 Garrett Mitchell, a.k.a. Cleetus McFarland Eyes Success inKansas Speedway ARCA Debut KANSAS CITY, Kan: Garrett Mitchell — better known to the motorsports and online community as Cleetus McFarland — backed by his millions of YouTube subscribers, returns to ARCA Menards Series competition this weekend at Kansas Speedway for his track debut in Saturday’s Tide 150.  It’s been a busy few months for the public figure, from making his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway to his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut earlier this month at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway. Now, McFarland returns to the seat of the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang looking to carry the momentum of his 11th-place ARCA Menards Series finish at Daytona in February. Set for his second Automobile Racing Club of America start on an intermediate track, McFarland hopes to use the experience gained at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway last May as a stepping stone to build comfort and confidence ahead of his second series appearance of the season. The good news for McFarland is that the ARCA Menards Series will host an open four-hour practice session at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway on Friday morning, allowing teams ample opportunity to shake down their race cars in preparation for the first intermediate-track race of the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season. For McFarland, the additional track time is vital as he continues climbing the learning curve while focusing on building his racing résumé, all with aspirations of competing in more NASCAR national series events later this season. “I’m really looking forward to getting more experience on a bigger track like Kansas,” said McFarland. “Any extra seat time I can get in these cars is huge for me right now, especially at a place where you have to be smooth, hit your marks and learn how the air moves around other cars. “The more laps I can make this weekend, the more comfortable I’ll become, and hopefully we can use that to keep building momentum and continue progressing as a team.” With valuable seat time often at a premium for developing drivers, McFarland believes the open practice session will offer more than just additional laps — it provides a critical opportunity to better understand the characteristics of the car, work closely with his Rette Jones Racing team on adjustments and gain confidence before taking the green flag on Saturday afternoon for his sixth career ARCA Menards Series start. “Having four hours of practice on Friday is going to be huge for us,” added McFarland. “Anytime you can get that much track time in these cars, especially at a place like Kansas where I’m still learning, it gives you a real chance to work on the setup, understand what the car needs and build confidence behind the wheel. “For someone in my position trying to gain experience, every lap matters, so having that much time before we race is extremely valuable for both the team and me.” With McFarland expected to expand his ARCA Menards Series schedule with the Mooresville, N.C.-based Rette Jones Racing team throughout the year, the Bradenton, Fla., native remains focused on delivering results while continuing to use his platform to introduce his passionate fanbase to the world of motorsports. “I’m excited for the opportunity to keep running more races with Rette Jones Racing this year,” said McFarland. “Every time I get behind the wheel, I feel like I’m learning something new and taking another step forward as a driver. At the same time, it’s awesome to bring my audience along for the journey and hopefully introduce even more people to how incredible this sport really is. “We’re having a lot of fun with it, but we’re also taking it seriously and want to keep improving every time we hit the track.” For the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career, McFarland will be behind the wheel of the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang in back-to-back races, giving the 31-year-old mogul a prime opportunity to build momentum from Kansas into his return to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 25, 2026. “Getting the chance to run back-to-back races is really important for me at this stage,” sounded McFarland. “The more often I’m able to get in the car, the more everything starts to slow down and make sense. Being able to take what I learn at Kansas and apply it right away at Talladega gives us a great opportunity to keep building momentum, keep improving and continue growing together as a team.”McFarland will sport a brand-new livery on his No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang this weekend at Kansas Speedway while continuing his partnership with Kenetik, a ketone-based performance drink designed to enhance energy, focus and mental clarity. In addition, the No. 30 Ford Mustang will prominently feature BaldEagle.com, McFarland’s official merchandise and content platform. BaldEagle.com serves as the central hub for McFarland’s fanbase, offering exclusive merchandise, behind-the-scenes content and unique opportunities for supporters to connect with the social media superstar. “We’re excited to roll out a fresh look for Kansas and continue representing partners that believe in what we’re building,” said McFarland. “Kenetik has been an awesome partner for me, and having BaldEagle.com on the car is really special because it represents the community and fanbase that has supported me every step of the way. Being able to bring my brand and my partners into racing while competing at this level is something I’m incredibly proud of.” Rette Jones Racing co-owner and crew chief Mark Rette believes McFarland is poised to continue his development and deliver another strong showing this weekend at Kansas Speedway. “Cleetus has put in the work,” Rette said. “You can see the progression every time he straps in. He’s becoming more comfortable behind the wheel, asking the right questions and continuing to better understand what these cars need throughout a run. “Kansas will present a different challenge for him, but if we execute, stay disciplined and maximize our track time, I believe he has the potential to exceed expectations again this weekend.” Rette Jones Racing and McFarland will once again honor the memory of former NASCAR icon Greg Biffle this weekend following his tragic passing in a plane crash in December 2025 alongside his wife, two children and three others in Statesville, N.C. In the months since the heartbreaking loss, the NASCAR community has rallied around the phrase “Be Like Biff” as a tribute to Biffle’s competitive spirit, generosity, selflessness and love of life — a message McFarland and the team will proudly carry into Kansas Speedway as they continue celebrating his legacy while chasing success on the track. Just like Daytona, McFarland will have a Rette Jones Racing-affiliated teammate for Saturday afternoon’s Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway. Fellow automotive content creator and close friend George Siciliano will pilot the No. 0 Heat Wave Ford Mustang in association with Wayne Peterson Motorsports. Since 2025, McFarland has made five ARCA Menards Series starts, earning two top-10 finishes, including a career-best ninth-place finish at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May 2025. For more on Cleetus McFarland, like him on Facebook (Cleetus McFarland) and follow him on Instagram (@garrett_1320video), TikTok (@cleetusmcfarland) and YouTube. For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30). The Tide 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the fourth of 20 races on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., May 9, 2025, with a forty-five-minute session from 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Group qualifying will immediately follow at 5:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. ET). The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with the NASCAR Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90 handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).  About Rette Jones Racing: Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the vision of building a competitive racing organization grounded in hard work, preparation and a relentless, never-give-up attitude. Owned by veteran racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR continues to expand its footprint across multiple platforms. In 2026, the team plans to field a full-time entry in the ASA STARS National Tour, while also competing in the ARCA Menards Series and other motorsports disciplines as part of its continued growth and competitive expansion. Beyond its on-track efforts, Rette Jones Racing provides technical and setup expertise through its technical alliance partnership program, supplying teams with engineering support, chassis consultation, and race-day insight designed to elevate performance and foster long-term success.Contact: pr@rettejonesracing.com |
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