BJ McLeod, a recognized figure in the NASCAR Cup Series, is actively seeking a return to full-time NASCAR team ownership, emphasizing the need for the right business partner. Since selling his team’s charter in 2023, McLeod has operated on a limited race schedule, with his BJ McLeod NASCAR team ownership return hinging on finding support to regain a permanent presence in the Cup Series garage.
BJ McLeod’s Journey Through NASCAR Ownership and Recent Struggles
BJ McLeod made his initial move into Cup Series ownership on October 23, 2020, alongside Matt Tifft and Joe Falk by acquiring a charter and forming Live Fast Motorsports (LFM). The team ran full schedules in 2021 and 2022, but the charter’s value skyrocketed, prompting its sale to Spire Motorsports for an estimated $40 million in September 2023.
Since selling the charter, McLeod has kept Live Fast operating on a part-time schedule. Most recently, the team has focused efforts on superspeedway events in 2024 and 2025, competing without the security of a guaranteed entry. This challenge became apparent in high-profile attempts such as the Daytona 500, where the team failed to qualify in 2025. Despite limited opportunities, LFM managed to complete 10 planned races split between McLeod and Katherine Legge, achieving a notable 16th-place finish at Atlanta in the EchoPark Automotive 400.
Speaking about the present situation, McLeod underscored his determination and the pivotal role of securing the correct partnership and business foundation in a rapidly consolidating and intensely competitive environment:
“Only a charter is very smart right now. I believe that without a doubt – the right partner (and) I’m back in right now. If I could run, if we could compete, and even me not as a driver, like if we’re going to develop one of the up-and-coming Xfinity guys or maybe take somebody that is switching rides or losing a ride in Cup that has experience, even just from a business standpoint, with the right partner, I sign tomorrow. Like I would jump right back in it.”
—BJ McLeod, Team Owner/Driver
McLeod also expanded on the risks of returning without adequate resources and support, making it clear that both financial stability and the right team are essential for meaningful competition:
“If I ever go back, I don’t want to say I’m underfunded… you cannot be underfunded and run 36th every week. Okay, like it’s not money. You have to have the money, but it’s the people. And I know that I have the people and the relationships to make that happen. And the experience of operating a charter and a race team in the Cup Series, year after year, that I am a good person to be a partner with. I just haven’t found the one.”
—BJ McLeod, Team Owner/Driver
Charter Market Tightens While McLeod Seeks Alternatives
A central barrier for McLeod’s return is charter availability, as only 36 charters exist and most are bound by extended agreements with established teams. Lately, the charter marketplace has seen significant movement: Stewart-Haas Racing’s four charters were redistributed among Front Row Motorsports, 23XI Racing, Trackhouse, and Haas Factory Team. In addition, Rick Ware Racing leased a charter to RFK Racing. Amid these developments, a pending antitrust lawsuit between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports could eventually lead to as many as six charters entering the open market, a scenario McLeod is monitoring closely.
During a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview with Davey Segal, McLeod opened up about active outreach in search of cooperative opportunities:
“This is the first time I’ve said it publicly actually. I have reached out to two different individuals just to try to get a feel for where they’re headed and what they’re thinking that could possibly be partners to put us in a position to run well. If a charter became available right now, you want to buy one, where do you even buy one? Right? Like we don’t know.”
(1:43 onwards) —BJ McLeod, Team Owner/Driver
Strategic Focus and the Road Ahead
Currently, McLeod’s concentration remains on keeping Live Fast Motorsports operational through selective part-time appearances, leveraging existing relationships and his experience within the Cup Series. The ongoing turbulence in the charter market and the possibility of legal developments could alter the landscape, offering potential routes for his full-time return. His transparent efforts to engage new partners indicate a proactive approach while the team prepares for any sudden openings.
BJ McLeod’s journey, navigating shifting alliances and the evolving NASCAR landscape, underscores both the financial and strategic challenges facing team owners who lack a guaranteed charter. As he continues to seek the right partner, McLeod stands ready to rejoin NASCAR’s top tier, should the right circumstances and support emerge for his next chapter as a team owner.
