DAYTONA BEACH, Fla — He’s back.
Garrett Mitchell — better known as Cleetus McFarland — flanked by his millions of YouTube subscribers, returns to ARCA Menards Series competition this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
McFarland heads back to the site of his ARCA Menards Series debut — a performance that showed promise before two early-race incidents ultimately sidelined the Bradenton, Florida native.
He returns to the World Center of Racing with momentum on his side, including a top-10 finish at Talladega Superspeedway last April — the other drafting track on the ARCA schedule — and a strong preseason showing at the 2.5-mile superspeedway that saw Rette Jones Racing place inside the top-10 with McFarland at the helm.
Confident heading back to Daytona, McFarland eyes his third top-10 finish in just his fifth series start — while also embracing the opportunity to shock the field with his first career ARCA Menards Series victory on one of the discipline’s biggest stages.
“Daytona demands respect,” said McFarland. “Last time we were here, we showed speed but didn’t get the finish we deserved. That’s just how superspeedway racing goes sometimes.
“I’ve learned a lot since that first start, and the Rette Jones Racing guys have brought a fast hot rod. If we execute, stay out of trouble and put ourselves in position late, there’s no reason we can’t be in the mix with 10 to go. And once you’re there, anything can happen.”
Since his debut, McFarland has capitalized on every opportunity to gain experience, adding two superspeedway races and two practice sessions to his résumé as he prepares for the 80-lap showdown and the chance to demonstrate his growth in front of his more than 4.07 million subscribers.
“Seat time is everything at these places,” McFarland said. “You can study film and talk about it all you want, but until you’re in the draft making decisions at 190 miles per hour, it’s different.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is how the air works and how to manage the runs. Two races and a couple of practice sessions might not sound like much, but that experience adds up. I’m a lot more confident in the pack now, and that lets you focus on racing instead of just surviving.”
It’s a busy weekend for McFarland.
In addition to his duties in the ARCA Menards Series garage, he’ll also make the walk over to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series garage, where he is set to make his series debut in Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250, piloting the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
McFarland earned his NASCAR superspeedway clearance following a productive test session at Rockingham Speedway on February 10, positioning him for his first start at the national level in the Truck Series.
The event will also feature action sports legend Travis Pastrana, placing two crossover icons under the same Niece Motorsports banner for the superspeedway showdown.
McFarland, 30, intends to carry over the experience gained in Friday night’s Truck Series opener into Saturday afternoon’s third career ARCA Menards Series superspeedway start.
“There’s no substitute for real race laps,” McFarland said. “Running the Truck race Friday night gives me another chance to feel the draft, understand the runs and get comfortable making moves in traffic. The goal is to take everything I learn and apply it right away on Saturday.”
Though the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series trucks demand different inputs behind the wheel than their ARCA counterparts, the lessons learned in the draft — timing runs, managing air and navigating tight packs — are transferable skills that McFarland intends to carry from Friday into Saturday.
“The Truck and the ARCA car definitely drive different, but the fundamentals at a superspeedway are the same,” McFarland said. “You’re still managing air, reading runs and making split-second decisions in the draft. The more laps I get in that environment, the better I understand the rhythm of it — and that’s what really carries over.”
Rette Jones Racing co-owner and crew chief Mark Rette is confident McFarland can surpass expectations this weekend at Daytona.
“Cleetus has put in the work,” Rette said. “You can see the progression every time he straps in. He’s more comfortable in the draft, he’s asking the right questions and he’s starting to understand the rhythm and decision-making that superspeedway racing demands. If we execute and stay out of trouble, I believe we can surprise some people.”
