stick Shift class behind the wheel of his bodyless Chevrolet Corvette “Leroy,” posting a 7.325-second pass at 203.95 mph in the finals. These consistent performances at one of drag racing’s most prestigious events helped solidify his credibility on the strip and set the stage for his move into closed-course oval and road course competition.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2025)
In 2025, Mitchell made his stock car breakthrough in the ARCA Menards Series, when it was revealed he would participate in the pre-season test at Daytona International Speedway driving the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing, listed under his real name, Garrett Mitchell. On January 15, 2025, it was announced on Facebook that he would drive in the season opener at Daytona, where he finished 30th after being caught up in a multi-car crash just past the quarter mark of the race.
Following his Daytona debut, Mitchell announced his return to the seat at Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the ARCA Menards Series East combination race at Bristol Motor Speedway. After the Bristol event, Rette Jones Racing confirmed that Mitchell would return to the ARCA Menards Series in 2026 on a partial schedule, signaling continued growth in the national stock car ladder.
Stadium Super Trucks (2022)
Mitchell made his Stadium Super Trucks debut on April 6, 2022, at Long Beach, California, racing the No. 1776 truck under his Cleetus McFarland alias. In the weekend’s second race, he was leading on the final lap and appeared poised for the victory until a mishap on the final jump sent his truck spinning, allowing Robby Gordon to claim the win. Mitchell made another attempt later that year at the Music City Grand Prix in August, where he was involved in crashes in both races, including a flip onto his roof in the second event after contact with the wall.
Later in 2022, Mitchell invited the Stadium Super Trucks series to his Bristol 1000 event at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he scored his first series podium with a third-place finish in Race 2. The Bristol result marked a strong rebound from earlier disappointments and demonstrated his ability to adapt to high-speed, jump-filled racing formats.
Rette Jones Racing Era (2025–Present)
Since joining Rette Jones Racing in 2025, Mitchell has been a part-time presence in the team’s ARCA Menards Series efforts, piloting the No. 30 Ford at marquee venues. His 2025 schedule has included Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte, and the Bristol combination race with the ARCA Menards Series East, giving him exposure to a variety of track types ranging from restrictor-plate superspeedways to short ovals.
The partnership with Rette Jones Racing has been confirmed to continue into 2026 on a partial schedule, allowing Mitchell to balance his growing ARCA commitments with his YouTube business and other racing ventures. The team’s decision to retain him reflects his growing comfort with stock car machinery and his appeal as a competitor who brings both talent and a substantial fan base.
Notable Races and Milestones
Mitchell’s most significant stock car milestone to date came at the 2025 Daytona ARCA season opener, where he made his national series debut in the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing. He has also claimed memorable results in Stadium Super Trucks competition, including a podium at the Bristol 1000 and a near-victory at Long Beach that ended on the final jump.
Garrett Mitchell Family
Personal Life
Mitchell operates primarily out of Florida, where in January 2020 he purchased the abandoned Desoto Speedway, a three-eighths-mile asphalt oval and Figure 8 track in Manatee County, and later renamed it the Freedom Factory. The facility has become the home base for his “Cleetus and Cars” events, drag racing programs, and content creation, serving as a hub for his racing operations and fan gatherings.
2025 Season Performance
Mitchell’s 2025 season centers on a part-time ARCA Menards Series campaign with Rette Jones Racing, beginning with the Daytona International Speedway season opener, where he finished 30th after an early multi-car incident. He has continued to announce his presence at Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the Bristol Motor Speedway combination race with the ARCA Menards Series East, building a diverse schedule across the year.
Following the Bristol event, Rette Jones Racing confirmed that Mitchell would return to the ARCA Menards Series in 2026 on a partial schedule, giving the partnership clear momentum heading into the off-season. While his 2025 results have been modest, his continued progression through the NASCAR development ladder and his expanding role with the team point toward a more competitive 2026 campaign.