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Late Engine Failure Ends Cleetus McFarland’s Top-10 ARCA Bid at Kansas

The setback underscores NASCAR's cautious superspeedway clearances for developing drivers.

Overview

  • McFarland, who had climbed from 25th to as high as seventh, lost the engine with about 25 laps to go Saturday at Kansas, ending his run.
  • The blown motor sent up white smoke and put oil on the frontstretch, and ARCA stopped the race with a red flag to clean the track.
  • He kept the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford off the wall through Turns 1 and 2 and was scored 21st for his second DNF in six ARCA national starts.
  • He remains slated to race in ARCA at Talladega next weekend, as NASCAR still withholds superspeedway approval for higher-tier O’Reilly events.
  • NASCAR grants track-by-track licenses to limit pack-racing risk at superspeedways, so steady racecraft and clean finishes—hindered here by a mechanical failure—factor into when drivers move up.