The motorsport world was left speechless on September 7, 2025, when YouTube sensation and racer Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland, pulled off a jaw-dropping stunt that no one anticipated. During a live-streamed event at his Freedom Factory track in Bradenton, Florida, McFarland unveiled a fully restored 1969 Dodge Charger, dubbed “General Lee,” and announced his entry into the 2026 NASCAR Xfinity Series with a new team, Freedom Motorsports. The announcement, coupled with a blistering exhibition lap where he clocked a record-breaking 6.8-second quarter-mile in the Charger, stunned fans and drivers alike, cementing his growing influence in professional racing.
McFarland, a former law school dropout turned YouTube star with over 4 million subscribers, has built a cult following with his drag racing exploits and viral builds like “Leroy” and “Mullet.” His unexpected leap into NASCAR’s second-tier series, revealed during a “Cleetus and Cars” event, caught the industry off guard. “We’re doing this for the fans and for freedom!” he declared to a roaring crowd, as reported by Dragzine. The Charger, powered by a twin-turbo LS engine, was a nod to his grassroots roots, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge performance. Fans on X erupted, with one posting, “Cleetus in NASCAR? This is gonna be wild!”
The move follows McFarland’s 2025 ARCA Menards Series debut, where he finished 30th at Daytona and ninth at Charlotte, despite a controversial wreck with Isabella Robusto, as noted by Motorsport.com. His transition to Xfinity, backed by sponsors like Element Electrolyte and Upside, signals serious ambition. Freedom Motorsports, co-owned with crew chief Kevin Smith of KSR Fabrication, will field two cars, with McFarland driving the No. 1776. “We’re not here to play around,” he told The Checkered Flag. “We’re building a team to compete and win.”
The announcement has rattled NASCAR’s establishment. Denny Hamlin, on his Actions Detrimental podcast, called it “a bold move” but questioned McFarland’s readiness for Xfinity’s competitive field. Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. praised McFarland’s fanbase, noting on X, “Cleetus brings eyeballs NASCAR needs.” His YouTube livestreams, which drew 70,000 viewers during his Daytona crash, per Outkick, underscore his ability to pull new audiences to the sport. Critics, however, point to his inexperience and past safety concerns, like the 2020 radiator hose incident at a “Cleetus and Cars” event, cited by Wikipedia, as potential liabilities.
McFarland’s entry raises the stakes for 2026. With a $2 million investment in Freedom Motorsports, per Sick The Magazine, he’s betting big on his vision. The Charger’s record lap, verified by timing officials, has already silenced some doubters, but the Xfinity Series’ demanding schedule will test his mettle. As fans await his debut at Daytona in February, one thing is clear: McFarland’s audacious move has injected unpredictability into NASCAR, and the racing world is watching to see if he can deliver on this shocking gamble.
