In a sprawling Florida hangar crammed with wrenches, engine parts, and the faint smell of motor oil, Cleetus McFarland’s team rolled in expecting nothing more than a routine year-end huddle. Boy, were they wrong. What greeted them was a row of 20 mini Jeeps, all decked out with big red bows and shining like new under the overhead lights. The place exploded shouts, whoops, and high-fives all around as folks scrambled into the driver’s seats. Before you knew it, the concrete floor was a madhouse of squealing tires and revving engines. Talk about a boss who knows how to crank up the team spirit.
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Cleetus McFarland real name Garrett Mitchellis the brains behind one of YouTube’s wildest car channels. Based out of Florida, he’s racked up over 4 million subscribers with his over-the-top videos on drag racing, insane builds, and anything that goes vroom. He’s got that knack for turning regular gearheads into internet sensations, all fueled by high-octane fun and a love for horsepower.
The whole spectacle dropped in a video on his channel on December 23, 2025, titled
“A Christmas Bonus For 20 of My Employees!”
It captures McFarland dishing out the surprises to staffers who’d stuck around for at least a full year. Each lucky recipient scored a Massimo Mini 125 a zippy little gas-powered beast with a 125cc engine, two seats, a three-speed transmission, and even a full-size spare tire. These aren’t kiddie rides; they’re legit recreational vehicles put together in Dallas, Texas, and they retail for about $3,000 a pop. On top of that, everyone got a Snap-On 1/2-inch impact wrench with a couple of batteries for shop duties, plus an ARMA Notorious 6S stunt RC truck for some off-duty thrills. Just the Jeeps added up to over $60,000 worth of holiday cheer.
As soon as the bows came off, the hangar morphed into a makeshift raceway. The crew fired up drag races, whipped donuts, and yeah, a couple even flipped in the heat of the moment. One guy nailed it: “These are sick.” The energy was electric, pure chaos in the best way, and it perfectly nailed why McFarland’s stuff hooks so many viewers.
McFarland’s turned this into a tradition, ditching boring cash for vehicle surprises that keep the excitement dialed up. He beefed up the eligibility this year to a full 12 months on payroll, after one newbie snagged a bonus last time and bounced shortly after. The gesture also paid subtle homage to his late buddy, NASCAR icon Greg Biffle, whose heavenly birthday got a shoutout amid the fun, adding a poignant layer to the party.
Folks in the States are loving it, and why not? In a world of freelance gigs and job-hopping, this screams old-school loyalty and generous leadership. It’s the sort of tale that shows how some bosses rise above, mixing showmanship with real heart in a package that’s straight-up entertaining. And in the grind of the creator economy, where burnout lurks around every corner, it’s a solid boost for morale.
A quick heads-up for any American readers: The IRS usually treats bonuses like this as taxable income, so the team might have a little bill come tax season. Still, totally worth it for that kind of epic score.
