BJ McLeod has secured a BJ McLeod Daytona 500 entry after Anthony Alfredo was disqualified from the race due to a failed postrace inspection. NASCAR announced the decision following the discovery of violations on Alfredo’s No. 62 car after the second Daytona Duel on February 12.
Alfredo Disqualified After Technical Infractions
Anthony Alfredo was removed from the upcoming Daytona 500 after postrace checks found both a loose transaxle cooling hose and a loose driver cooling hose on his Beard Motorsports entry. Brad Moran, NASCAR Cup Series race director, detailed the issues that led to the disqualification. Alfredo had originally secured his position as the top finisher among the three open cars during the second Duel race, making the removal a significant shift in the roster for this year’s Great American Race.
BJ McLeod Earns Spot for Live Fast Motorsports
The change allows BJ McLeod and his No. 78 car from Live Fast Motorsports to join the 2026 Daytona 500 field. This entry marks the first time the team will compete in the event since 2023, when it previously held a charter in the NASCAR Cup Series. McLeod expressed his appreciation for the chance to participate in the race:
“The opportunity to race in the Daytona 500 is something that doesn’t happen many times in life, and I will never, ever not feel incredibly grateful to take the green in one of those races,”
McLeod told Frontstretch as his No. 78 underwent inspection prior to being cleared for the race.
Open Cars Finalized for the Daytona 500
With the roster change, McLeod joins other open entries for the event, including Casey Mears, who qualified through his performance in the first Duel. The starting lineup of open cars for this year now includes Corey Heim, Justin Allgaier, Jimmie Johnson, and McLeod himself. Their entries represent some of the non-chartered teams managing to compete alongside established teams in this high-profile event.
Looking Ahead to the Great American Race
The revised Daytona 500 field highlights NASCAR’s strict adherence to technical regulations and the stakes involved for teams attempting to qualify. The incident underscores the importance of postrace inspections as the final authority for eligibility, affecting both drivers and organizations such as Beard Motorsports and Live Fast Motorsports. As the 2026 season-opener approaches, McLeod and his team will prepare to make the most of their unexpected opportunity on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
