Lawless Alan Claims First ARCA Victory; Cleetus McFarland Shines in Top-Ten Finish at Talladega
TALLADEGA, AL – Lawless Alan secured his first career ARCA Menards Series victory in a thrilling race at Talladega Superspeedway, while social media star Cleetus McFarland, racing under his real name Garrett Mitchell, showcased tenacity with a commendable tenth-place finish in the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford.
McFarland, who made his ARCA debut at Daytona with a disappointing 30th-place finish, faced early challenges at Talladega. After a late start due to forgetting his HANS Device, he quickly advanced from 24th to the top ten but encountered engine troubles that caused him to fall back to 20th. “I thought we were done… number six valve spring is broken in half,” McFarland explained post-race. “It felt like I was riding a horse out there.”
Despite these setbacks, McFarland managed to stay on the lead lap thanks to a timely caution. In a dramatic final stretch, he narrowly avoided a multi-car pile-up, skillfully maneuvering to maintain his position. “Tucked one of my wings and just dodged right out of there,” he quipped, celebrating his resilience amid the chaos.
The race concluded with an overtime restart, but the anticipated excitement was cut short by another incident before reaching Turn 1. McFarland, harnessing tips from veteran Greg Biffle, capitalized on the turmoil to finish strong in tenth place.
McFarland expressed eagerness to return to ARCA, hinting at future participation. "I’d love to do it again at Talladega in the fall," he stated.
Alan’s victory solidifies his position as a promising talent in ARCA, while McFarland’s performance reinforces his potential as a serious competitor in stock car racing.
