Today marks a decade since Garrett Mitchell – better known to millions as Cleetus McFarland – became a household name in the world of gearheads, drag racers, and automotive content creators.
The viral origin story? A goofy late-night cell phone video at Rocky Mountain Race Week 2015, shot by 1320Video founder Kyle Loftis. Mitchell, then a behind-the-scenes social media guy, slipped into a tongue-in-cheek redneck accent, delivered a now-iconic “Made in America” line, and with a spontaneous blurting of “Cleetus McFarland!” from Loftis… a character was born.
“10 years ago today I became Cleetus,” Mitchell wrote in a heartfelt post on social media. “I had no idea this goofy cell phone video shot by Kyle Loftis would go viral and my name would forever be Cleetus McFarland… I’m just unbelievably grateful for everything that has happened since then.”
What’s happened since is the stuff of internet legend:
• 3M+ YouTube subscribers
• Hundreds of millions of video views
• A dedicated army of fans showing up for burnout contests, grudge races, and Cleetus & Cars events across the country
• And a uniquely powerful role in ushering a new generation into drag racing and car culture
As DI chronicled in our 2019 cover story The Triumph of Garrett Mitchell, the man behind Cleetus is a rare combination of digital savvy, mechanical curiosity, and unfiltered authenticity. He’s the guy who put a jet engine in an El Camino, documented the grind of making a 7-second pass in a stripped-down salvage-title Corvette, and created a new lane in drag racing entertainment.
But beneath the mullet, memes, and Mountain Dew is a storyteller who gets it.
“My dream was always to have a talk show,” Mitchell once told us. “I’ve always loved making people laugh. That’s my biggest thing – making people smile and laugh.”
In the decade since that fateful video, Mitchell’s commitment to positivity, relatability, and transparency has earned him something even more valuable than views: trust. Fans feel like they’re in on the journey – the wins, the breakages, the burnout-fueled madness, and all the wrenching in between.
“If one of my viewers sits down after a long day of work and wants to watch a Cleetus video,” Mitchell said, “I’ve got to be there and be doing something fun.”
Now, with Freedom Factory firing on all cylinders, an ownership stake in Bradenton Motorsports Park, Cleetus & Cars expanding coast-to-coast, and millions watching every upload, Garrett Mitchell isn’t just living his dream – he’s helping grow the sport we all love in the most unexpected and entertaining way possible.
“I hope I’m a YouTuber when I’m 80 years old,” he said. “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing – and hopefully more people catch on and smile with us every day.”
This story was originally published on July 14, 2025. 
The post 10 Years of Cleetus: Garrett Mitchell Reflects on the Viral Moment That Changed His Life first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
