Latest news with #CleetusMcFarland
The Drive
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Ram Could Return to NASCAR With YouTube Celebrity Cleetus McFarland: Report
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Every few months, the NASCAR rumor mill churns up some hearsay claiming that Dodge and/or Ram is returning to stock car racing. Said rumors occasionally gain real traction when someone important comments on them, like NASCAR President Steve Phelps did a few years back. Now, there's another piece of potential news claiming Ram could soon re-enter the Craftsman Truck Series with hugely popular YouTuber Cleetus McFarland behind the wheel. Here's why it might be legit. The report comes from Adam Stern at Sports Business Journal , who is especially well-sourced when it comes to NASCAR. He published the story on Sunday claiming that McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, could be a key piece of the puzzle for Ram's NASCAR efforts come 2026. Stern cites 'four people familiar with the matter and a document seen by SBJ ' as his sources, and beyond that, the move would make a good deal of sense. Ram is a lot like Dodge in the sense that manly marketing is everything to its brand image. Whether it's talking about 'premature electrification' in high-value Super Bowl ads or playing up the ever-ballooning machismo of truck ownership, its reputation is strong—for better and for worse. It wouldn't be surprising to see Ram snag Mitchell, whose 4.4 million subscribers on YouTube triple NASCAR's own viewership on that platform. Plus, he appeals to the core demographic of horsepower-hungry 20- and 30-somethings that really kinda like the idea of burnouts and Baja trucks alike. Not only that, but Mitchell has some legit stock car racing experience. (Keyword: some .) As Stern and SBJ point out, Mitchell has made three ARCA starts so far with a pair of top-10 finishes to his credit. NASCAR made the most of that media opportunity last Sunday at Charlotte, where it dedicated a live stream to Mitchell's in-car feed while also blasting out his post-race interview on every social channel it has. Neither Mitchell nor NASCAR is a dummy when it comes to this. Still, it could be risky for Stellantis, Ram's parent company, to bet so much on a relatively new driver. It's in the middle of a CEO change as we speak, and you don't need me to tell you that isn't a sign of a thriving business. The claim that Ram is seriously considering a NASCAR return isn't unique to SBJ 's latest story. Instead, a supposedly leaked dealer memo sparked a fresh batch of headlines saying as much back in March. Importantly, there hasn't been any news since then saying those plans are off, and the idea that a new celebrity driver could lead the way seems to add credibility to it all. Either way, nothing has been officially announced yet, so we'll just have to see what comes of this. I'll be poking around in the meantime. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dodge, Honda, and Cleetus? NASCAR's Manufacturer Future Is Getting Interesting
Dodge, Honda, and Cleetus? NASCAR's Manufacturer Future Is Getting Interesting originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NASCAR fans have heard for years that there was the possibility of a new manufacturer joining the sport. In fact, one of the sanctioning body's main lines of reasoning for not increasing horsepower through the years has been due to said potential manufacturer not having the ability to produce that level of power. Advertisement On Sunday, Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal reported that YouTube sensation and part-time ARCA driver Cleetus McFarland could drive for a Truck Series team in 2026 with support from the Stellantis' Ram brand, if the automaker enters the sport as has been reported since earlier this year. Dodge exited the sport in 2012 and there hasn't been a new OEM enter NASCAR since Toyota joined the Trucks in 2004. Cleetus McFarland poses for photos on the grid at Charlotte Motor to Stern, a document viewed by SBJ indicated that McFarland is listed as one of the names of the drivers in the program. He would also be a brand ambassador. In addition to Dodge, Stern wrote that Honda is 'also eyeing a potential entry into NASCAR, though the timing of that is less clear.' NASCAR has been in conversations with Honda for years, trying to convince the Japanese automaker to enter its series. Honda is currently one of two OEMs in IndyCar with Chevrolet, but it has stated that it is considering leaving IndyCar when its deal expires after the 2026 season. Advertisement All of the possible NASCAR entries, both McFarland and OEMs, are rumors at this point. That said, things do appear to be heating up and it wouldn't be a surprise if there's an announcement in the coming months. Related: NASCAR Truck Series Driver Slams Martinsville: 'I Hate This Racetrack' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Drive
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Big Block-Powered Chevy Spark Ran a 9.99-Second Quarter Mile
It's safe to say this tiny econobox nicknamed Crouton is the quickest Chevrolet Spark in the world. YouTuber Cleetus McFarland and his team have been preparing for the Burnout Rivals competition, and this wicked red hatchback was the basis for it. However, things took a turn when they decided to throw drag radials on it and attempt to make it the quickest (and fastest) Chevy Spark through the quarter-mile. And it seems they pulled it off, smashing a 9.995-second run. They may call it a Chevy Spark, but it's as much of one as Toyota's NASCAR racer is a true Camry. The Spark had most of its unibody chassis cut out and replaced with custom-built tubular steel and subframes. The seat is pushed back much further than in the standard car, since the subcompact now needs to accommodate a longitudinal big-block Chevy V8 and Turbo 400 sequential gearbox, which now power the rear wheels instead of the stock car's fronts. The big block was originally quoted as a 632 cubic-inch an earlier video about the build, which would make it a 10.3-liter Chevy V8 