Freedom Factory

Freedom Factory
Fastest 3/8 Mile Speedway in the South
2023 aerial view of the track. Bradenton Motorsports Park is adjacent to the track.
Location21050 East State Road 64
Bradenton, Florida, USA
Coordinates27°27′56″N 82°19′30″W / 27.46556°N 82.32500°W / 27.46556; -82.32500
OwnerCleetus McFarland
Broke groundLate 1970s
Opened1978
Former namesDesoto Speedway (1978–2020)
Major eventsCurrent:
Freedom 500 (2020–present)
Altima 600 (2024–present)
2.4 Hours of LeMullets (2020–present)
Florida Man Games (2026–present)
Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128 (2023–present)
Bigley Memorial Tune-Up 125 (2025–present)
Tour of Destruction (2020–present)
Future:
CARS Tour (2027)
Websitefreedomfactoryusa.com
Paved-Oval (1978–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.37 mi (0.60 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns: 12°
Straightaways: 6°

The Freedom Factory, (formerly Desoto Speedway from 1971 to 2020) is a 3⁄8 mi (0.60 km) oval short track in Bradenton, Florida. The track primarily holds events held by YouTuber and owner Cleetus McFarland.

History

Early years

The track was opened around the late-1970s under the name Desoto Speedway. The track remained open until 2018, where it then sat abandoned.

Under McFarland

In January 2020, content creator Cleetus McFarland bought the abandoned Desoto Speedway, a 3⁄8 mi (0.60 km) asphalt oval and figure 8 track in Manatee County, Florida, and later renamed the track to the Freedom Factory.

McFarland stated in an interview on a podcast that the idea for the Ford Crown Victorias racing events originated during the early 2020 COVID‑19 lockdowns, when the newly purchased Freedom Factory could not host spectators and he needed an alternative source of revenue. He explained that the financial strain from acquiring the facility, combined with a bounced IRS quarterly tax prepayment, led him to create pay‑per‑view races featuring decommissioned Ford Crown Victorias with nitrous driven by internet personalities. As the format grew in popularity over the following years, professional drivers, including current NASCAR competitors and Hall of Famers, began participating in the events, especially the Freedom 500.

On September 28, 2026, it was announced that the CARS Tour would have their 2027 season opener at the Freedom Factory, with McFarland, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick headlining the event.

Incidents

In 2017, Dave Steele was killed in a racing accident during a Southern Sprintcar Shootout Series race at the track on March 25, 2017. His car's front wheel struck and overrode the rear wheel of another car during the event, sending him into the wall; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

During one of McFarland's "Cleetus and Cars" events in November 2020, Parker Whitlock suffered third-degree burns due to a radiator hose explosion. Until this event, drivers that entered the competition were not required to be wearing a full fire suit. During Whitlock's burnout in his bodyless Ford Mustang, a radiator hose routed past the driver exploded. Because Whitlock was only wearing a hoodie and shorts, he suffered third-degree burns and required multiple skin grafts.

Bradenton Motorsports Park

Bradenton Motorsports Park
Location21000 East State Road 64Bradenton, Florida, USA
Capacity3,000
OwnerVictor Alvarez
Cleetus McFarland (50%, since 2025)
Broke ground1972
Opened1972
Former namesDeSoto Memorial Dragway (1972–2000)
Major eventsCurrent:
FL2K (2012–2021, 2023–present)
Snowbird Outlaw Nationals (1972–present)
U.S. Street Nationals (2005–present)
Summernats USA (2026–present)
Out For Blood (2020–present)
Christmas Tree Drags (2020–present)
Websitefreedomfactoryusa.com
Dragstrip (1974–present)
SurfaceConcrete (quarter mile)
Asphalt (shutdown area)
Length0.40 km (0.25 mi)

Bradenton Motorsports Park is an NHRA-sanctioned drag strip located adjacent to the Freedom Factory. Founded in 1972, BMP hosts events such as the FL2K, the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals and U.S. Street Nationals.

History

BMP opened in the early 1970s, originally operating under the name DeSoto Memorial Dragway.

In 2013, the track hosted their first FL2K, a drag racing event similar to the TX2K. The event developed around drag racing competition and streetcar culture, later expanding into a multi-day motorsports festival, still centered around roll racing and drag racing. In 2022, FL2K was temporarily held at Gainesville Raceway following damage caused by Hurricane Ian. The event returned to Bradenton Motorsports Park in 2023.

In 2024, track organizer Victor Alvarez announced major infrastructure upgrades at BMP, including track improvements, expanded entrances, and other major facility renovations.

Partnership with Cleetus McFarland

In January 2025, Internet personality Cleetus McFarland announced he had acquired a 50% ownership stake in BMP, the adjacent quarter-mile drag strip, partnering with existing owner Victor Alvarez.

McFarland said the deal followed record attendance at a BMP event in October 2024 that left the facility "bursting at the seams with growth."

References

  1. ↑ Seigel, John (May 15, 2013). "Desoto Speedway welcomes new owners, name". Your Observer. Retrieved September 28, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "Desoto Speedway (FL) to be Auctioned in March". Performance Racing Industry. February 12, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ Adams, Rick (February 3, 2020). "YouTube star Cleetus McFarland buys Desoto Speedway in Manatee County". My Sun Coast. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ "New Owner For Desoto Speedway (FL)". Performance Racing Industry. February 11, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Freedom Factory USA (aka DeSoto Speedway) in Bradenton, FL". RacingIn.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ Roman Atwood. "Cleetus McFarland Wanted By The IRS & His Racing Empire!" (Podcast). The Roman Atwood Podcast. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Freedom Factory to kick off 2027 zMAX CARS Tour season with big names and big action". CARS Tour. September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ Ayello, Jim (March 26, 2017). "Sprint car driver David Steele killed in Florida speedway crash". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ Paulo Acoba (November 24, 2020). "Cleetus & Cars burnout participant suffers 3rd degree burns after radiator hose blows on his homebrew Fox Body kart". Alt Car news. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ Smith, Steve Cole (November 29, 2020). "YouTube Star Cleetus McFarland Accused of Hiding Car Show Participant's Severe Injuries". The Drive. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Cleetus McFarland Secures 50% Stake in Bradenton Motorsports Park (FL)". Performance Racing Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ DeGroot, Nick (April 15, 2002). "New Owners renamed and upgraded old DeSoto, Bradenton". Motorsport.com. Kansas City, Kansas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ "FL2K Returns Home To Bradenton Motorsports Park For 2023 Edition". Drag Illustrated. September 27, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  14. ↑ "FL2K". Bradenton Motorsports Park. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bradenton's FL2K22 Moves To Gainesville Raceway In Wake Of Hurricane Ian". Drag Illustrated. September 30, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ "FL2K Returns Home To Bradenton Motorsports Park For 2023 Edition". Drag Illustrated. September 27, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Victor Alvarez Previews FL2K Track Upgrades At Bradenton Motorsports Park". Drag Illustrated. August 27, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bradenton Motorsports Park General Manager Josh Dauta Talks Track Upgrades, Improvements". Drag Illustrated. November 18, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  19. ↑ "YouTuber Cleetus McFarland Now Owns 50 Percent of Bradenton Motorsports Park". Engine Builder Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "YouTube star becomes partner in Bradenton Motorsports Park". Business Observer. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Griffith & Curry Take On Eighth Annual Bill Bigley Sr. Memorial 128". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Colin Allman Breaks Through for First UARA National Win in Bigley Memorial Tune-Up". Racing America. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Freedom Factory". Tour of Destruction. Retrieved September 24, 2026.