Cleetus McFarland’s 2025 edition of his Summit Freedom 500 race was a door-to-door, “rubbin’ is racing” mash-up that kept fans on their feet in the stands and on social media. The Freedom 500 is a high-octane, all-American showdown that blends grassroots racing with over-the-top entertainment. Hosted annually by the YouTube star and motorsports promoter at his iconic Freedom Factory in Bradenton, Florida, this year's event was held April 4th.
Cleetus, whose real name is Lawrence Garrett Mitchel, is a top-tier automotive influencer who started as the social media manager at 1320Video before taking to YouTube on his own. His over-the-top content features a lot of extreme builds, whacky engine swaps, and the proper “hooning” of said builds. To this end Cleetus acquired what is now known as the Freedom Factory, a decrepit, worn-out, nearly abandoned oval track in Bradenton, Florida, that he transformed it into an expansive motorsports playground, catering to all types of racing and extreme automotive antics.
The 100-lap race featured a field of 27 drivers spanning the motorsports world from NASCAR veterans, to rising stars in other forms of professional racing, to professional athletes, to internet-famous social media content producers. The drivers went to battle in identically prepared Ford Crown Vics outfitted with RaceQuip harness systems and window nets and other proper safety fortifications. Cleetus and company also plumbed every car with a NOS nitrous system for a little added thrust when needed… a blue-collar version of IndyCar’s “push-to-pass” feature. The racing was pure mayhem.
The flagman likely needed to ice down his shoulder after the race as the event was filled with cautions as the diverse mix of driver experience made for a lot of Vic-on-Vic violence. The field included industry names like Travis Pastrana, Kevin Smith Racing, Brian Deegan, Hailie Deegan, Greg Biffle who was a hit with his sleeveless racing suit, NASCAR Cup Series veteran Corey LaJoie, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Michael Waltrip. On the influenced side of the equation WhistlinDiesel, Jackstand Jimmy, ChrisFix, Westen Champlin, and Victor Alvarez mixed it up on the lightly banked paved oval.
Travis Pastrana—a long-time Subaru rally driver, part-time ARCA Menards Series driver, former NASCAR competitor, and Nitro Circus regular— tapped into his far-reaching skill set to make a dramatic last-lap pass. A restart with five laps to go was sheer mayhem. Pastrana battled former sprint car driver Kevin Smith and NASCAR veteran Corey LaJoie. In the end,
In taking home the checkered flag Pastrana got to choose his winner’s prize—a fully decked out executive-spec Sprinter van or a C8 Corvette. He jumped on the Vette then pulled of some OG tagger skills and proceeded to spray paint an American flag on the Chevy’s hood.
The festivities ended on a smokey note with the Freedom 500 Burnout Rivals. The burnout contest drew an eclectic mix of cars, Holdens with tall manifold roots supercharger setups, an OG late ‘70s/early ’80s Cadillac with turbo system hardware ripping through the hood, a Rolls Royce with no hood because of its protruding blown V8, and a number of influencer-built cars prepped just for the event. Travis also jumped in the fray with his winner’s prize… so much for the engine break-in period.
The Freedom 500 extravaganza delivered the goods on many levels—great grassroots racing, a smoke-billowing burnout contest, jumping minivans, a hardcore fireworks show, tons of cool cars to gawk at, and most of all a fun, relaxing vibe. The event also served as a birthday party for Cleetus who turned 30 over the weekend—leaving the automotive world to brace itself, wondering what his Year 30 has in store.
FREEDOM 500 VIDEO - Check out Holley's expanded coverage featuring Duhe's Speed Shop's LS-swapped 1963 Bel Air in full burnout glory.
