B.J. McLeod plans to continue Cup Series efforts in 2025

B.J. McLeod plans to continue part-time racing in his No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports entry in NASCAR’s top series in 2025 and beyond.

“I know we’ll be back at the track next year,” McLeod said in an interview on the “Let’s Go Racing with David Starr” podcast earlier this week.

McLeod has raced in seven NASCAR Cup Series races this year, only missing the Daytona 500 with his No. 78 team. McLeod attempted all superspeedway-style events at Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega while also driving MBM Motorsports’ No. 66 entry in the Coca-Cola 600 in May and Indianapolis in July. 

McLeod, who has raced in 144 NASCAR Cup Series races — the equivalent of four full-time seasons — raced in a majority of the NASCAR Cup Series events held from 2021 to 2023, all as a co-owner and primary driver with Live Fast Motorsports with a NASCAR charter. 

McLeod, and business partners Matt Tifft and Joe Falk sold their charter at the end of the 2023 season and McLeod has continued to attempt to qualify for races at superspeedway-style tracks.

“It’s definitely been fun with the Next Gen car, even though it is expensive,” McLeod said. “It’s nice that I know I can buy the same thing Hendrick has. Obviously we don’t set them up the same way, that’s a little bit difficult, but we have the same equipment.”

McLeod will not enter his No. 78 car in any more races this year, and his NASCAR Xfinity Series plans are to be determined for 2025, but the 40-year-old did say there are no plans to go full-time.

Yet, McLeod said he could see himself attempting to race in NASCAR Cup Series races at Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega for the foreseeable future.

“I think for me, I could see myself doing exactly what Brendan (Gaughan) did and running the speedways, who knows, the next 10 years, right? Like, I don’t have any end in sight, let’s put it that way,” McLeod said.

When he is not at the racetrack, McLeod said he still keeps up with racing and enjoys watching it.

As for a role in another capacity, McLeod had the opportunity to join the FOX NASCAR booth with Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer during a practice session at Talladega Superspeedway in April. McLeod said he would entertain the idea of a broadcast and driver analyst role.

“I like a challenge and I would definitely enjoy doing that to some capacity, but I’ve never been approached for it and I don’t know if it’s in the future,” McLeod said. “But I definitely have a lot of respect for all of that and would enjoy the challenge.”