Cleetus McFarland capped a troubled Nashville Superspeedway outing with a 35th‑place finish after a succession of spins, front‑splitter damage and two pit‑road penalties.
Early race movement and teammate aid
Qualifying was abandoned by rain, consigning the YouTuber‑turned‑racer to the rear of the field in the No. 33 Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing. Starting 38th, he gradually progressed into the high‑20s, briefly reaching 29th before his RCR teammate Jesse Love slowed his advance to protect a sizable lead at the front.
Love later helped push McFarland an additional position, allowing him to climb back to P29 as the first stage wound down.
Spins, splitter damage and pit‑road woes
A fierce battle with Logan Bearden for the “free pass” spot erupted on the final corner of the stage’s last lap; McFarland lost traction under Bearden, spun onto the grass and fell to 36th, while a contact‑induced dent marred the car’s splitter.
The damage hampered handling into Stage 2, where he lingered a lap down and finished the segment in 35th. After a green‑flag pit stop, McFarland exited the box with the jack still attached, prompting an equipment‑removal penalty. Attempting to serve that penalty, he spun at the pit‑road entrance and incurred a second pass‑through for crossing the commitment line.
Despite the setbacks, the driver managed to stay on track and crossed the finish line six laps behind the leader.
Post‑race debrief and upcoming challenge
In the final radio exchange, McFarland, guided by spotter Mike Dillon and crew chief Robert Strmiska, acknowledged the errors, noting the unexpected aerodynamic loss that caused his spin. The team highlighted his improving overtaking skill and stressed the lessons learned.
Undeterred, McFarland promised to persevere, stating he would “figure this out.” He now turns his attention to the Truck Series, set to pilot the No. 4 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado at Michigan International Speedway on June 6 – the longest non‑superspeedway oval on his schedule.
Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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