Cleetus McFarland with the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award at Michigan Int'l Speedway. (Zack Silver/ARCA Racing photo)

By Jacob Seelman, SWN News Editor

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 5, 2026) – YouTube sensation turned stock-car racer Cleetus McFarland took his first major step forward in the ARCA Menards Series Friday afternoon at Michigan Int’l Speedway.

With a lap of 38.987 seconds (184.677 mph) around the two-mile, D-shaped oval, McFarland took the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing to the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award for the Henry Ford Health 200.

McFarland, whose given name is Garrett Mitchell, will chase his first ARCA victory when the green flag waves at 5 p.m. ET.

“We’re gonna be ripping,” McFarland exclaimed in the moments after securing the pole position.

McFarland has made seven prior national ARCA Menards Series starts, with his best result of second coming in his most recent appearance at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where he nearly went to victory lane before being edged out at the finish line by Andy Jankowiak.

ARCA national points leader Jake Bollman joins McFarland on the front row in the No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota (39.012/184.559), with the Pinnacle Racing Group duo of Lanie Buice and Connor Mosack sharing row two.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Gio Ruggiero lines up fifth in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Gavan Boschele, Will Kimmel, Andy Jankowiak, Wesley Slimp, and Ryan Vargas fill out the top 10 on the starting grid.

Broadcast coverage of the Henry Ford Health 200 airs live on FS2, select affiliates of the Motor Racing Network, and nationwide on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.