B. J. McLeod Motorsports
B. J. McLeod Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team is owned by B. J. McLeod and his wife Jessica. The team currently fields the No. 5 full-time for Matt Mills, the No. 78 Chevrolet Camaro full-time for Jesse Little, and the No. 99 for Ryan Ellis and Josh Bilicki in the Xfinity Series.
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Owner(s) | B. J. McLeod Jessica Smith-McLeod |
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Base | Mooresville, North Carolina |
Series | NASCAR Xfinity Series |
Race drivers | Xfinity Series: 5. Matt Mills 78. Jesse Little 99. Stefan Parsons, Ryan Ellis, Josh Bilicki, Mason Massey, Vinnie Miller |
Sponsors | Xfinity Series: 5. JF Electric, Thompson Electric 78. TBA 99. Sokal Digital, TBA |
Manufacturer | Chevrolet Ford Toyota |
Opened | 2011 |
Career | |
Debut | Cup Series: 2020 The Real Heroes 400 (Darlington) Xfinity Series: 2016 PowerShares QQQ 300 (Daytona) Camping World Truck Series: 2011 Lucas Deep Clean 200 (Nashville) |
Latest race | Cup Series: 2020 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race (Bristol) Xfinity Series: 2020 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 (Phoenix) Camping World Truck Series: 2015 Rhino Linings 350 (Las Vegas) |
Races competed | Total: 435 Cup Series: 15 Xfinity Series: 399 Camping World Truck Series: 21 |
Drivers' Championships | Total: 0 Cup Series: 0 Xfinity Series: 0 Camping World Truck Series: 0 |
Race victories | Total: 0 Cup Series: 0 Xfinity Series: 0 Camping World Truck Series: 0 |
Pole positions | Total: 0 Cup Series: 0 Xfinity Series: 0 Camping World Truck Series: 0 |
Founding
On February 3, 2016, team owner B. J. McLeod said that the team fielded two full-time cars, including the No. 78 Ford Mustang driven by himself. Batteries Plus Bulbs sponsored the car for three races in 2016.[1]
On October 23, 2020, McLeod and Matt Tifft purchased Archie St. Hilare's half of Go Fas Racing's charter. McLeod, Tifft, and Joe Falk used the charter to form Live Fast Motorsports as a full-time Cup team in 2021.[2] Although McLeod became Live Fast's driver, B. J. McLeod Motorsports continued to operate as an Xfinity team.[3]
Cup Series
Car No. 78 history
In 2020, it was announced that B.J. McLeod would make his first attempt in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington.[4][5] B.J. McLeod would drive his own No. 78 Chevy to a 39th-place finish in the team's Cup debut. He improved to a 36th-place finish at the next race at Darlington. The No. 78 switched to a Ford for the next three races before running a Chevy again at Atlanta. The No. 78 skipped the next two races and returned with Garrett Smithley behind the wheel at Talladega, where he scored a 34th-place finish.[6] After that, B.J. McLeod returned to the No. 78 for the two Pocono races, and Indianapolis, where he scored a season-best 22nd-place finish.[7]
The team's Cup operations was replaced by Live Fast Motorsports in 2021.[3]
Car No. 78 Results
NASCAR Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | NCSC | Pts | Ref | ||
2020 | B.J. McLeod | 78 | Chevy | DAY | LVS | CAL | PHO | DAR 39 |
DAR 36 |
ATL 40 |
MAR | HOM | POC 39 |
POC 37 |
IND 22 |
KEN | TEX 33 |
KAN 39 |
NHA | MCH | MCH | DAY | DOV 38 |
DOV 31 |
DAY | DAR | RCH | LVS | TAL | CLT | KAN | TEX | MAR | PHO | 41st | 56 | [8] | |||||||
Ford | CLT 32 |
CLT 35 |
BRI 28 |
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Garrett Smithley | Chevy | TAL 34 |
BRI 32 |
Xfinity Series
Car No. 5 history
![](../I/5VinnieMiller2019CTECH180.jpg.webp)
In 2017, it was announced that Jeff Green would drive the No. 8 full-time. The team used owner points of the No. 99 from last year, so the team needed to qualify in the Top-33 to make the field. As Green had a Past Champion Provisional, he was locked in the field for the season opener at Daytona. The number was expected to be the No. 15, but Green asked to renumber to No. 8, because he and his brother David Green had both used it in the past. Despite the initial announcement of a full-time campaign for Green, Matt Mills brought sponsorship from Thompson Electric and he drove the car at Phoenix and Richmond. After Charlotte, B. J. McLeod starting driving the No. 8 in every race besides the Daytona July race when Green returned to the team for one race. Josh Bilicki drove the No. 8 at the road course races. Tommy Joe Martins drove at Richmond's fall race and Caesar Bacarella ran the final two races (Phoenix and Homestead-Miami) for the team.
