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–)
Altima 600 (2024–)
2.4 Hours of LeMullets (2020–)
Florida Man Games (2026–)
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/owner Cleetus McFarland.

History

Early days

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

Under McFarland

In January 2020, content creator Cleetus McFarland bought the abandoned Desoto Speedway, a 3/8 mi Asphalt Oval & Figure 8 Track in Manatee County, Florida,[1][2] and later renamed the track to Freedom Factory.[3]

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.[4]

During one of McFarland's "Cleetus and Cars" events in November 2020, Parker Whitlock suffered third-degree burns due to a radiator hose explosion.[5] 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.[6]

References

  1. ^ Adams, Rick (February 3, 2020). "YouTube star Cleetus McFarland buys Desoto Speedway in Manatee County". My Sun Coast. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  2. ^ "New Owner For Desoto Speedway (FL)". Performance Racing Industry. February 11, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Freedom Factory USA (fka DeSoto Speedway) in Bradenton, FL". RacingIn.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.

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