One yr eliminated the sudden alternative to promote the Stay Quick Motorsports constitution, B.J. McLeod nonetheless considers it an amazing enterprise choice.
“[I’m] very pleased with the choice,” McLeod informed RACER. “If I needed to say someway, I’m happier now than I used to be a yr in the past. That call is one thing I’ll all the time be grateful we had the chance (to do) and proud we went in that path.”
McLeod and co-owner Matt Tifft offered the constitution to Spire Motorsports. In doing so, the group selected to go from a full-time operation to competing on a restricted foundation, totally on superspeedways. McLeod made 5 begins in 2024 (plus two for Carl Lengthy’s workforce) within the Cup Collection and 4 (plus one for Lengthy) within the Xfinity Collection.
“Not being on the monitor each week is difficult for (spouse) Jessica and I as a result of the NASCAR household is our household,” McLeod stated. “We miss seeing the folks. We have been on this factor for 14 years, and a variety of that was full-time seasons. So it was tough after we solely went 12 occasions this yr. It’s robust as a result of these are the folks you’re used to being round, regardless that you’re competing and typically you don’t get alongside. It’s like a household.
“We miss that facet of it, however we’ve got our targets and issues we wish to do. Identical to being strategic from 2010 to 2024 with how we raced, what we have been keen to spend and issues we’re keen to do, it’s what in the end bought us to the place of promoting the constitution final yr and being in a unique place to work towards being a better-performing workforce at no matter we’re doing. It’s going to take time. We’re going to need to be disciplined and work towards discovering the appropriate alternative to be again within the Truck or Xfinity Collection or each as homeowners. After which proceed engaged on sustaining the Cup facet, as a result of we do have good companions who’re serving to us, and we’re going to maintain constructing on that.”
McLeod has no regrets about shopping for a constitution as a result of he appreciated the path the game was taking. Stay Quick Motorsports debuted in 2021, however by the point it was offered in 2023, McLeod acknowledged that the game was shifting at a tempo that was leaving his workforce behind. The group wasn’t assembly its efficiency targets, and wasn’t financially robust sufficient to maintain up.
The shift modified McLeod’s authentic plan to stay round for a few a long time. The constitution wasn’t on the market till it was, because the market worth introduced a chance and loads of consumers. McLeod had repeatedly been made affords all through the years.
The enterprise comes first, and McLeod felt they succeeded on that facet of the game by promoting the constitution when the worth was excessive.
“After which we have been trying to flip that round into having enjoyable racing and being extra aggressive, as a result of we constructed from nothing,” he stated. “We got here all the best way out of your native Saturday evening brief monitor races to proudly owning a Cup Collection workforce. It took about 10 years to get from one to the opposite and that in itself was very profitable, and we’re happy with it. However we wished to show it was enterprise choice to purchase the constitution and attempt to construct the workforce even additional.”
On the monitor, Stay Quick didn’t run on the entrance, however they nonetheless really feel like they received. The purpose stays to run properly within the sequence, which could be finished as a aggressive open workforce. In three of his 5 begins final season, McLeod completed twenty fifth or higher.
McLeod didn’t qualify for the Daytona 500 as he was collected in a crash in his qualifying race, however he felt the workforce confirmed the flexibility to construct a quick automotive with out assist. He led 5 laps at Talladega Superspeedway and one lap within the second race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega.
McLeod and Entrance Row ran a part-time Cup schedule as an open workforce in 2024. He believes having the liberty to only out and race was an element at weekends like Talladega, the place he led 5 laps (above). Motorsport Photographs
“We ran on the lead lap in any respect the races,” McLeod identified. “We have been within the lead pack on the races and undoubtedly had our greatest efficiency race over race that we’ve ever had as a Cup Collection workforce.”
The efficiency could be tied into McLeod feeling freer and having extra enjoyable and not using a constitution. There have been no worries concerning the factors, and though the workforce was by no means nervous about being one of many backside three constitution groups (and run the danger of getting NASCAR take the constitution again), factors did weigh on McLeod & Co.
This yr, McLeod was capable of go to the racetrack and do what he appreciated, and race as onerous as he wished. The one concern was efficiency.
“I feel I had forgotten what that’s like,” McLeod stated.
Not since 2010 had he received a race and pushed and not using a fear. And that was a brilliant late mannequin race. However these have been the times of driving for actually good automotive homeowners or his dad and mom, all of whom had a ‘don’t fear, we’ll determine it out’ angle. McLeod raced that means from age 13 by means of 26 and received over 100 tremendous late mannequin wins and 22 championships.
“Then I’m going to NASCAR, and I’ve to be a businessman and a driver,” McLeod stated. “Don’t get me incorrect, there have been a variety of races in that point that I drove as onerous as I might, and we bought every part we might. However there have been additionally a variety of races that I needed to make selections based mostly on ensuring I might cowl payroll for the individuals who deal with us and ensuring we have been maintaining tools collectively so we made it by means of the offseason. There have been a variety of issues blended into it.
“Once I go to the racetrack now, I don’t fear about something. It’s been enjoyable to go and drive a Cup automotive and know that Jessica and I, with all the good folks we’ve been surrounded by, put that collectively.”
Proudly owning a constitution or not, McLeod and his workforce usually are not going wherever. Sure, issues look totally different right now than he would have anticipated, however the job of competing in NASCAR on the highest stage hasn’t modified. Because the work to do this to the very best of their capacity continues, there’s someplace else McLeod is discovering velocity – and sharing it with everybody else.
Be looking out for the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster, which is about to open in Tennessee within the spring of 2025 (weather-dependent). Those that journey will be capable to management their velocity on the downhill, which implies the rider can go as quick as they need. There will probably be limiters to maintain riders from hitting these in entrance of them.
“However it’s a freefall when you get to the highest,” McLeod stated. “It’s a extremely cool idea. Ours is particular as a result of it’s the primary racing coaster within the U.S. that you may go there with whoever you’d like and get pulled up on the identical time, let go, and see who will get to the underside the quickest. It’s a cool enterprise.”
