Before we go full throttle, let’s rewind a bit.
McFarland got his start in 2009, working as a fresh-outta-high-school social media manager for 1320Video — a YouTube channel celebrating drag racing (1320 feet is a quarter-mile, for the uninitiated). Petrol was already flowing through his veins.
By 2015, he spun off to create the “Cleetus McFarland” character: a move that would earn him over 4.2 million YouTube subscribers and clock nearly 2 billion views (1.77 billion, if you’re counting).
But here’s where it gets properly mental. Instead of just buying a house with a shed like a normal bloke, in 2020 Cleetus emptied his bank account and bought an abandoned speedway in Florida, now known as the Freedom Factory.
It nearly went bust until a pay-per-view race just before Florida’s COVID lockdown saved the dream. Today, it hosts The Freedom 500, the race that stops the internet — featuring stock ex-police V8 Crown Victorias and legends like Travis Pastrana taking the win.
So what makes Cleetus the cousin we all want at our next barbie? Let’s break it down:
1. More Dodgy Project Cars Than Your Local Wrecker
Cleetus owns about 120 ex-police Crown Victorias. Not one or two — 120. He bought them at auction to create entire racing events. He’s also got “Leroy,” a Corvette C5 that’s basically just a chassis and an engine. Think of it as the mechanical equivalent of turning up to a wedding in budgie smugglers.
2. Racing Credentials That Are Properly Cooked
Sure, Cleetus is a bona fide drag racer — but he also decided to have a crack at NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Series in 2025. His Daytona debut? He finished 30th after a massive pile-up. Classic.
The best part? He’s self-aware enough to admit he’s not Dale Earnhardt Jr. (although Dale Jr. now gives him advice). He’s not here to pretend; he’s here to have a crack without taking himself too seriously — and that’s something every Aussie respects.
3. Plans to Build a “Redneck Aircraft Carrier”
Not a joke. Cleetus genuinely wants to build an aircraft carrier out of pontoon boats and land his plane on it — while moving at 15 knots. Arresting cable and all.
When quizzed about it on Dale Jr’s podcast, Cleetus mentioned, casually, that his plane “floats” and that the FAA (the US aviation authority) calls him “a lot.” That’s some world-class “she’ll be right” energy.
4. Uses His Helicopter for Disaster Relief
Turns out he’s not just a mad bastard — he’s a good bloke too. Cleetus owns a rebuilt MD 500 helicopter (named “Consuela,” found in Venezuela) and recently used it to assist with hurricane disaster relief in North Carolina. Proof you can be a full-blown larrikin and still have a heart.
Why Every Aussie Needs a Cleetus in Their Life
In a world of influencers flexing fake lifestyles with rented Lambos and penthouses, Cleetus McFarland is the real deal. He’s the walking embodiment of “hold my beer” energy, living out every dumb, hilarious, and heroic dream we all secretly wish we could pull off.
When he crashes, he owns it. When he admits his best YouTube videos aren’t even about racing, he keeps it real. And when he talks about buying Daytona Speedway with a straight face? You believe he just might.
Why Australians Respect a Loose Unit Like Cleetus
There’s no official word yet on whether Cleetus plans to bring his mayhem Down Under, but he’d slot right in at any Aussie car meet or bush doof.
He’s got the DIY spirit of a bloke who changes his oil in the Woolies carpark, the risk assessment skills of someone who thinks thongs are PPE, and the entertainment value of a mate who brings gelignite to a gender reveal.
Cleetus McFarland might be American, but he’s definitely the bogan cousin we all need — the one who turns up uninvited, creates memories you’ll tell for decades, and leaves just before the cops arrive.
Now that’s what we call proper DMARGE.
Warning
DMARGE does not encourage or endorse building aircraft carriers out of pontoon boats, landing planes on said aircraft carriers, or buying 120 ex-police cars. But we’d definitely watch the videos.
