Garrett Mitchell, widely recognized as the YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, launched his stock car racing career last year in the ARCA Menards Series, guided by NASCAR icon Greg Biffle, who became a close friend over the past 18 months. Tragically, Biffle was one of seven victims in a December plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina, just before a planned meeting with Mitchell in Florida.
In a recent video, Mitchell opened up about his initial desire to quit NASCAR after Biffle’s untimely passing, but ultimately decided to persevere in pursuit of his dream to race in the Daytona 500. “Things are going to be very different because my mentor, Greg Biffle, passed away last month,” Mitchell explained. “Honestly, I didn’t want to step into a NASCAR garage or race again right after it happened. But with time, I realized what Biff would have wanted—he wanted me to keep racing and climb the NASCAR ranks.”
When Mitchell first expressed his goal of making it to the Daytona 500, Biffle was realistic, advising him that it would require hard work and a step-by-step approach—starting with ARCA, then possibly the O’Reilly Series, and eventually the Cup Series. “Now, I’m ready to chase that dream and get to the Daytona 500,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell plans to compete in ARCA events at Daytona, Talladega, Kansas, and Michigan this year, with additional races to be announced. At the January ARCA test in Daytona, he honored Biffle with the phrase “Be Like Biff” on his rear bumper. He also revealed that Biffle’s family will join him for the Talladega ARCA race later this year, and mentioned that his friend George Siciliano (also known as Rhys) is seeking approval to race there as well.
Fan Take: This story resonates deeply with NASCAR fans as it highlights the meaningful mentorship and friendships that shape the sport beyond the racetrack. Garrett Mitchell’s determination to honor Greg Biffle’s legacy by chasing his dream reminds us all of the passion and resilience that continue to drive NASCAR’s future stars.
