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2023 Season in Review: Live Fast Motorsports

Driver(s): B.J. McLeod, Josh Bilicki, Anthony Alfredo, Sheldon Creed

#78 Chevrolet (various sponsors)

(courtesy of Live Fast Motorsports / Jayski)

Crew Chief: David Ingram

Engines: Earnhardt-Childress

2023 Season Grade: C-

Driver Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10
B.J. McLeod 23 0 0 0
Josh Bilicki 10 0 0 0
Anthony Alfredo 2 0 0 0
Sheldon Creed 1 0 0 0

 

Live Fast Motorsports returned to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 with an eye on a breakout year in their second season. Team co-owners B.J. McLeod and Matt Tifft made the decision during the 2022-2023 off season to switch to fielding Chevrolets, with horsepower from Earnhardt-Childress Racing. Tifft and McLeod also brought on veteran crew chief David Ingram to lead the team.

For 2023, McLeod was named the primary driver, while also bringing on journeyman driver Josh Bilicki for 10 races. In addition to Bilicki, McLeod’s Xfinity Series driver Anthony Alfredo also made two starts. Richard Childress Racing and Xfinity standout Sheldon Creed also made his Cup debut in #78 Chevrolet, filling out the schedule.

B.J. McLeod

(courtesy of Jayski & Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Team co-owner B.J. McLeod drove the majority of the schedule, running 23 races during the season. The team struggled to find speed most of the season, as funding was extremely limited. Qualifying and finishing in the mid-20s and lower the bulk of the season, it was evident the team was running behind the competition.

There were however, some bright spots. These include an 18th place finish in Talladega, 20th in Atlanta, and a 21st place qualifying effort in Richmond. McLeod ended his 2023 campaign with an average finish of 29.5 and 5 DNF’s.

Josh Bilicki

(courtesy of Jayski & Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Josh Bilicki returned to a partial Cup Series schedule with Live Fast in 2023, bringing sponsor Zeigler Auto Group with him. Running mainly road course events, with a few speedways, Bilicki’s 2023 results were on par with McLeod’s most races, finishing no better than 23rd (Chicago street course). This was the highlight of Bilicki’s schedule, as he would struggle to finish in the top 25 in the other 9 events. Bilicki’s final numbers see an average finish of 29.8, but with only 1 DNF.

Anthony Alfredo

(courtesy of Jayski & Live Fast Motorsports)

McLeod’s Xfinity Series driver Anthony Alfredo also returned to the Cup Series in 2023, running two events. For Alfredo, these were his first starts in the Cup Series since his rookie campaign in 2021, but the team struggled to find speed. Running the #78 Chevrolet in Richmond and Martinsville, Alfredo finished 33rd and 35th respectively.

Sheldon Creed

(courtesy of Jayski & Live Fast Motorsports)

Richard Childress Racing and Xfinity Series standout Sheldon Creed made his Cup debut this season, jumping into the Live Fast entry for the fall Kansas event. Creed struggled to get speed out of the 78 as well, but would make the event and finish a respectable 29th (two laps down).

 

2024 Outlook:

While McLeod and Live Fast Motorsports will return as “open” entry in 2024 (read more here). The team is planning on running only six races, focusing on road courses and superspeedways with McLeod as the primary driver. The former Live Fast charter has been sold to Spire Motorsports to back rookie Zane Smith Cup Series efforts.

 

2023 Results by Track

RACE TRACK DRIVER ST FIN LAPS STATUS
1 Daytona B.J. McLeod 32 30 204/212 Running
2 Fontana B.J. McLeod 30 24 199/200 Running
3 Las Vegas B.J. McLeod 36 32 266/271 Running
4 Phoenix B.J. McLeod 36 33 50/317 Fuel Pump
5 Atlanta B.J. McLeod 36 36 189/260 Accident
6 COTA Josh Bilicki 33 26 75/75 Running
7 Richmond Anthony Alfredo 35 33 396/400 Running
8 Bristol (Dirt) B.J. McLeod 37 26 250/250 Running
9 Martinsville Anthony Alfredo 36 30 390/400 Running
10 Talladega B.J. McLeod 37 18 196/196 Running
11 Dover B.J. McLeod 22 29 381/400 Running
12 Kansas Josh Bilicki 36 33 260/267 Running
13 Darlington B.J. McLeod 35 32 226/295 Steering
14 Charlotte B.J. McLeod 34 29 392/400 Running
15 Gateway B.J. McLeod 34 27 243/243 Running
16 Sonoma Josh Bilicki 29 30 110/110 Running
17 Nashville Josh Bilicki 35 34 297/300 Running
18 Chicago Josh Bilicki 27 23 78/78 Running
19 Atlanta B.J. McLeod 35 20 185/185 Running
20 Loudon B.J. McLeod 32 31 295/301 Running
21 Pocono B.J. McLeod 30 32 159/160 Running
22 Richmond B.J. McLeod 21 36 395/400 Running
23 Michigan Josh Bilicki 37 32 196/200 Running
24 Indianapolis G.P. Josh Bilicki 32 32 81/82 Running
25 Watkins Glen Josh Bilicki 35 27 90/90 Running
26 Daytona B.J. McLeod 38 23 163/163 Running
27 Darlington B.J. McLeod 36 36 210/367 Engine
28 Kansas Sheldon Creed 34 29 266/268 Running
29 Bristol B.J. McLeod 34 31 490/500 Running
30 Texas B.J. McLeod 34 22 267/267 Running
31 Talladega B.J. McLeod 37 29 187/188 Running
32 Charlotte (Road) Josh Bilicki 28 26 109/109 Running
33 Las Vegas B.J. McLeod 31 31 266/267 Running
34 Homestead Josh Bilicki 35 35 201/267 Accident
35 Martinsville B.J. McLeod 36 36 147/500 Overheating
36 Phoenix B.J. McLeod 36 33 306/312 Running
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