Cleetus McFarland 'Learning a Lot', Not Dizzy After Solid 2nd NASCAR O'Reilly Start

LEBANON, Tenn. -- Cleetus McFarland's second NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series start prompted Dale Earnhardt Jr. to ask him if he was dizzy but not without respect and consideration for how much of a valuable lesson Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway was for the social media star-turned-NASCAR driver.

While McFarland finished 35th, six laps down, his second career NOAPS start started much better than that.

As the first stage came to an end on lap 45, he was running 29th but clocking in laps comparable with drivers in the top-15. However, because he started so far back, he clung to the lead lap with help from teammate and leader Jesse Love.

"I had a great first stage. All we did was gain positions in that first stage. It felt like we were passing guy after guy," McFarland said.

McFarland fell off the lead lap after a slide in turn one. However, he regained his momentum and battled Logan Bearden for the lucky dog spot as the flagman reached for the green-white-checkered flag.

Unfortunately for McFarland, that bid to stay on the lead lap ended in turn three on the final lap of the stage when he spun into the grass.

"I overdrove the car trying to chase down the 42. That damaged the splitter and then the next stage we were really bad until the guys lowered the nose and we got something back but I already messed the day up," McFarland said.

Despite being off of the lead lap, McFarland kept putting together solid laps and got the reps he's looking for to advance in his career. 

However, a penalty for dragging the jack out of his pit stall compounded into a penalty and a spin coming on to pit road to serve the penalty.

"In this sport, your own problems compound badly. Obviously, other people can cause you problems and no one caused me any problems and I don't think I caused anyone problems. Your problems grow quickly," McFarland said.

McFarland finished 35th, six laps down, but caught the eye of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who leaned into the window to talk to him after the race.

"He said, 'Are you dizzy from spinning out?' and I said, 'Yea' He said, 'yea this s--t has happened to everyone so keep doing your thing. He always has words of encouragement but he always lets me know when I'm being a dumba-- so I think he was letting me know that," McFarland said.

In his post-race availability as the winning car owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. confirmed he asked McFarland that question.

McFarland's next NASCAR national series race is slated for June 6 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Michigan International Speedway.

"When you go from a freaking hot rod down to something with a little less power, it gives you more confidence to think and slows everything down and so I hope it applies over to ARCA," McFarland said.

McFarland is awaiting approval to run NOAPS races on ovals 1.5 miles and larger in length. He has more ARCA starts to come.