With the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 now in the rearview mirror, many racing fans expected the frenzy of May to finally slow down. Instead, Cleetus McFarland gave them something new to talk about.
As the YouTube star prepares for his second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start this weekend and his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Michigan International Speedway, he has taken another step in his racing development by unveiling a brand-new Late Model stock car built specifically around his frame.
The reveal came in Garrett Mitchell, aka Cleetus McFarland’s, latest YouTube video, which began with some lighthearted fun alongside NASCAR drivers Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Connor Zilisch, Ty Dillon, and Jesse Love.
The group spent time sliding a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing around a rain-soaked lot before McFarland shifted focus to the real reason for the video.
Joined by ARCA teammate and frequent collaborator Squirrel McNutt, Mitchell first stopped by Rette Jones Racing in Mooresville, N.C, to check on the progress of McNutt’s new race car after the latter wrecked his No. 0 machine in a crash at Talladega earlier this season.
The pair later headed to Port City Racecars, where Mitchell finally got a look at his own brand-new Late Model.
What makes the car unique is that it was built around Mitchell’s size. Dubbed the “Tallman Edition,” the chassis features a repositioned pedal box and a higher seating position to better accommodate the 6-foot-6 racer. Rather than squeezing into a standard Late Model bought from Facebook Marketplace, the 31-year-old now has a car designed specifically for him.
The build also features premium hardware, including Billet stainless steel brake reservoirs and TBM calipers. Naturally, Mitchell was visibly impressed as the crew continued assembling the black race car.
Another surprise was the body choice. Although McFarland is closely associated with Chevrolet, his new Late Model is wrapped in a Toyota sheet-metal body.
And according to McFarland, the decision came after team owner Mark Rette recommended it as the best body available. The YouTuber still joked that he plans to slap a few Chevrolet logos on the car anyway.
The Nebraska-native was equally surprised to learn that the Late Model will weigh roughly 2,000 pounds with him in the driver’s seat, significantly lighter than the ARCA machinery he has been more accustomed to.
The biggest update, however, came from Rette, who revealed that the car should be race-ready within the next week and a half once the engine and transmission arrive.
That timeline all but confirms Mitchell’s Late Model debut will come shortly after his upcoming ARCA and Truck Series race at Michigan.
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