Big Machine Racing Overview
Big Machine Racing is an American professional stock car racing team that competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Founded in 2021 by music industry executive Scott Borchetta, the team fields the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro SS, currently driven by Patrick Staropoli. The organization operates from a shop on the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina, where it works alongside Kaulig Racing under an alliance with RCR.
Since its debut, Big Machine Racing has built a reputation as a competitive single-car operation capable of producing upset victories against larger, more established teams. The team’s identity is closely tied to Borchetta’s Big Machine Records brand, bringing a promotional and entertainment-driven sensibility to its NASCAR program.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Big Machine Racing was created in January 2021 when Scott Borchetta, founder of Big Machine Records, announced that he and the Nashville-based record label were launching a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series team. Borchetta had experience as a race car driver before entering the music business, and the creation of the team marked a return to motorsports for the executive. The new operation was designed to field the No. 48 Chevrolet on a full-time basis.
To get the program off the ground quickly, Big Machine Racing purchased cars and equipment from RSS Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing’s former No. 93 car. Jade Buford was named as the team’s first driver, running the full 2021 schedule in pursuit of Rookie of the Year honors. Patrick Donahue, who had served as a crew chief at SS-Green Light Racing, joined the new team in the same role for Buford and the No. 48 entry.
Growth Into O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Competition
During 2021, Big Machine Racing operated from Mooresville, North Carolina, while running a single full-time car. In October 2021, the team announced a major structural shift: beginning in 2022, it would form an alliance with Richard Childress Racing and relocate its shop onto the RCR campus in Welcome, North Carolina. The move placed the team alongside Kaulig Racing and gave it access to the engineering and technical resources of a championship-winning organization.
The alliance with RCR helped stabilize the young team and positioned it for growth. In February 2023, Big Machine Racing expanded by fielding a second part-time car, the No. 5, for Jade Buford at the Daytona 300, signaling the team’s intent to grow its competitive footprint within the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Big Machine Racing Competitive Journey
Across its history, Big Machine Racing has competed in more than 165 races, scoring two victories, zero pole positions, and no Drivers’ Championships. The team has progressed from a single-car start-up operation into a respected allied team within the RCR stable, producing memorable wins and consistent playoff-caliber performances along the way.
Early Seasons and Development (2021)
Big Machine Racing’s debut season was shaped by the challenge of onboarding a driver whose stock car experience was limited to road course events. Before the 2021 season began, Jade Buford was not approved by NASCAR to race at Daytona, delaying his first start until the Daytona Road Course the following week. Danny Bohn substituted for Buford at the superspeedway opener, making his Xfinity Series debut in the No. 48.
Buford was later replaced by Kaz Grala prior to the spring Talladega race and made only one further start that season at Portland. The No. 48 also featured a rotating cast of guest drivers throughout 2021, including Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ross Chastain, Nick Sanchez, Parker Kligerman, and Marco Andretti. These appearances gave the young team valuable track time and exposure while it finalized its alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
Breakthrough in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2022–2023)
The 2022 season produced Big Machine Racing’s first major breakthrough. On May 21, 2022, Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick delivered the team’s first-ever victory at Texas Motor Speedway. That same year, the team announced Parker Kligerman as its full-time driver for 2023, setting the stage for a sustained run of competitive results.
Kligerman quickly established himself as a playoff contender. After Kansas, he qualified for the 2023 Xfinity Series playoffs before being eliminated at the conclusion of the Charlotte Roval race in the Round of 12. The following August, Kligerman publicly committed to returning for the 2024 season. However, the team also faced adversity when the No. 48 was levied an L1 penalty after pre-race inspection at Michigan discovered illegal modifications to the rear spoiler. Crew chief Patrick Donahue was fined US$25,000, and the team was docked twenty owner and driver points.
Breakthrough in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2024–2025)
In September 2024, Big Machine Racing announced that Nick Sanchez, a two-year NASCAR Truck Series veteran, would take over the No. 48 and compete for Rookie of the Year honors. Sanchez opened his season with a 35th-place DNF at Daytona but stayed consistent throughout the year, ultimately earning his first career victory at Atlanta. Although originally slated to return for 2026, Sanchez announced on December 8, 2025, that he would not be returning to Big Machine Racing.
Two weeks later, on December 23, 2025, Big Machine Racing confirmed that Patrick Staropoli would take over the No. 48 full-time beginning in 2026. The team continues to compete from its shop on the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina, with Chevrolet as its manufacturer partner.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025–Present)
Big Machine Racing enters its latest era under the continued ownership of Scott Borchetta and with a strengthened technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. The team’s primary entry, the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro SS, is prepared from the RCR campus in Welcome, North Carolina, drawing on shared engineering and operational resources.
The team’s most recent on-track success came through Nick Sanchez, whose 2025 victory at Atlanta gave Big Machine Racing its second career win. With Patrick Staropoli confirmed as the new full-time driver, the program is focused on developing consistency, contending for playoff positions, and ultimately chasing its first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Big Machine Racing operates as a single-car program anchored by a tight alliance with Richard Childress Racing, allowing it to punch above its weight on race day. The team’s strengths have historically shown through on tracks where driver skill, strategy, and execution outweigh raw manufacturer scale, and its breakthrough wins at Texas and Atlanta reflect that opportunistic identity.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Big Machine Racing’s most significant milestones include its formation in 2021, its first victory at Texas Motor Speedway with Tyler Reddick in May 2022, its playoff qualification with Parker Kligerman in 2023, and its second career victory at Atlanta with Nick Sanchez. The team has also navigated key organizational moments such as its relocation to the RCR campus in Welcome, North Carolina, the brief expansion to a second car in 2023, and the L1 penalty at Michigan in 2024.
Big Machine Racing Achievements and Results
Big Machine Racing has accumulated two race victories across more than 165 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with no Drivers’ Championships to its name. While the team has yet to claim a series title, its victory tally and consistent playoff appearances have established it as a credible contender within the RCR allied team structure.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Achievements
In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Big Machine Racing has recorded two victories, zero pole positions, and zero Drivers’ Championships. The team’s first win came at Texas Motor Speedway on May 21, 2022, with Tyler Reddick behind the wheel of the No. 48 Chevrolet. Its second victory came at Atlanta with Nick Sanchez, marking a memorable milestone for both driver and team. The organization has also made the playoffs through Parker Kligerman in 2023, demonstrating growing competitiveness within the series.