Freedom Factory: Cleetus McFarland Confesses ‘Legal Troubles’ That Helped Inspire His 4.2 Million Strong Empire

In the fast-paced world of motorsports content creation, few stories match the audacity of Cleetus McFarland’s gamble on an abandoned racetrack. The YouTuber, also known as Garrett Mitchell, found himself at a crossroads when platform regulations began threatening the very content that had built his following.

What started as a solution to avoid content restrictions transformed into the cornerstone of a digital empire now 4.2 million subscribers strong. Much like how many NASCAR legends built their careers on bold decisions, McFarland’s confession about going “past zero” financially reveals the high-stakes gamble behind his Freedom Factory success story.

The journey from YouTube personality to racetrack owner wasn’t mapped out in McFarland’s original content strategy. When 2014 Cup Champion Kevin Harvick asked directly, “Why did you buy the racetrack? What was the initial intent of the racetrack?” McFarland’s answer revealed how necessity drove innovation in his content approach.

YouTube’s crackdown was the catalyst for Freedom Factory

“YouTube was kind of cracking down on, you know, doing dangerous stuff on the street, you know, illegal activity,” Cleetus McFarland confessed in a candid conversation with Kevin Harvick on the Happy Hour podcast. This crackdown on what many creators considered routine content became the unexpected catalyst for his business transformation. “Like when we would be able to, you know, say it’s a Corvette with a turbo, we’d just take it out to the front road. and see what it would do, you know,” McFarland explained. His solution was practical: “I wanted a playground more so that I could work with.”

The revelation came during a moment of inspiration while visiting his local drag strip. “I was at the drag strip one day. I’m kind of looking over there and I’m like, what a dump,” McFarland recalled, describing his first impression of what would become the Freedom Factory. The opportunity crystallized months later: “I’m at dinner with a friend that actually owns the drag strip. And it just clicked that like, why don’t I buy a circle track and we’ll we’ll revamp it on YouTube.”

Drawing inspiration from another creator’s successful content series, Cleetus McFarland developed his concept: “This other guy had been really successful with an abandoned mansion series. I was like, maybe I’ll do an abandoned racetrack series.” The strategy paid immediate dividends: “We bought it and it just like put the afterburners on our YouTube channel and the rest is history,” McFarland told Kevin Harvick.

The former DeSoto Speedway in Manatee County, Florida, purchased in January 2020, didn’t just provide a legal playground for his automotive adventures—it became the centerpiece of his expanding brand, hosting numerous events, including the popular “Cleetus and Cars” gatherings. What Harvick described as “this whole just massive business around what you do” came with enormous financial risk. McFarland’s confession about the financial gamble stunned even the veteran NASCAR driver when he said, “I basically risked everything to get it. I went down past zero, got personal loans from friends that were willing to do it… To buy the racetrack. Absolutely went all in.”

The commitment was so complete that McFarland admitted, “my IRS check bounced that spring“—underscoring the precarious financial position he accepted to realize his vision. This all-or-nothing approach mirrors racing legends who bet everything on their passion, from Roger Penske’s early investments in motorsports venues to the boldest moves of NASCAR team owners expanding beyond the track.

The risk has yielded remarkable returns. Beyond growing his YouTube following to over 4.2 million subscribers, the Freedom Factory has established McFarland as more than just a content creator. His recent foray into ARCA competition with Rette Jones Racing demonstrates how the Freedom Factory gambit has opened doors beyond digital content creation.

From street racing concerns to building a motorsports venue empire, McFarland’s journey offers a blueprint for modern entrepreneurship that Harvick clearly admired when noting, “That’s cool that you own that business.” McFarland’s path shows how identifying obstacles, creating solutions, and risking everything on a vision others might dismiss can transform content creation into a lasting business empire.

Cleetus McFarland’s journey from YouTube to Talladega

Cleetus McFarland’s racing ambitions have extended beyond his Freedom Factory ownership. Just days ago, on April 26, McFarland competed in the ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing an impressive 10th place in the General Tire 200. This marked his second ARCA race of the season, following his debut at Daytona International Speedway earlier in 2025.

The YouTube star’s colorful post-race comments captured his authentic racing experience: “I’m telling you, they’re getting on radio like ‘keep your momentum’ and I’m like, ‘brother, this sucker is wide open.’” When he fell out of the draft, McFarland said, “It felt like I was riding a horse out there. You know what I mean? Everyone is blowing by me.” Taking advice from his spotter, Kevin Hamlin, and lessons from Greg Biffle (whom he called “the Biff-meister”), McFarland managed to stay competitive and capitalize on a last-lap wreck to secure his top-10 finish, despite having blown parts of his engine!

McFarland’s crossover from YouTube to racing has brought unprecedented attention to the ARCA series. His in-car camera feed alone drew over 70,000 viewers on NASCAR’s YouTube channel during the Talladega race—a record-breaking number for the series. This remarkable viewership demonstrates how McFarland’s risk-taking has paid dividends not just for his own brand but for motorsports visibility overall, bringing his massive online following into the traditional racing world.

To top it all off, McFarland is a great racecar driver. His talent is reflected in his passion for cars, and that’s what makes him such a likable feature on the grid. He isn’t here just because he can afford it, he’s here because he wants to build his audience by showing them that with hard work, talent, and calculated risks, you can start from making videos in your garage to working with Dale Earnhardt Jr. while preparing for a race at Talladega. We hope to see more of Cleetus on NASCAR tracks soon, as his presence and demeanor certainly are a breath of fresh air.

What do you think of Cleetus McFarland’s journey? Let us know in the comments!

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