2023 Season in Review: Live Fast Motorsports

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

#78 Chevrolet (various sponsors)

Crew Chief: David Ingram

Engines: Earnhardt-Childress

2023 Season Grade: C-

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

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

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

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

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