BRISTOL, Tenn. — Garrett Mitchell — widely known to his millions of YouTube followers as Cleetus McFarland — will trade the camera for a steering wheel once again as he gears up for his fourth ARCA Menards Series start in Thursday night’s Bush Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
McFarland’s return to ARCA competition kicks off the track’s annual fall racing stretch at the 0.533-mile high-banked concrete oval.
While his previous ARCA outings came on the mammoth superspeedways of Daytona and Talladega and, most recently, the daunting 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bristol — often called The Last Great Colosseum — represents his most demanding challenge yet.
“I’m beyond excited to get back behind the wheel in the ARCA Menards Series,” said McFarland. “Daytona, Talladega and Charlotte were all incredible experiences, but Bristol is a whole different animal. The fans, the atmosphere, and the challenge of 200 laps around this short track make it one of the most iconic places in racing.
“It’s going to be a huge test, but I’m ready to learn, have fun, and hopefully put on a good show for everyone.”
In his most recent ARCA Menards Series appearance at Charlotte Motor Speedway, McFarland and his Mooresville, N.C.-based Rette Jones Racing team battled through adversity, including a miscue on an early race restart, to rally back for his career-best finish of ninth.
“Charlotte gave me a lot of confidence,” McFarland reflected. “I made a big mistake early, but the team never gave up and we were able to come away with a top-10. That showed me what this group is capable of, and it makes me even more excited to see what we can do together at Bristol.”
Knowing the sweeping, tight corners and the tremendous speed that Bristol Motor Speedway portrays, practice will never be more critical for the ARCA Menards Series rookie.
“Track time is everything for me,” McFarland explained. “Bristol is fast, it’s tight, and things happen in a hurry. Getting as many clean laps as possible in practice will be huge so I can get comfortable, learn what the car needs, and be ready to go when the green flag drops.”
McFarland knowsg track position will mean everything on Thursday night, and a strong qualifying run will aid him in his quest for his third consecutive top-10 finish.
“Qualifying up front is going to be a big deal at Bristol,” McFarland said. “If you get buried in the pack, things can go wrong in a hurry. My goal is to put down a solid lap in qualifying, keep ourselves out of trouble, learn and give our Rette Jones Racing team the best chance to keep this top-10 streak alive.”
Kenetik, a ketone-based drink that’s designed to boost energy, focus, and mental clarity, will continue to support McFarland in his fourth ARCA Menards Series race aboard the No. 30 Ford Mustang.
“I’m really thankful to have Kenetik back on board with us this week at Bristol,” McFarland said. “They’ve been with me at Daytona, Talladega and Charlotte, and it means a lot to carry their support again at such a legendary track.
“We’ve built a great relationship, and I’m proud to represent their brand while chasing another solid finish with our Rette Jones Racing team.”
Greg Biffle, a 28-time NASCAR Cup Series competitor and former pole winner at Bristol Motor Speedway, will again be on-site in an advisory role for McFarland’s ARCA return this weekend.
