Christmas Trees, Wheelies and Close Calls – Cleetus McFarland Hosts 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Race in Florida
Usually, the only Christmas Tree associated with drag racing is the one used to signal the start of each race. But Cleetus McFarland decided to add some holiday spirit to the mix, as each December, Bradenton Motorsports Park now hosts a somewhat ridiculous Christmas Tree Race.
“I wanted to have the ultimate Christmas Tree showdown," the man, also known as Garrett Mitchell, said.
The traditional holiday Christmas Tree is a central focus for each vehicle. The rules are simple: a minimum six-foot tall Christmas Tree (real or fake) must be attached to each vehicle. It must be lit, and it must stay on the vehicle the entire length of the run and the drive back to the pit area. If the tree comes off at any point, the driver is disqualified.
Cleetus McFarland’s “Leroy” Corvette joins several decorated cars ready for their shot at Bradenton Motorsports Park’s surface.
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When the race debuted in 2020, several drag-and-drive racers were in attendance, including Doug Cook in the ‘El Toro’ Coyote-powered Fox Mustang, Kevin Smith in the LS-swapped ‘Soccer Mom’ Camaro, and Cleetus wheeled the 2005 Corvette known as ‘Ruby.’ But at the end of the night, Rick Prospero would deny all challengers, as his twin-turbo 1990 Mazda RX-7 produced a pair of six-second runs, the best of a 6.92 and 201 mph, to grab the win. Prospero would defend his title one year later, taking out the ’86 El Camino of Cleetus in the finals with a 7.00 at 200mph blast.
This year, a new winner would be crowned. Several drag-and-drive competitors jammed the staging lanes looking to take the crown, with most betting on Cleetus having the quickest car in the field as ‘Mullet’ got on track. But a tricky track surface would claim noted drag-and-drive runners Parker Mitchell, Richard Flint and Andy Cook, who was driving Motion Raceworks’ ‘El Toro’ Mustang in round one of competition.
The highlight of round one was a double wheelie from George Siciliano in the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer known as ‘Rocky.’ The Blazer was freshly patched up from a massive wheel stand just a few days earlier, but this time, the wheelie cost Siciliano a possible win light. You can see it in the video below at 6:40.
George Siciliano pilots the well-lit 2002 Chevrolet Blazer known as “Rocky” from the Cleetus McFarland stable.
Round two would claim the Miata of Matt Lamphier and Cooper Bogetti’s LS-swapped Mustang, while Cleetus advanced his El Camino to round three. The quickest and fastest pass of the event would hit the scoreboards in round three, as Cleetus ran a 6.84 at 210 mph. But his Christmas Tree appeared to shred near the finish line, causing a disqualification.
CJ Durbin and Cody Breecher brought their S-10 trucks down from Illinois to participate in the Christmas Tree Race.
The final round pitted a pair of turbocharged entries, as CJ Durbin faced Ricardo Dinez. Durbin, who was making his first final round appearance at his third Christmas Tree Race, was hoping to take a win back to Illinois. But tire spin ended his chances, as Dinez produced another consistent A-to-B pass for the win to wrap up the evening.
By Derek Putnam. Photos by Mike Pryka.