Garrett Mitchell, known to millions of fans as Cleetus McFarland, is set to make his ARCA Menards Series Bristol Race debut on Thursday night at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. This event marks McFarland’s fourth start in the ARCA Menards Series, where he will compete in the Bush Beans 200, aiming to build on his previous performances at some of racing’s biggest tracks.
McFarland’s past ARCA starts took place on large superspeedways like Daytona, Talladega, and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bristol’s high-banked, half-mile concrete oval presents an entirely new level of challenge for the Mooresville, N.C.-based driver, often hailed as one of the sport’s most demanding circuits.
Facing the Unique Challenges of Bristol’s Short Track
Unlike the wide-open spaces of Charlotte and the drafting battles seen at Daytona and Talladega, Bristol is known for intense, close-quarters racing. McFarland described the venue as “a whole different animal,” praising its passionate fan base, electric atmosphere, and the demanding nature of racing 200 laps on such a short and fast track.
I’m beyond excited to get back behind the wheel in the ARCA Menards Series,
McFarland said.
It’s going to be a huge test, but I’m ready to learn, have fun, and hopefully put on a good show for everyone.
Recognizing Bristol as “The Last Great Colosseum,” McFarland acknowledges that succeeding here will require a steep learning curve, adjusting to the track’s rapid pace, steep banking, and unforgiving walls.
Progress Shown at Charlotte Inspires Confidence Heading Into Bristol
McFarland’s recent outing at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a significant milestone. Despite an early mistake during a race restart, his Rette Jones Racing team’s perseverance helped him rebound to a ninth-place finish — the best of his ARCA career so far. This experience reinforced his confidence and strengthened his resolve ahead of Bristol.
Charlotte gave me a lot of confidence,
McFarland reflected.
I made a big mistake early, but the team never gave up and we were able to come away with a top-10. That showed me what this group is capable of, and it makes me even more excited to see what we can do together at Bristol.
McFarland is aware that mastering Bristol’s fast and tight corners will rely heavily on practice time since the track’s high speed allows little margin for error. He emphasized the importance of clean laps during warm-up to understand how the car handles and to fine-tune the setup.
Track time is everything for me,
McFarland explained.
Bristol is fast, it’s tight, and things happen in a hurry. Getting as many clean laps as possible in practice will be huge so I can get comfortable, learn what the car needs, and be ready to go when the green flag drops.
Focus on Qualifying and Restart Strategy for a Top-10 Streak
Securing a strong starting position at Bristol is a top priority for McFarland, as position on the track often dictates race outcomes at this short track. Avoiding mid-pack chaos can make the difference between contending and crashing out early.
Qualifying up front is going to be a big deal at Bristol,
McFarland stated.
If you get buried in the pack, things can go wrong in a hurry. My goal is to put down a solid lap in qualifying, keep ourselves out of trouble, learn and give our Rette Jones Racing team the best chance to keep this top-10 streak alive.
He is also determined to improve upon lessons learned from a costly restart mistake at Charlotte, when spinning his tires triggered a multi-car accident.
I hate that I made that mistake at Charlotte,
McFarland admitted.
But I’ve watched the film, talked it over with the team and I feel like I’ve learned from it. Bristol is going to throw a lot at us, but I’m focused on being smoother and smarter so we can keep ourselves in the fight all night.
Ongoing Support from Kenetik and Rette Jones Racing
McFarland will again drive the No. 30 Ford Mustang with backing from Kenetik, a ketone-based energy drink designed to enhance focus and mental clarity without caffeine or sugar. This partnership has accompanied him throughout his ARCA Menards Series campaign.
I’m really thankful to have Kenetik back on board with us this week at Bristol,
McFarland commented.
They’ve been with me at Daytona, Talladega and Charlotte, and it means a lot to carry their support again at such a legendary track.
We’ve built a great relationship, and I’m proud to represent their brand while chasing another solid finish with our Rette Jones Racing team.
Rette Jones Racing co-owner Mark Rette has praised McFarland’s rapid development as a driver, noting his commitment to improvement and ability to overcome challenges.
Cleetus has shown a real willingness to learn and improve every time he’s in the car,
Rette said.
Charlotte threw some challenges our way, but he kept his composure, dug in with the team, and delivered his best ARCA finish yet.
Bristol is a completely different beast, but I’m confident he’ll approach it the same way — stay focused, make smart decisions and keep showing the progress as he tries to earn the respect of others in the garage.
Veteran Guidance and Future Plans Beyond Bristol
Seasoned NASCAR veteran Greg Biffle, a 28-time Cup Series competitor and former Bristol pole winner, will provide advisory support to McFarland throughout this weekend, bringing valuable insight to help navigate the short track’s challenges.
The Bristol race is planned to be McFarland’s final ARCA Menards Series start of the 2025 season, yet conversations for his 2026 racing schedule are already underway, with official announcements expected in due course.
This year’s ARCA races have been an unbelievable experience,
McFarland said.
From Daytona to Talladega, Charlotte, and now Bristol, I’ve learned so much and had the chance to work with an amazing group at Rette Jones Racing.
I’m thankful for the fans, our partners and everyone who’s supported this journey. We’re already talking about what’s next, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
Schedule and Broadcast Information for the Bush Beans 200
The Bush Beans 200 is the 17th race out of 20 for the 2025 ARCA Menards Series East season. On September 11, teams will practice for forty-five minutes starting at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by General Tire Pole group qualifying at 2:00 p.m. The race is scheduled to begin soon after 5:30 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch the race live on FOX Sports 1 and the FOX Sports app, while ARCARacing.com will provide live timing and scoring updates throughout the day’s events.
