Live Fast Motorsports Overview
Live Fast Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. Founded in 2020 and based in Mooresville, North Carolina, the team is owned by driver B. J. McLeod and Joe Falk, with Jessica McLeod serving as CEO. The organization fields the No. 78 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and operates in a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
Despite being a relatively young organization, Live Fast Motorsports has built a recognizable presence on the Cup Series grid by fielding cars in selected events, including superspeedways and marquee races such as the Coca-Cola 600. The team continues to balance owner-driver ambitions with a part-time schedule that emphasizes strategic race selection.
Founding and Organizational Origins
On May 13, 2020, B. J. McLeod announced that his existing organization, B. J. McLeod Motorsports, would expand to compete part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series with him behind the wheel. The announcement marked the beginning of McLeod’s effort to elevate his operation from lower national series into NASCAR’s premier division.
On October 23, 2020, McLeod partnered with former Cup Series driver Matt Tifft and businessman Joe Falk to acquire the charter from Go Fas Racing. Tifft, who had stepped away from full-time competition due to health issues in 2019, joined the ownership group to help launch the new venture. On November 20, 2020, the team officially unveiled its name, Live Fast Motorsports, and confirmed it would continue using the number 78.
Although McLeod’s prior teams had primarily run Chevrolet equipment, the Cup Series operation initially campaigned Fords. The new ownership structure, charter acquisition, and Mooresville base established the foundation for the team’s entry into top-level NASCAR competition.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Series Competition
Live Fast Motorsports transitioned into the NASCAR Cup Series by leveraging its newly acquired charter and a rotating cast of drivers to gain track experience. The team targeted a mix of restrictor-plate events, road courses, and high-profile races to maximize visibility while operating on a limited budget.
Through technical partnerships and a willingness to share driving duties, the team built operational experience during its formative seasons. The organization’s partnership with established teams helped it develop race-day procedures, pit strategy, and car preparation methods suited to Cup-level competition.
Live Fast Motorsports Competitive Journey
Since its 2021 debut at the Daytona 500, Live Fast Motorsports has steadily built a Cup Series presence through part-time entries and a steady rotation of drivers. The team has competed in 125 races through the 2025 YellaWood 500 at Talladega, recording zero victories, zero pole positions, and no driver’s championships.
Early Seasons and Development (2021–2022)
The No. 78 Chevrolet began the 2021 season with McLeod finishing 23rd at the Daytona 500. The team scored its first top-10 result with a ninth-place finish at the Daytona night race, marking an early competitive highlight. Additional drivers including Scott Heckert, Shane Golobic, Kyle Tilley, and Andy Lally shared seat time across road courses and special events. The team closed 2021 ranked 32nd in points.
In 2022, McLeod opened the year with a 27th-place finish at the Daytona 500. Crew chief Lee Leslie was suspended for four races after McLeod lost a wheel during the Talladega event, prompting team engineer Christopher Stanley to step into the crew chief role at Dover. McLeod’s career-best seventh-place finish came at the rain-delayed Daytona summer race, and the No. 78 ended the season 36th in points.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Cup Series (2023)
On December 1, 2022, Live Fast Motorsports announced a manufacturer switch from Ford to Chevrolet for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. McLeod opened the year with a 30th-place result at the Daytona 500, while Josh Bilicki, Anthony Alfredo, and Sheldon Creed added to the team’s shared driving rotation. The No. 78 again finished 36th in the final standings.
On September 16, 2023, the team sold its charter to Spire Motorsports for $40 million, signaling a major organizational shift. In November 2023, co-owner Matt Tifft departed to pursue other opportunities, leaving McLeod and Falk as the principal owners heading into the following season.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
For the 2024 season, McLeod attempted to make the Daytona 500 but failed to qualify after finishing fourteenth in Duel 2. He ran a total of five races during the year, and the No. 78 finished 39th in the owner’s points standings. On December 19, 2024, the team announced a focused 2025 schedule built around all six superspeedway races and the Coca-Cola 600.
During the 2025 season, McLeod failed to qualify for the Daytona 500. On March 3, 2025, Live Fast Motorsports announced that British racing driver Katherine Legge would make her Cup Series debut driving the No. 78 at Phoenix. The team continues to operate from Mooresville under the leadership of McLeod, Falk, and CEO Jessica McLeod.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Live Fast Motorsports focuses on selective race entries that favor superspeedways, drafting tracks, and high-visibility events where pack racing can elevate mid-pack equipment. The team’s technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing provides additional engineering support, while its owner-driver structure keeps operating costs lean and decision-making centralized.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The team’s most notable milestones include its first top-10 Cup finish at the 2021 Daytona night race, McLeod’s career-best seventh-place result at the 2022 Daytona summer race, and the 2023 manufacturer switch to Chevrolet. The 2023 sale of its charter to Spire Motorsports marked a defining organizational turning point, while the 2025 addition of Katherine Legge signaled a renewed competitive direction.
Live Fast Motorsports Achievements and Results
Since its 2021 debut, Live Fast Motorsports has competed in 125 NASCAR Cup Series races without recording a victory, pole position, or driver’s championship. The team’s achievements are defined by competitive single-race results and its ability to remain active on the Cup grid as a young, independent operation.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
The team’s most significant Cup Series highlight is its first top-10 finish, recorded with a ninth-place result at the 2021 Daytona night race. McLeod added a career-best seventh-place finish at the rain-delayed 2022 Daytona summer race, reinforcing the organization’s strength at superspeedway events. The team’s shift to Chevrolet in 2023 and its focused 2025 schedule around superspeedways and the Coca-Cola 600 reflect its continued pursuit of competitive highlights at premier tracks.