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Freedom Factory Wins 2026 Florida Man Games at New Bradenton Venue

The third-year spectacle drew roughly 5,000 people, reflecting rapid growth for the meme-driven competition.

Overview

  • The event moved from St. Augustine to the Freedom Factory racetrack in Bradenton for its third edition under founder Pete Melfi.
  • Twelve teams from across Florida competed in themed contests that included a grocery-aisle brawl, blindfolded taser tag, bullwhip challenges, and a deer-themed beer-bong stunt.
  • The hometown Freedom Factory team captured the title, with two-time defending champions Hanky Spanky finishing second after a tight points race late in the day.
  • Some matches turned physical, drawing a visible presence from Manatee County sheriff’s deputies and prompting crowd accusations of cheating during one grocery-cart round.
  • The finale required stealing a catalytic converter and outrunning a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT member, capping a day emceed by creators and entertainers including Josh Wicks Robinson and Super Troopers actors Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan.