Cleetus McFarland Returns to ARCA Menards Series at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala.: Yes, he’s back.

Garrett Mitchell — better known to his millions of YouTube subscribers as Cleetus McFarland — will set aside the camera once more to make his second ARCA Menards Series start in Saturday morning’s General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway.

McFarland returns to ARCA competition looking to rebound at the 2.66-mile Alabama oval, following a promising debut at Daytona International Speedway that ended prematurely after being swept up in two separate incidents.

With nearly two months to reflect on his first ARCA outing, McFarland has focused intently on preparation for this weekend’s race, hoping that his hard work will translate into a strong performance over 76 laps in the final superspeedway event of the season.

“It’s great to be back,” said McFarland. “Honestly, I’m incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to come back again to compete in the ARCA Menards Series at Talladega. Besides getting collected in two early race accidents, I had so much fun at Daytona.

“It’s a shame we weren’t able to finish the race, but I appreciate the efforts of my Rette Jones Racing team for getting the car put back together so we can be at Talladega this weekend.

“I appreciate all the support from my friends, family, colleagues, and particularly the Rette Jones Racing team for walking me through every step of this journey.”

With some racing experience now under his belt, McFarland will once again lean on guidance from Greg Biffle — a friend, business associate, and former NASCAR Cup Series standout — to help him tackle the nuances of the high-speed Alabama track.

“Greg has helped tremendously,” added McFarland. “Honestly, I would not feel so comfortable heading to Talladega without Greg. He has spent a lot of time working with me through the different scenarios I could face while critiquing when necessary.

“Unlike Daytona, I won’t have many laps at Talladega, and with just practice and no qualifying, track time will be crucial on Friday just for me to get back into a comfort zone,” explained McFarland.

With the ARCA field expected to be set by 2024 ARCA owner points for the third race of the season, McFarland will be forced to start deep in the field and work his way forward if he hopes to secure a solid finish.

At a track that has produced stunning finishes and first-time winners, McFarland would love nothing more than to burst into the headlines and share his Talladega experience with his more than 4.07 million subscribers.

“It’s definitely not ideal to be starting at the rear of the field, but it is what it is at this point,” McFarland said. “The biggest thing is to exercise patience, utilize good judgment, and just hope we can avoid any potential headaches in the race and fight for a top-10 finish.”

Kenetik, a ketone-based drink that’s designed to boost energy, focus, and mental clarity, will return to support McFarland in his second ARCA Menards Series race aboard the No. 30 Ford Mustang.

Kenetik is a science-backed drink that harnesses the power of bioidentical ketones.

It’s designed to boost brain function, provide clean energy, and support overall health without caffeine or sugar. Each serving contains 12 grams of pure, bioidentical ketones.

“I’m extremely appreciative of Kenetik again being a part of the journey this weekend at Talladega,” offered McFarland. “I don’t know what is going to happen on Saturday during the race, but I certainly plan to race smart and be in a position to make my second ARCA Menards Series race a successful one for Rette Jones Racing, Kenetik, Ford Performance and all of those that support me.”

Rette Jones Racing co-owner Mark Rette has been impressed with McFarland’s quick adaptation to the ARCA Menards Series platform. Despite the outcome at Daytona, he remains confident that his driver can pick up right where he left off.

“Cleetus has taken this challenge seriously from the start,” said Rette. “His dedication to learning, asking questions, and putting in the work behind the scenes has been impressive. Talladega can be unpredictable, but we believe if he sticks to the plan and keeps his nose clean, he’ll be in a great position when it counts.”

Biffle, a 29-time NASCAR Cup Series competitor at Talladega Superspeedway, will be on-site in an advisory role for McFarland’s ARCA return this weekend.

Additional ARCA Menards Series races for Cleetus McFarland are pending and will be announced applicably.

For more on Cleetus McFarland, like him on Facebook (Cleetus McFarland) and follow him on Instagram (@garrett_1320video), TikTok (@cleetusmcfarland) and YouTube.

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The General Tire 200 (76 laps | 202 miles) is the third of 20 races on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., April 25, 2025, with a one-hour session from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90 handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the mission of building a competitive racing organization grounded in hard work, perseverance, and a racer’s mentality.

Owned by veteran racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, the team is set to field full-time entries in both the 2025 ASA STARS National Tour and the NASCAR Euro Series.

Additionally, RJR plans to compete in select events across the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR national series platforms.

Beyond its own racing efforts, Rette Jones Racing provides technical support and setup intelligence through its growing technical alliance partnership program.

pr@rettejonesracing.com