Cleetus McFarland

Freedom Factory

In January 2020, Mitchell bought the abandoned Desoto Speedway, a 3/8 mi Asphalt Oval & Figure 8 Track in Manatee County, Florida,^[5][6] and later renamed the track to Freedom Factory.^[7]

During one of Mitchell's "Cleetus and Cars" events in November 2020, Parker Whitlock suffered third-degree burns due to a radiator hose explosion.^[8] Until this event, drivers that entered the competition were not required to be wearing a full fire suit. During Whitlock's burnout in his bodyless Ford Mustang, a radiator hose routed past the driver exploded. Because Whitlock was only wearing a hoodie and shorts, he suffered third-degree burns and required multiple skin grafts.^[9]

In addition, ahead of the November 2020 “Cleetus & Cars” event, Mitchell publicly downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic^[10], stating that he believed the threat had been exaggerated and that restrictions on public gatherings were excessive.^[11] After contracting COVID-19 later that year, Mitchell said that his experience with the illness “really wasn’t anything to worry about.”^[12] He also said that he proceeded with holding the event in part due to financial pressures related to operating the track and commitments to sponsors and participants.^[13]

Stadium Super Trucks

On April 6, 2022, it was announced on The Checkered Flag that Mitchell would make his debut in the Stadium Super Trucks at Long Beach, California, racing the No. 1776 truck as Cleetus McFarland.^[4] In the weekend's second of two races, he was leading on the final lap, poised to take the victory until the last jump, when he spun out after his truck hit the ground, leaving Robby Gordon to claim the win.^[14] Another attempt came at the Music City Grand Prix in August, but he was involved in crashes in both races; the second race saw him get squeezed into the wall while racing Gavin Harlien and Robert Stout, causing him to flip onto his roof.^[15] He invited the trucks to his Bristol 1000 at Bristol Motor Speedway a month later, where he finished third in Race 2.^[16]

Drag racing

On November 6, 2022, Mitchell & his crew won 1st place after eliminating Carlos Olivo in the McLeod Racing Warriors VS Tres Cuarto category of the 26th Annual Haltech World Cup Finals Import & Domestic Drag Races in the 4 day event. His Chevrolet El Camino (Mullet) managed an elapsed time of 6.474 seconds at a top speed of 222.95 mph on the final round of the elimination race.^[17]

Returning to the event in 2023, Mitchell won in the Grannas Racing Stick Shift class driving his body-less Chevrolet Corvette "Leroy" with time of 7.325 and speed of 203.95 mph in the finals.^[18]

ARCA Menards Series

NASCAR

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Stadium Super Trucks

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)

^* Season in progress.