Cleetus McFarland heads into his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut with high confidence on his side. Ahead of the Easter weekend showdown at Rockingham Speedway, the YouTuber-turned-racer delivered his best ARCA result yet, turning a rough start into a breakthrough top-five finish.
The 30-year-old brought his No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford home 4th in the ARCA East race, his first top-five finish in NASCAR-sanctioned competition.
While teenage standout Tristan McKee checked out up front, McFarland stayed on the lead lap, putting together one of his cleanest runs yet.
But for the Omaha-native, this wasn’t just about the result.
“It’d be a lot more special if Biff was here, but I’m doing it for him,” he said after the race, paying a fitting tribute to Greg Biffle.
“Everything he taught me… I got a little tight out there. I remember him telling me, ‘Get some speed knocked out of it, turn the car and get on the gas.’”
Interestingly, McFarland admitted that nerves have usually been part of the deal, but not today.
“Normally I’m a little scared. I didn’t feel scared at all,” he said. “I felt like I got to get these guys in front of me.”
Now, he heads into his NOAPS debut with Richard Childress Racing with momentum, even with a less than ideal qualifying spot.
“Just one step closer to holding the trophy up for my boy,” he said. “That’s the goal.”
