Clutch Burners Podcast Episode 4 - Garrett Mitchell aka Cleetus McFarland

This week's Clutch Burners Podcast guest is Garrett Mitchell (a.k.a. Cleetus McFarland). As stick cars get quicker and quicker, Garrett and crew decided to reconfigure "LeRoy the Savage" to continue competing with the pack. We're very excited to chat with Garrett about his goals for "LeRoy 2.0'.
Your hosts Bill Armstrong and Rich Guido are veteran drag-n-drive stick shift racers. Together they make up a wealth of stick shift street car knowledge. They've competed Drag Week, Rocky Mountain Race Week, Sick Week, Midwest Drags, Miles of Mayhem, Street Car Takeover, and many more.
Get Stick Shift Nation Stickers & Apparel: stickracing.co...
Get Cleetus McFarland Tickets & Apparel: www.cleetusmcf...

[@markseaman4750]

I’m a 77 year old retired drag racer/road racer and a Cleetus fan. I’ve enjoyed the heck out watching the guy grow his business. He has taken big financial risks and made it all work. God bless him! One of my small regrets is that I was never willing to bet the farm on making a living in racing. You go Cleetus!

[@douglascassidy5537]

Awesome comment old man! 😄 I wish more people were like you nowadays. The good old days may be coming back after all cleatus is sure getting the younger crowd interested into racing again.

[@markseaman4750]

@@douglascassidy5537 TY……take it easy with that “old man” stuff😂

[@Akestler]

One of the coolest things about Cleetus is he stays pretty humble and will chat with anyone.

[@joeschmoe5009]

As a subscriber to cleetus, youve got a group of guys that we can watch while you take your time raising your son, you dont have to be in every video and such, make sure your son and wife are your #1 priority, and us fans will stick around and enjoy everything even if its the other guys

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

I’m 71 and a racing fan since my teens. Subscribed since the 200k subscribers.

[@jeffgatewood1739]

KZbin in itself has opened up so much content for car guys / gals. From basic auto repair to heavily modifying cars for racing. I find myself watching youtube instead of TV programs. It's crazy how much influence some people have in different areas and it's awesome to see people working together, supporting each other growing their channels. What would Cletus be without the support from others. Also Cletus supports so many others. Im 48 and have been watching Cletus since 2016. Made a trip to fredom factory and went to the bristol event. I'll continue watching, supporting and adding people to my subscribe list.

[@JayMac]

Man World Cup is going to be INSANE. The Grubb Worm, Grannas Supra both going for the world record and then we still have Leroy which we have no clue what he’s gonna run. Its gonna be one of the best few days of racing ever. I see mullet doing his best pass ever as well. And as much as i was hoping Ty would be behind the wheel of the fox body i have to say it’s gonna be cool to see cleet work his way back into the 7s with another stick shift car. Because we all know he’s not stopping at the 8s lol

[@seabornski]

See u there!!!!

[@wingracer1614]

Leroy will definitely be a 6 second car but it will probably take them a while to get it dialed. A lot of fine tuning to be done on that suspension and clutch.

[@nugget8563]

I'm here cause of cleetus, great podcast guys

[@mrwilson7617]

I'm in that "other 20%" demographic. 63 and love watching these kids build and race cars. Looking to build a LS powered car because of Cleetus. HELL YEAH BROTHER !!!

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

Do it bro!

[@Drgntoyz24]

I like how yal added in the clips of what you where talking about.

[@patrickthomas3859]

A funny car body for Leroy would be amazing.

[@agenericaccount3935]

Well dang, fellow Albertan. Magnificent.

[@kariannestudeman1909]

I hesitated at an hour+ video, then you were saying goodbye to Cleetus, wait, what! You did a wonderful interview with Cleetus. Thank you both for an hour talk I am glad shared, and have NO egret I spent, great podcast!

[@milesofmayhem3472]

So awesome. I never was a pod cast listener till like a month ago and haven't listen to music since haha. So keep posting them i will keep tuning in and we would freakin love to see all 3 of you guys at miles of mayhem next 2023 🙏 cheers

[@TheProdigalGoob]

LETS GOOOOOO Canadian Chuck Norris and the legend Bill. Didnt know this podcast was a thing but ALLL over this. Good shit boys.

[@swizlstik]

I’m 52 and watch Cleetus religiously

[@CaseyBDook]

Cleetus is a lifestyle. If I ever get this engine built I'll be seeing my fellow hosers at the track.

[@jamessands2190]

Awesome video came here for cleetus but subscribed you guys have awesome content

[@kennethhecht3354]

Leroy is gonna be soooo much fun!

[@irvingehman6459]

Almost did not catch the fox body name drop! ( McFlurry) love it

[@bikewurks1757]

Awesome.that he did this for you guys....... really good of him

[@codyjohnson5161]

I really enjoy hearing cleet laugh and talk stories. We dont get a whole bunch of that in his videos. This is good stuff.

[@poubs_entertainment]

blayne is a legend in this industries

[@PFIBrent]

👍🏼😂 I love raceweek

[@f5garage401]

Hope Cleet keeps doing more podcasts

[@SnowAndrews]

I liked Garrets replies @ about 1:05.** ~ 1:10.** . Being Honest with himself.

[@MatthewBlanchard-lm1et]

Are you shittin me im 50 and I love your work ethic...im trying one more time before I can't do it anymore Garrett you my friend are a good dude

[@HotRodDave]

Good Podcast Guys

[@Scott-Tim]

This was truly awesome! I’ll been checking the page for past and most certainly future interviews... shifting gears for life baby!

[@MatthewBlanchard-lm1et]

I love CLEETER he's such a transparent guy and I love what he's done its beautiful and I have to say bringing on Sam...he just warms my heart and he has so much to learn from I hope I can meet Pepere Sam such a heart...I could sit and listen to him for hours....wish I had family like him eff the money deal he really makes me genuinely smile and SAM I THANK YOU FOR THAT just so positive all the time ..give him lemons...and you'll get the best lemonade u ever had..Bill ,Rich, CLEETER and everyone behind the scenes ALL THE GUYS AT FREEDOM FACTORY I LOVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE BROTHER CLEETER CONGRATULATIONS #freedomfactory#youmadeitbrother

[@xaviercb73]

Awesome job. Great seeing you all give good pointers

[@rhadiem]

Love Cleet, great podcast!

[@jesseshort8]

Race month sounds freaking amazing.

[@sharmandcurl477]

Another great podcast.Thanks for the content!

[@tylercarandtruckcenter]

Dudes this was great, keep it up!!

[@GarthR]

cool podcast just subbed to u guys

[@xaviercb73]

Oh yeah love the shirts. 💕❤️🥰

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Great interview. We have all watched him develop his channel and the new businesses. Great to get his thoughts on these topics. I too am in the silver haired demographic and thoroughly enjoy this content.

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

Thanks!

[@johnkuykendall467]

On the demographic thing, my 7yo son can't wait for the next Cleetus video to come out. Also, I wasn't aware of this channel and subbed....so Cleetus effect.

[@JKHYT]

I think the tech that's progressed the sport the most by FAR is ECU/power management. What you can do with the vast array of engine and chassis sensors available and how you can manage power based on this sensor feedback... it allows you to squeeze so much more out of the car and do it consistently. Edit: Also it's crazy the Garrett doesn't have a editor at the size the channel is reached. Very very few creators as large as him edit their own videos.

[@Bill_N_ATX]

Garret would rather hire another mechanic or personality than hire an editor. Now, the channel might look better or it might lose the flavor of the channel.

[@BlueCollarBachelor]

He tried an editor. People hated it.

[@hughswain7422]

Great interview guys !!!

[@gearheadnation9254]

Awesome podcast. I'm looking forward to hitting the track next year for some stick shift action in my firebird!

[@GaryLX870D]

Respect 👍

[@jarrodsmythe4801]

Great content guys, very educational

[@loganpenland6568]

Love my 4 speed it is one of the most joyous things in my life slammin and jerking on that hurst and trying to keep the rear tires somewhat behind the front tires all at the same time

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

Totally agree!

[@speedjibaro4202]

First time tuning in from Puerto Rico, awesome podcast just subbed. Ive been following you guys and Garrett throughout the D&D events.

[@cephurs]

Baby CLEETUS coming soon!

