B. J. McLeod Bio
Burton Darwin “B. J.” McLeod Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. Born on November 17, 1983, in Wauchula, Florida, McLeod has established himself as a competitor across NASCAR’s top three series. He co-owns Live Fast Motorsports alongside Joe Falk, fielding the No. 78 Chevrolet ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series on a part-time basis. McLeod’s journey in motorsports spans from regional racing in his youth to competing at NASCAR’s highest level.
Early Life and Background
B. J. McLeod grew up in Wauchula, Florida, where his interest in racing began at a young age. He started his motorsports career competing in go-kart and super late model events throughout the Southeast region. As a teenager, McLeod became notable for being the youngest driver in several of the divisions he entered, including the Hooters Pro Cup Series. His early experience in these developmental series helped build the foundation for his future in professional racing.
In 2000, McLeod made his first appearances in the Hooters Pro Cup, competing in races at Hickory Motor Speedway and USA International Speedway. The following year, he expanded his resume with a start in the American Speed Association National Tour at Fairgrounds Speedway, driving for Herzog Motorsports and finishing fifteenth. Although McLeod had an agreement in place for a limited NASCAR Busch Series schedule with Herzog in 2002, those plans never came to fruition.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching NASCAR’s national series, McLeod achieved significant success in regional competition. In 2004, he won the Red Eye 100, marking one of his early career victories. Two years later, he captured the Bright House Challenge Series championship during the series’ inaugural season in 2006. These accomplishments demonstrated his potential and helped position him for opportunities at higher levels of racing.
McLeod’s persistence in regional racing eventually led to his NASCAR debut. In 2010, he made his first appearance in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 9 for Germain Racing. He qualified 23rd and finished seventeenth in that inaugural event. This appearance marked the beginning of McLeod’s journey through NASCAR’s developmental series.
B. J. McLeod Career
Early Career (2010-2014)
Following his Truck Series debut, McLeod spent several years establishing himself across NASCAR’s lower divisions. In 2011, he split time between his own team, SS-Green Light Racing, and RSS Racing while maintaining a partial schedule. He continued with a similar approach in 2012, competing with RSS, Glenden Enterprises, and Hillman Racing. During these formative years, McLeod gained valuable experience while working with various organizations.
By 2013, McLeod shifted focus to developing his own team, making just one start that season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The following year, he took on start-and-park duties with SS-Green Light Racing. In 2014, McLeod expanded his racing resume with a single ARCA Racing Series start at Pocono Raceway for Venturini Motorsports, substituting for an injured John Wes Townley and finishing 27th in the No. 15 Zaxby’s Toyota.
NASCAR Xfinity Series (2015-Present)
McLeod made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2015 at Iowa Speedway with Rick Ware Racing. Brake troubles ended his day after 68 laps, resulting in a 36th-place finish. That season, he drove for multiple organizations including RWR, a partnership between SS-Green Light Racing and Young’s Motorsports, MBM Motorsports, and King Autosport. In 2016, McLeod undertook his first full-time schedule in a NASCAR national series, running the complete Xfinity campaign with his own B. J. McLeod Motorsports No. 78 car and achieving three top-twenty finishes.
The 2017 season saw McLeod rotate between the Nos. 78 and 8 cars while occasionally giving up his seat to pay drivers as he focused on strengthening his team operation. He has continued to make select Xfinity Series appearances in subsequent years while balancing his commitments in the Cup Series and his role as a team owner.
NASCAR Cup Series (2015-Present)
McLeod’s NASCAR Cup Series debut came during the 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he drove the No. 33 Chevrolet SS for Circle Sport. Two years later, he returned to the Cup Series with Rick Ware Racing for the 2017 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky, piloting the No. 51. His continued part-time driving with Ware yielded his first top-thirty finish at Kansas Speedway.
In 2019, McLeod made his Daytona 500 debut with Rick Ware Racing. Despite being involved in an early crash with teammate Cody Ware while entering pit road, he continued to race and finished nineteenth due to numerous incidents throughout the event. He went on to compete in 17 additional Cup races for Ware across their No. 51, No. 52, and No. 53 entries that season.
Live Fast Motorsports Era (2020-Present)
In May 2020, McLeod expanded his B. J. McLeod Motorsports operation to the Cup level, running the No. 78 in several races beginning with The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway. The team completed 15 races in 2020. On October 23, 2020, McLeod and Matt Tifft purchased Archie St. Hilare’s half of Go Fas Racing’s charter and formed Live Fast Motorsports. The partnership used the charter full-time from 2021 until selling it to Spire Motorsports at the end of the 2023 season.
The 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway proved to be a career highlight for McLeod. He navigated through chaotic conditions to finish initially in tenth place, and when Chris Buescher was later disqualified from second, McLeod moved up to ninth. This result marked his first top-ten finish in any of NASCAR’s top three divisions. Following the charter sale, Live Fast Motorsports scaled back to part-time operations. McLeod attempted to qualify for the 2024 Daytona 500 but fell short after finishing fourteenth in Duel 2. He led laps at Talladega that year and achieved a season-best finish of nineteenth at the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLeod has developed expertise in superspeedway racing, demonstrating his ability to navigate the pack racing conditions at Daytona and Talladega. His ninth-place finish in the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 showcased his skill in managing chaotic race situations. As both a driver and team owner, McLeod possesses strategic insight into race operations and has built experience working with limited resources while maximizing competitive opportunities.
Notable Races and Milestones
The 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 stands as McLeod’s most significant NASCAR achievement to date, delivering his first top-ten result in the Cup Series. His Daytona 500 debut in 2019, despite an early crash, represented an important milestone in his career. Leading laps at Talladega in 2024 demonstrated his ability to compete at the front on superspeedways, even with part-time equipment.
B. J. McLeod Career Wins
While McLeod has yet to secure a victory in NASCAR’s national series, his career includes notable wins in regional competition. His regional success provided the foundation for his advancement to NASCAR.
Regional Series Highlights
McLeod’s early career featured victory in the 2004 Red Eye 100, showcasing his potential as a young driver. His most significant pre-NASCAR accomplishment came in 2006 when he won the Bright House Challenge Series championship during the series’ inaugural season. This title demonstrated his ability to compete at a high level in regional touring series competition.
B. J. McLeod Family
Personal Life
B. J. McLeod is married to Jessica McLeod. He stands approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds. McLeod’s commitment to racing extends beyond his driving duties, as he has built a career that encompasses both competition and team ownership.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has presented challenges for McLeod and Live Fast Motorsports. He failed to qualify for the 2025 Daytona 500, missing the season’s biggest race. In response to the team’s part-time approach, Live Fast Motorsports announced that Katherine Legge would drive the No. 78 car in her Cup Series debut at Phoenix in March. Looking ahead, LFM plans to compete in all six superspeedway races and the Coca-Cola 600 during the 2025 season.