crate engine with an astonishing 1,004 horsepower and 876 lb-ft of torque right out of the box. However, in the newest video of the track run, it is quoted as an 8.8-liter, which would make it a 540 cubic-inch block. We're unsure what happened there, but either way, it's enough to power the roughly 1,500-pound Spark, given that it's little more than a bare chassis and an engine. It's no wonder it's an absolute drag strip missile with all that power sending it down the strip. After a few runs in the low 10-second range, McFarland finally broke the nine-second barrier, which likely makes it the most capable Spark on the planet. According to the YouTuber, the previous Spark quarter-mile record was 18.1 seconds. There's no guarantee, of course, as you never know what kind of wild contraptions people without massive YouTube followings have built. However, it seems unlikely that anyone else has had the desire to build such an absurd dragster out of one of the least-interesting hatchbacks in recent memory. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
Newsweek
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
The Cleetus McFarland Effect: YouTuber Brings 70,000 Viewers to ARCA Talladega Race
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cleetus McFarland, the popular automotive YouTuber whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, finished in an impressive P10 in the ARCA Menards Series at Talladega. Equally impressive was the viewership the driver brought to the race, with his onboards boasting 70,000 live viewers. Driving at the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway, the driver proved once again that his place in the sport is entirely warranted. His race was a difficult one. Starting in 24th behind the wheel of the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing, the car threw a valve spring on the fifth lap, meaning he was fighting the pack with less power. "About lap five, we broke a valve spring, and Elmore just came over here and popped the valve cover off," Mitchell said following his top-10 finish. "Obviously, you just can't change that in the race, so they told us after we pulled in, 'The valve train's rattling, go see what it'll do.'" A detail view of a "Talladega Superspeedway" signage during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in Talladega, Alabama. A detail view of a "Talladega Superspeedway" signage during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in Talladega, a focus on staying in the draft of the cars ahead, he was able to mitigate his power loss while waiting out the inevitable incidents that would take out a lot of his competition. "I just knew that if I fell out of the draft, I was done, and I just tried to channel my inner Greg Biffle and get in there," Mitchell said. "We just held on, and enough people wrecked and made mistakes (that) we were able to finish number 10." According to those watching on social media, including BrakeHard on X (formerly Twitter), there were 70,000 viewers with their eyes on the YouTuber. "10th place finish for Cleetus McFarland! 70k viewers watching his in-car camera on NASCAR's YouTube channel. Big content weekend for NASCAR/ARCA," they posted. 10th place finish for Cleetus McFarland! 70k viewers watching his in-car camera on NASCAR's YouTube channel. Big content weekend for NASCAR/ARCA — BrakeHard (@BrakeHardBlog) April 26, 2025 This happened on his series debut earlier this year as his post-race interview with FOX Sports racked up over 5.8 million views. The driver avoided a wreck during this week's race, and in the resulting interview, described what happened through his shining personality. "That was because my sleeves are cut off. I was able to make that maneuver. Tucked one of my wings, and just... dodged right out of there, said, 'Hell no, brother. You ain't taking me out', and slid in for a number 10 finish."
WIRED
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- WIRED
He Bought a Racetrack 6 Years Ago. Now He Runs the Netflix of Grassroots Motorsports
Garrett Michell, aka Cleetus McFarland, has built a motorsports streaming empire. Photograph:All products featured on Wired are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. In 2019, Garrett Mitchell was already an internet success. His YouTube channel, Cleetus McFarland, had over a million followers. If you perused the channel at that time, you would've found a range of grassroots motorsports videos with the type of vehicular shenanigans that earn truckloads of views. Some of those older videos include "BLEW BY A COP AT 120+mph! OOPS!," "THERE'S A T-REX ON THE TRACK!," and "Manual Transmission With Paddle Shifters!?!." Those videos made Mitchell, aka Cleetus McFarland, a known personality among automotive enthusiasts. But the YouTuber wanted more financial independence beyond the Google platform and firms willing to sponsor his channel. '… after my YouTube was growing and some of my antics [were] getting videos de-monetized, I realized I needed a playground,' Mitchell told Ars Technica in an email. Mitchell found a road toward new monetization opportunities through the DeSoto Super Speedway. The Bradenton, Florida, track had changed ownership multiple times since opening in the 1970s. The oval-shaped racetrack is three-eighths of a mile long with 12-degree banking angles. By 2018, the track had closed its doors and was going unused. DeSoto happened to be next to Mitchell's favorite drag strip, giving the YouTuber the idea of turning it into a stadium where people could watch burnouts and other 'massive, rowdy' ticketed events. Mitchell added: So I sold everything I could, borrowed some money from my business manager, and went all in for [$]2.2 million. But like the rest of the world, Mitchell hit the brakes on his 2020 plans during COVID-19 lockdowns. Soon after his purchase, Mitchell couldn't use the track, renamed Freedom Factory, for large gatherings, forcing him to reconsider his plans. 