In 2018, the team returned once again with multiple drivers behind the wheel. Caesar Bacarella, Tommy Joe Martins, Ray Black Jr., Bayley Currey, Blake Jones, Angela Ruch, Scott Heckert and Cody Ware shared the car.
Mills became the full-time driver of the No. 8 in 2019, though the number was changed to 5 after JR Motorsports acquired No. 8 from McLeod.[9][10][11] Mills would drive for the first 19 races of the season, driving a mix of Chevy's and Toyota's, only getting four top 20's, and 1 top 10 at Daytona.[12] He would be replaced at Watkins Glen by road course ace Scott Heckert who would finish 13th.[12] Vinnie Miller would drive the car at Mid-Ohio and would finish 25th a lap down.[12] Mills would return to the No. 5 at Bristol.
Car No. 5 Results
Car No. 15 history
Todd Peck attempted three of the first four races of the 2016 season (Atlanta Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway) with the No. 99 but he only was able to make the field at Atlanta. At Phoenix, Ryan Ellis made the field but crashed his only car for the weekend in the No. 15 for Rick Ware Racing, so they called Peck to make the race with his former No. 99, renumbered as the No. 15 car. After this, RWR and B. J. McLeod Motorsports started a partnership to share the No. 15 car full-time. McLeod fielded the car for Peck, Blake Jones, Cody Ware, Travis Kvapil, Timmy Hill, Scott Heckert, Josh Wise, Jeff Green, Stanton Barrett, Michael Lira, Clint King, Josh Reaume and D. J. Kennington. Kvapil recorded a best finish of 20th at Bristol.[20]
Car No. 78 history
![](../I/78_Stephen_Young_2017_Johnsonville_180.jpg.webp)
Team owner McLeod drove this car as an owner-driver in 2016. He made the first ten races and scored one top twenty finish, a nineteenth at Dover International Speedway. McLeod also had two engine failures, at Auto Club and Talladega Superspeedway.[21]
In 2017, the team returned with Clint King in the two first races of the season. McLeod returned at Las Vegas. At Charlotte Jeff Green went to the No. 78 for one-race deal but failed to qualify. Jordan Anderson, Tommy Joe Martins, Angela Ruch, John Graham, Josh Bilicki and Jennifer Jo Cobb have drove the No. 78. Stephen Young drove the No. 78 at the road course races.
In 2018, the team returned once again with multiple drivers behind the wheel. Ryan Ellis, McLeod, Ray Black, Jr., Tommy Joe Martins, Blake Jones, Scott Heckert, and Jairo Avila Jr. shared the car. Vinnie Miller took over the No. 78 car for the remainder of the 2018 season and a full schedule in 2019 and 2020, although he was replaced at Mid-Ohio with Scott Heckert.[22]
Car No. 78 Results
Car No. 90 history
In 2015, McLeod fielded a part-time team in partner with King Autosport, sharing the owner points of 90/92 team. In 2016, Todd Peck returned to the No. 90 team at the Richmond spring race.
Car No. 99 history
![](../I/99_David_Starr_2017_Johnsonville_180.jpg.webp)
In 2016, the No. 99 car entered Daytona with Chris Fontaine at the wheel, missing the show. The car qualified the following week at Atlanta, with Todd Peck driving. However, Peck also failed to qualify the car in two races. The No. 99 team shut down the rest of the season, because they missed most of their races. They returned at Road America with Stanton Barrett. The team returned as the No. 25 at the second Kentucky race, because Chris Cockrum crashed his only car he had for the weekend. Peck replaced him the No. 25 (McLeod's third entry, Blake Jones was in the No. 15 and McLeod in the No. 78). The No. 99 returned again at Kansas, Phoenix and Homestead with Jeff Green.
In February 2017, it was announced that David Starr would drive the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro with help from SS-Green Light Racing full-time with sponsorship Striping Technology and Whataburger. The No. 99 used the owner points from the No. 15 from last year to make the field in the first three races. Despite a slow start to the season, Starr recorded a fifth-place finish at the July Daytona race; Starr was originally not entered in the race, as the No. 99 had been scheduled to be driven by Korbin Forrister, but Forrister came down with the flu and Starr was summoned from Texas to race at Daytona.[29]
On January 20, 2018, Ray Black Jr. was announced to drive the No. 99 car starting at Daytona. However without SS-Green Light Racing's help, the team became part-time. Black attempt the season-opener at Daytona, but failed to qualify. B. J. McLeod start and parked the car at Charlotte. Ray Black returned at July's Daytona race and finished 22nd.
