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B. J. McLeod to Continue His Daytona 500 Pursuit Despite Selling Off $40-Million-Worth Charter

Published 11/14/2023, 1:37 PM EST

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Just a couple of months back, Live Fast Motorsports sold its Cup Series Charter to Spire Motorsports in a record $40 million deal. While the team has been in the Cup Series for only three seasons, co-owner and driver B. J. McLeod recently gave an update on the team’s plans.

As per McLeod, the team plans to run a part-time Cup schedule. The plan is to use an Open car in superspeedways and hopefully in road courses as well. While the team’s Xfinity plan remains uncertain, it is likely that Live Fast Motorsports will at least run in a part-time capacity.

B. J. McLeod confirms his participation in the team’s attempt for the 2024 Daytona 500

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While Live Fast Motorsports will be making an open entry, they will be pushing hard to make it to next year’s Daytona 500. Luckily, B. J. McLeod will be the one behind the wheel in order to make it through qualifying in their non-charter entry.

In addition to that, McLeod also confirmed the team keeping the #78 car for the 2024 Cup Series . Along with that, there will be a change in the team’s ownership as Matt Tifft will leave the ownership group. This leaves B. J. McLeod, Jessica McLeod, and Joe Falk as the owners.

It is not just the change in ownership that’s taking place but McLeod also confirmed an important update regarding other drivers involved with the team. When asked if Anthony Alfredo will be moving to a different team, Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass confirmed the move happening.

Indeed, it is disappointing news for Live Fast Motorsports. While it all started with the charter sale, McLeod explained the pressing reasons behind the move.

Live Fast Motorsports co-owner B. J. McLeod says NASCAR is moving too fast

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It is clear that Live Fast Motorsports had no interest in selling the charter at the start of the year. However, with the sport rapidly changing and the team struggling to meet its goals, co-owner B. J. McLeod felt it was best to sell the charter then.

Speaking to RACER.com, he said, “What caught me by surprise was the speed at which the sport advanced around Matt [Tifft, co-owner] and I and team Live Fast. That’s the part I didn’t anticipate and it just simply wasn’t in a strong enough position financially to be able to keep up with our surroundings. That happens in other businesses too, and you have to shift to make decisions and move, and it’s a good thing. It’s a good thing for everybody.”

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Further, he pinpointed where the problem lay. McLeod said, “But that is the part that caught me the most off guard. I knew the sport was growing, and I knew the excitement around it, and that’s the reason for the investment. But I didn’t see that we were going to end up getting pushed to 36th on average at most of the racetracks this quick.”

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With the introduction of the Next-Gen cars and poor performance in 2023, Live Fast Motorsports couldn’t live up to the pace. The team finished 36th in the owner’s championship which speaks volumes about their struggles. All said and done, McLeod sold his charter and it all comes down on him to make it count when the team enters its bid to qualify for a starting position in the 2024 Daytona 500 grid.

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It will be interesting to see how the 39-year-old performs at the start of the season.

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Written by:

Priyank Mithani

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I was a little kid when Dale Earnhardt said, “The winner ain't the one with the fastest car, it's the one who refuses to lose.” Years have passed and those words could not be more true. Having grown fond of motorsports at a young age, I’m strongly addicted to the adrenaline rush the sport offers.
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Edited by:

Nischal Kandpal