'We had no other option but to entertain the people somehow. And with no other racing goin' on anywhere, we bet big on making something happen. And it worked," Mitchell said. That 'something' was a pay-per-view (PPV) event hosted from the Freedom Factory in April 2020. The event led to others and, eventually, Mitchell running his own subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, FRDM+, which originally launched as Cleetervision in 2022. Today, a FRDM+ subscription costs $20 per month or $120 per year. A subscription provides access to an impressive library of automotive videos. Some are archived from Mitchell's YouTube channel. Other, exclusive videos feature content such as interviews with motorsports influencers and members of Mitchell's staff and crew, and outrageous motorsports stunts. You can watch videos from other influencers on FRDM+, and the business can also white-label its platform into other influencers' websites, too. 'A Race Against Time' Before Mitchell could host his first PPV event, he had to prepare the speedway. Explaining the ordeal to Ars, he wrote: 'We cleaned that place up best we could, but let's be real, it was rough. Lights were out, weeds poppin' up through the asphalt, the whole deal.' Pulling off the first PPV event at the Freedom Factory speedway was a "race against time," Jonny Mill, who built FRDM+'s tech stack and serves as company president, told Ars. "Florida implemented a statewide shutdown on the very day of our event,' he said. Mitchell also struggled to get the right workers and equipment needed for the PPV. Flights weren't available due to the pandemic, forcing Mill to produce the event from California using a cell phone group chat and 'last-minute local crew,' per Mitchell. The ENG camera person was much shorter than Mitchell "and had to climb on whatever she could just to keep me in frame,' he recalled. Mitchell said Freedom Factory's first PPV event had 75,000 concurrent viewers, which caused his website and those of the event sponsors to crash. 'Our initial bandwidth provider laughed at our viewership projections, and, of course, we surpassed them in the first week of pre-sales," Mill said. "They did apologize before asking for a much larger check." Other early obstacles included determining how to embed the livestream platform into Mitchell's e-commerce site. The biggest challenge there was 'juggling two separate logins, one for merch shopping and another for livestream PPV, all within the same site,' Mill explained. 'Now, our focus is on seamlessly guiding the YouTube audience over to FRDM+ for premium live events," he added. Live events are still the heart of FRDM+. The service had 21 livestreamed events scheduled throughout 2025, and more are expected to come. Peeking Under the Hood Today, bandwidth isn't a problem for FRDM+, and navigating the streaming service doesn't feel much different from something like Netflix. There are different 'channels' (grouped together by related content or ongoing series) on top and new releases and upcoming content highlighted below. There are horizontal scrolling rows, and many titles have content summaries and/or trailers. The platform also has a support section with instructions for canceling subscriptions. Like with other SVOD services, subscribers can watch FRDM+ via a web browser or through a smart TV app. FRDM+ currently has apps for Apple TV, Fire OS, and Roku OS. Mitchell said the team's constantly working on more connected TV apps, as well as adding features, 'more interactivity,' and customers. To keep the wheels spinning, FRDM+ leverages a diverse range of technologies, Mill explained: 'At the core of our infrastructure, AWS bandwidth servers handle the heavy lifting, while Accedo powers the connected TV apps, bridging the gap between our tech stack and the audience. Brightcove serves as our primary video player partner, with additional backup systems in place to maintain reliability.' For a service like this, with live events, redundancy is critical, Mill said. 'At the Freedom Factory, we even beam air fiber from a house five miles away to ensure a reliable second Internet. We also have a hidden page on [the Cleetus McFarland website] to launch a backup stream if the primary one fails,' he said. Today, FRDM+'s biggest challenge isn't a technical one. Instead, it's around managing the business's different parts using a small team. FRDM+ has 35 full-time employees across its Shop, Race Track, Events, and Merch divisions and is 'entirely self-funded,' per Mill. The company also relies on contractors for productions, but its core livestream team has six full-time employees. Mitchell told Ars that FRDM+ is profitable, but he couldn't get into specifics. He said the service has "strong year-over-year growth and a solid financial foundation that allows us to continue reinvesting in our team and services," like a "robust technology stack, larger events, venue rentals, and even giving away helicopters and Lamborghinis as the prizes for our races." 'Having been at Discovery during the launch of MotorTrend OnDemand, I've witnessed the power of substantial budgets firsthand," Mill said. "Yet, [FRDM+ has] achieved greater success organically than [Discovery] did with their eight-figure marketing investment. This autonomy and efficiency are a testament to the strength of our approach.' Any profitability for a 3-year-old streaming service is commendable. Due to wildly differing audiences, markets, costs, and scales, comparing FRDM+'s financials to the likes of Netflix and other mainstream streaming services is like comparing apples to oranges. But it's interesting to consider that FRDM+ has achieved profitability faster than some of those services, like Peacock, which also launched in 2020, and Apple TV+, which debuted in 2019. FRDM+ doesn't share subscription numbers publicly, but Mitchell told Ars that the subscription service has a 93 percent retention. Mill attributed that number to a loyal, engaged community driven by direct communication with Mitchell. Mill also suggested to Ars that FRDM+ has successfully converted over 5 percent of Mitchell's YouTube audience. Five percent of Cleetus McFarland's current YouTube base would be 212,500 people. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
