The focus on smaller teams continues this week with Live Fast Motorsports. Journeyman owner-driver B.J. McLeod and the team returned in 2024, running the superspeedway races. McLeod has a knack for this kind of racing, so it is the teams best bet for a solid day. McLeod also two events for MBM Motorsports #66 entry during the season to help evaluate their program.
B.J. McLeod / #78 Chevrolet & #66 MBM Motorsports Ford
2024 Crew Chiefs:Â George Ingram (#78), Carl Long (#66)
2024 Season Grade: B-
| Race | Track | St | Fin | Make | Laps | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Atlanta | 36 | 24 | Chevrolet | 257/260 | Running | |
| 10 | Talladega | 37 | 32 | Chevrolet | 187/188 | Running | |
| 14 | Charlotte (#66) | 37 | 37 | Ford | 241/249 | Running | |
| 22 | Indianapolis (#66) | 39 | 39 | Ford | 15/167 | Engine | |
| 25 | Daytona | 38 | 19 | Chevrolet | 164/164 | Running | |
| 27 | Atlanta | 36 | 25 | Chevrolet | 266/266 | Running | |
| 31 | Talladega | 38 | 22 | Chevrolet | 195/195 | Running |
Having sold their full-time charter to Spire Motorsports for 2024, Live Fast Motorsports returned as a part-time, open team. The limited schedule allowed owner-driver McLeod to concentrate the teams efforts, despite not having a full-time sponsor. While the Daytona 500 weekend did not go as planned (McLeod just missed the field via qualifying race), there were some strong performances on a limited schedule.
McLeod’s plain black Chevrolet began the season with race two in Atlanta, where McLeod came home 24th. The next race on the schedule was Talladega, where the Live Fast entry ran strong most of the race, leading five laps before finishing 32nd. The remaining races on the 78 team’s schedule showed promise as well, as McLeod finished inside the top twenty in two of the final three races.
McLeod earned a well-deserved B- grade for 2024, on the back of an average finish of 28th, seven laps led, 1 DNF, and completing 89% of attempted total laps in a competitive Cup Series environment.Â
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- MBM Motorsports:Â McLeod joined Carl Long’s MBM Motorsports and their #66 Ford for two races to help evaluate their performance. Bringing sponsor Truan Equipment on board for Charlotte, McLeod brought the 66 home in 37th. Long also placed McLeod in the seat for Indianapolis, where he came home 39th after an engine failure.
McLeod’s scheme for Charlotte in the 66 (courtesy of Jayski and Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) - Xfinity Series (B.J. McLeod Motorsports):Â McLeod also ran five Xfinity Series races in 2024, mostly under his B.J. McLeod Motorsports Xfinity team banner. Also wheeling a #78 Chevrolet, McLeod started the season at Daytona and finished 15th. The next few races netted finishes of 18th (Atlanta), 32nd (Las Vegas), and 14th (Phoenix).
- McLeod also ran one race Xfinity race for MBM in their #13 entry, bringing their Chevrolet home 28th.
McLeod’s Xfinity scheme for Daytona (courtesy of Jayski and B.J. McLeod Motorsports)
2025 Outlook:Â McLeod and Live Fast are set to return to the Cup Series in 2025, running the superspeedway races, as well as Charlotte in May. The addition of Earnhardt-Childress engines under the hood should provide a performance boost similar to 2024. With some luck, a top ten at Atlanta or Talladega is not out of the question.Â
- McLeod also ran one race Xfinity race for MBM in their #13 entry, bringing their Chevrolet home 28th.