You can bring the beard, the fan following and a whole lot of horsepower. But at Bristol, the track still gets a vote.
Garrett Mitchell—better known online as Cleetus McFarland—made his short-track ARCA debut at Bristol on September 11, 2025, climbing into the No. 30 Kenetik Ford for the Bush’s Best 200. He started 20th, with NASCAR veteran, the late Greg Biffle helping coach from the pit box.
Mitchell kept at it through the 200-lap grind and was making progress late when a right-front tire let go. He slowed the car, brushed the outside wall, then headed to pit road for fresh rubber and repairs. No dramatic Bristol pileup—just a tough reminder that Thunder Valley is a handful, even when you’re doing your best to keep all four tires pointed the right way.
He got back in the race and finished 17th, completing 197 laps. That’s not the finish he came for, but it’s a Bristol debut in the books—and a pretty Bristol kind of story: hang on, make a little contact, fix what broke, and keep going.
The short version: Cleetus brought the show. Bristol brought the challenge. The tire won one round—but Mitchell still made it to the checkered flag.
See Cleetus in the ARCA 200, coming back to Bristol on August 12, 2027.
