Cleetus McFarland's Chevy Crouton Smashes Quarter-Mile Record

Ever wondered what happens when you take a V8-swapped Chevy Spark, originally built for wild burnouts, and decide to see what it can do in a straight line, all-out? That’s precisely what happened when Cleetus McFarland’s Chevy Crouton hit the strip. And the results were nothing short of astonishing, completely shattering the record books for the unassuming hatchback.

With slicks mounted up and a 540 cubic inch big-block Chevy engine roaring under the Chevy’s tiny hood, McFarland casually proclaimed “We got to see what it’ll run. You’ll never know.” The initial shakedown passes showed Crouton’s wild side.

“This is a hot rod, you guys. I punched it, and it took off,” McFarland exclaimed after an early feel of the car’s power.

The day took a serious turn when McFarland revealed his research: “I looked up the Chevy Spark world record. As far as I can see, it’s 18.1… I may be the Chevy Spark 1/4 mile world record holder by the end of this day.”

That premonition quickly became a reality. On its very first full pass, the Chevy Crouton blasted down the quarter-mile strip to a stunning 10.18 seconds at 137 mph.

“I got the Chevy Spark World Record, yeah!” McFarland declared. Despite this incredible achievement, the team knew there was more in it, battling traction issues as the stiffly-sprung Spark struggled to put its massive power to the ground.

After several runs and tuning adjustments, including pulling timing and tweaking tire pressures, Crouton delivered a pass that has become a signature for McFarland’s endeavors: a 10.01 at 137 mph.

“Are you kidding me… I mean, how is that humanly possible,” McFarland uttered, referencing a familiar pattern of just missing a major milestone.

On a dramatic final attempt, with rain starting to fall, Crouton hooked up better than ever. The little Spark, described by McFarland as feeling like a “potato chip cruising down the track,” finally broke the barrier.

The timing boards lit up: 9.995 seconds at 138mph. “Yes, 999 with a five at 138. Thank you!” McFarland’s friend celebrated, solidifying Crouton’s place as the “fastest Chevy Spark in the world, first one in the nines.”