[@fastzack209]

Great podcast!

[@eddominates]

any friend of Cleeter is a friend of mine. Have a sub, sir.

[@killorkubed]

Yeah the cleeter effect definitely has something todo with this too, if ol' Cleet' thinks someones channel is worth his time it's almost definitely worth my subscription

[@victormackenzie-davis2711]

"PARTS" expensive vs not so expensive my experience I could go just as fast but the difference is the maintenance and labor many times they would have to be changed out every race, but it got me started and it was worth it.

[@TIMEWARP-Racing]

Another Awesome pod cast ! Enjoy the content, cool guests and info! Great Job! From a fellow stickshift racer!

[@reneescouch9035]

Awesome podcast guys! I just subscribed!

[@cephurs]

great vid fellas

[@MichaelShuler]

I would love to see/read/hear more about the rev limiter shifting methodology at around 41:30 - I have dug around and I'm not coming up with wherever Jonathan was talking about this, and I definitely want to learn more about the technique. Hopefully, this comment isn't buried and forgotten on a 2-week old vid, heh. Great podcast!

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

You could hit me up on messenger and I could help!

[@revrocks3]

Hell Yeah Brother!

[@mysticwaffle420]

cant wait to be on here one day i have it in the works to be the owner of the farthest north drag raceway in the united states!

[@MrSvnwolves]

Watch out Bill that Godzilla will be insane.

[@herculesinwyoming]

Superb

[@tmax0011]

Good stuff

[@eddy_p]

Helllll yeeeaaahhh brotherrrrr

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

Hell yeah

[@dieseldabberdoug8285]

All ways on the clock, but it's never work, if you're doing what you love!

[@Catechuman23]

I watch most of Cleeter's videos with my 3 year old daughter. Don't know why, but she LOVES Tye!

[@54raceman]

Sounds like she’s got a crush lol

[@obsidian....]

Leroy is so fucking light now, it's awesome 🤣

[@Crcarson]

Need some clutch burners merch

[@jesseshort8]

McFlurry the Fox body? Can't wait. 🏁🦅🏁

[@MrXennhorn]

For those curious .. the results of Leroy's weigh in came in at 2316 pounds ..

[@ajkourafas]

How you know when someone has not had children yet.... Garret on having a baby ~ "I'm ready for it"

[@TheJordan2013]

38:00 I've gone 4 to R in my 2015 Chevy SS with a TR6060 multiple times and even have it on video with my reverse lights flashing at 130!

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

Yikes!!!!

[@markthegunplumber8376]

As a Gunsmith and Long Range Rifle Competitor I tell my customers from experience to "Buy Once and Cry Once" and when we shoot in National Events after the event is over the Competitors are asked what they use and an "Equipment List is Printed and Published". That equipment has been tried and proven to work. Running cheap barrels and cheap scopes and cheap bullets will get you bit. Some things you can save $$ on some things it's non negotiable and it's the best for a reason and the best is never cheap. As far as Cleetus demographics go I'm and in the group he didn't mention I'm 62 and never miss a show and I love the drag and drive events. I'm like Sam I watch the boys and think well that'll never work but it won't do any good to tell them, they'll just have to learn on their own like We did and our Dads and Grandfathers did. I appreciate all he does for the sport and for letting Sam tag along and have the best time of his life. Garrett has a BIG heart and it shows. It's the first time i have seen this show and you have a new fan. Thx.

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

Thanks for the kind words and the feedback and completely agree sometimes we just have to learn ourselves! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dieseldabberdoug8285]

I would really love to see Cletus do a race series kind of like the 24 hours of lemons obviously not a 24-hour race. But put a cap on how much the teams can spend on their car maybe $1,000 and then have a 40 lap race. Cleveland quit putting the bill for all the cars for them to wreck and maybe it'll make for some better racing because they're going to try and take care of their investment.

