Cleetus McFarland’s latest ARCA start at Charlotte Motor Speedway delivered a viral moment that has the motorsports world buzzing.
During the race, McFarland accidentally made contact with the pace car. A rare incident that left fans stunned and amused. Far from shying away from the situation, the YouTuber-turned-racer addressed the moment with characteristic humor and accountability.
Cleetus McFarland Recaps His Eventful Charlotte Start
“On that restart, made it to the front row for the first time, hit the pace car, which had me so fired up to hit the throttle,” McFarland said, reflecting on the chaotic sequence that unfolded during his restart at Charlotte.
The mishap happened just before a green flag run, when McFarland, lined up for his first front-row restart, got overzealous and jumped on the gas too hard. “I forgot there’s no dang restrictor plate on this thing. I’m like, wham, gave her the beans. She steps out, steps out again,” he said.
What followed was a series of missteps that led to contact with another car. “Then I clipped that dude. So it just feels bad, but we’ll move forward,” he added, expressing regret over the chain reaction that sent several competitors home early.
“I made a complete rookie maneuver on the restart. I zigged and then I zagged,” McFarland admitted. “Then he was blowing my door off and on the zag, I just, I hit him and I put him in the wall.”
Despite the rough patch, he managed to finish ninth. An outcome he found bittersweet. “Better than ever, but still sucks. You ain’t first, you’re last. Quote Ricky Bobby,” he joked.
McFarland’s moment quickly circulated online, sparking a range of fan reactions. Some expressed surprise and amusement, while others appreciated his honesty.
His transparency resonated with fans who are used to seeing polished PR statements in post-race interviews. Instead, McFarland offered an unfiltered take. “I got humbled,” he said, “Yeah, I want to start off by apologizing to the team that I took out.”
Looking ahead, McFarland mentioned that Bristol is likely the next stop on his racing calendar, although plans aren’t finalized. “We are planning on going to Bristol. Don’t totally know the plan, but just fired up to be here,” he said.
His attitude remained upbeat despite the challenges. “This was a hundred times harder than a super speedway,” he admitted, hinting at the steep learning curve involved with ARCA short-track racing.
McFarland’s willingness to embrace mistakes and learn from them has won him a unique place in motorsports. He builds cars and races with passion. His style is real and unfiltered. He does not try to be perfect, just honest. Moments like this one at Charlotte show why fans keep watching. It’s raw. It’s unforgettable.