In late 2018, Stephen Leicht drove the No. 99 part-time.
In 2019, the team would field for McLeod, Tommy Joe Martins, Jairo Avila Jr., D.J. Kennington, Ryan Ellis, Stefan Parsons, Cody Ware, Todd Peck, Patrick Gallagher, and C. J. McLaughlin. The team usually ran Toyota Supras while the No. 78 and No. 5 usually ran Chevrolet Camaros. Martins would leave the #99 after New Hampshire.
Car No. 99 Results
Camping World Truck Series
Note: Christopher Long is listed as the owner for these races.
Truck No. 0 history
Matt Tifft made one start with this truck, at Martinsville Speedway in 2014.[35] He finished an eighth-place finish, the team's best finish.
Truck No. 35 history
Tommy Regan made one start in this truck, at Martinsville in 2015.[36]
Truck No. 45 history
Regan debuted this truck in 2014, making one start with it at Iowa Speedway.[37] Tifft made two starts in it later in the season.[38] Chris Fontaine ran this number for the Eldora Speedway race in 2015[39] and also ran in Talladega late in the season. McLeod made ten other starts, receiving funding from Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery.[40] Regan also made two starts with the truck at Iowa and Gateway.[41]
Truck No. 78 history
McLeod ran this truck for two races in 2011, with a best finish of 20th at Nashville its team debut in NASCAR.[42] He also made one race with this truck in 2013.[43] Tommy Regan returned at Texas (fall) in 2016 but failed to qualify.
References
- Bonkowski, Jerry (February 3, 2016). "Batteries Plus Bulbs signs on as sponsor for B.J. McLeod Motorsports". NASCAR Talk. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "Matt Tifft & B.J. McLeod buy charter from Go Fas Racing". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Ryan, Nate (November 20, 2020). "Live Fast Motorsports, new team formed by Matt Tifft and B.J. McLeod, will field No. 78". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- Albino, Dustin (May 12, 2020). "BJ McLeod: 'It's Been a Dream of Mine' to Own NASCAR Cup Team". Frontstretch. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- Nguyen, Justin (May 13, 2020). "B.J. McLeod debuting Cup team at Darlington". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- Christie, Toby (June 18, 2020). "Garrett Smithley Lands Ride For Talladega After Davison Not Permitted to Race". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- "NASCAR: Kevin Harvick goes back-to-back at the Brickyard". Beyond the Flag. July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- "B.J. McLeod – 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- "BJ McLeod Motorsports announces it is expanding to three (3) full time NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in 2019". B. J. McLeod Motorsports. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- Marusak, Joe (January 25, 2019). "Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets his beloved No. 8 back. Here's how he did it". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- "BJ McLeod Motorsports Reveals the Replacement of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Car No. 8". B. J. McLeod Motorsports. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- "Car number 5 in 2019". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- "Car number 8 in 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Owner Points Following Race # 33 Homestead-Miami Speedway 23rd Annual Ford EcoBoost 300" (PDF). Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 8 in 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Owner Points Following Race # 33 Homestead-Miami Speedway 24th Annual Ford EcoBoost 300" (PDF). Jayski.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 5 in 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Owner Points Following Race # 33 Homestead-Miami Speedway 25th Annual Ford EcoBoost 300" (PDF). Jayski.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 5 in 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Travis Kvapil 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "B.J. McLeod 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- Knight, Chris. "Vinnie Miller set to depart JD Motorsports for B.J. McLeod Motorsports beginning at Charlotte". Catchfence. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- "B.J. McLeod 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Owner Points Following Race # 33 Homestead-Miami Speedway 22nd Annual Ford EcoBoost 300" (PDF). Jayski.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 78 in 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 78 in 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 78 in 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 78 in 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- Spencer, Lee (July 3, 2017). "The feel-good story from Daytona no one is talking about". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- "Car number 99 in 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 99 in 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 99 in 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 99 in 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Car number 99 in 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "2014 Kroger 200 - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "2015 Kroger 250 - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "Tommy Regan 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "Matt Tifft 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "Chris Fontaine 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "B.J. McLeod 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "Tommy Regan 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "B.J. McLeod 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- "B.J. McLeod 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
External links
- Official website
- B. J. McLeod Motorsports owner statistics at Racing-Reference