[@krisknight7258]

He has had the 2.4hrs of le mullet

[@urdnotdank2642]

I bet glory days fiberglass would build a body for Leroy

[@racedouge1]

Instead of drag and time event, Do a drag and no prep...Outstanding

[@tstuff1213]

I think cleetus is vastly underestimating that foxbody. Those engines with stock bottom ends and more. Are making 1000+hp with a blower. And with a lightened up foxbody that car is gonna rip. Just think of Motion raceworks el toro thats running 8s right now with turbo limited power and on a tight budget. Cleetus might be running bottom 8s with that car in quick succession after the first few runs

[@therealcraigsutton2740]

#Cleetus #Leroy2.0

[@54raceman]

32:33 take notice he said we have not i have

[@ldtenenoff]

So happy fer the kid Who gives his time and wallet back both to his freinds and folks he meets and finally starting to have some real racing sucsess oh ya i am 61 yrs young also no sub guys best of luck with ur youtube

[@DavelyDriven]

Went for Mountain Dew

[@SMAAirAssault]

Subbed.

[@matthewsherfy8439]

Did he just slip up and say the name of the fox body build is McFlurry?

[@StickShiftNation]

Haha not sure if that’s public or not! 🤐🤭

[@54raceman]

It’s been unofficially known for a while now

[@justinmurphy7173]

Day job is professional girraph

[@agenericaccount3935]

Also, with respect to a body for Leroy, the only way forward is a transparent body.

[@ZeroScapes]

McFlurry

[@diesel7903]

You guys do miles of mayhem? How’s it like watching a Cummins swapped rusty ford go down the drag strip

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

Yes and it was very cool… burnouts were epic!

[@diesel7903]

@@Canadianchucknorris69 yeah I watch his channel and he does damn good burnouts

[@ajsgarage6802]

cleatus shoulda build a new edge mustang

[@Robb001]

If I did what Garrett did on my forklift, Worksafe would throw me in jail and I'd never be allowed to drive a forklift again.

[@54raceman]

Osha would blow there brains out if they seen some the stuff we’ve done around race shops with forklifts

[@birdsund62]

61 years young and did my first straight line race. Boring till the Nitro cars came out. Garrett needs HTF car. Go fast and turn right.

[@aaronb7990]

😎👍

[@richardwright345]

If you want to go fast build a hemi.

[@DACoutBack]

34k views = Cleetus is money on youtube.

[@kevinsellsit5584]

I started following Cleetus (under another alias) back in the 1320 days. I am in the sector of viewers he failed to account for ... you know, the grey hair no hair or in my case, ear-hair comb-over guys. Trying to put this tactfully, Cleetus was an idiot. Like most of the old guys who follow Cleetus I've had a wrench in my hand every day since I was 14, and I just wanted to see what stupid mistake he would make next. Jumping ahead, and Cleetus mentioned this at 10:35 and 1:09:00, learning counts! Looking at the whole picture, Cleetus combines an extreme work ethic, genius marketing and business sense, and the ability to learn from your mistakes while never letting off the throttle. Speaking of never letting off the throttle, his ability to drive *anything* is unmatched. If I were to pick a motorsport that appears to be the most challenging to jump-into, I would pick *Extreme Jetsprint Racing* . Sure, being competitive with legendary drivers and names in *Stadium Super Truck* would be no easy task, but *Jetsprint* looks impossible. Yet Cleetus dove right in and took on these disciplines like a master. So clearly this idiot has earned my utmost respect in every way, and I am a fan for life! Thank you, Garrett, for everything you do, and helping to keep drag racing alive.

[@swizlstik]

Ain’t nothing wrong with chocolate chip cookies

[@dxm6580]

i give... 4 try... to neighbor hope your. FORD/ "Found On Rubish Dump" never comes to pass... leroy.. i hope you can live up to your auzi name.. Holden Together.. and get some ute action... welll your close lookin, just get a new bed on the back .

[@R1Flem]

A lot of slow awkward pauses make this even uncomfortable to watch from my own couch.

[@sixfootbear]

What were you watching?

[@joeyjojojr.shabadoo915]

Cleeter, if you are watching this, PLEASE call Mike Lough Racing Engines and get him to build you an Aluminum 387 LS for Leroy's next motor. PLEASE, NO MORE 427's.

[@Mr6Chuck5Taylor1]

Mcflurry being a high-mid 8's car is a statement which aged very poorly. Lol

[@StickShiftNation]

So did the idea that it would be a clutch car 😢

[@paulpence8895]

Hell Yeah Brother!!!