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Cleetus McFarland Secures Top-Ten Finish at ARCA Talladega Race Despite Engine Trouble

The YouTuber-turned-racer overcame a broken valve spring and late-race crashes, drawing 70,000 live viewers to his in-car stream.

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.
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Overview

  • Garrett Mitchell, known as Cleetus McFarland, finished 10th in the ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega Superspeedway driving the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing.
  • McFarland's car suffered a broken valve spring on lap five, forcing him to adapt his strategy and manage reduced power throughout the race.
  • Displaying sharp racecraft, he narrowly avoided multiple late-race wrecks, including a multi-car pileup in overtime, to secure his top-ten finish.
  • His in-car camera stream attracted approximately 70,000 live viewers, highlighting the growing influence of digital creators in motorsports.
  • McFarland has expressed interest in returning to ARCA competition, hinting at a potential appearance in the fall Talladega race, though plans are unconfirmed.