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Manufacturer: Ford Engine: Roush Yates Engines Driver-crew chief pairings: B.J. McLeod—Frank Kerr (No. 78)
What's new: The whole team. Drivers B.J. McLeod and Matt Tifft have teamed up to form Live Fast Motorsports and it is the culmination of a relationship that began when Tifft (now 24) went to a stock-car driving school at age 12 and McLeod (now 37) was one of the instructors. McLeod will be the driver with Tifft helping run things. The team has a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing that will see them get cars, parts and pieces from the championship-caliber organization – likely in a similar vein to SHR’s alliance with Go Fas Racing in 2020. The team purchased a charter from Go Fas team owner Archie St. Hilaire’s ownership interest of Circle Sport Racing’s charter. Veteran crew chief Frank Kerr will call the shots atop the pit box.
RELATED: B.J. McLeod, Matt Tifft form Live Fast Motorsports
Team outlook: Expect some growing pains as a new team in the sport’s top series. Tifft has talked about 2021 being a "transition year" for the team to get its feet wet ahead of the 2022 debut of the Next Gen car.
Racing Insights' stats break: McLeod has made 57 Cup starts with a best finish of 19th in the 2019 Daytona 500.
B.J. McLeod, No. 78 Ford
Experience: First full-time season after four part-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series 2020 stats: 16 starts, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s 2020 final Fantasy Live ranking: 44th 2021 championship odds: 1,000-1
Outlook: This season is about laying the groundwork for the seasons to come as the organization takes shape. Tifft said in a November availability after the team was announced that they are looking to emulate Go Fas Racing "over the next year and going into future years." A finish in the top 30 of owner points would be a solid start for the organization.
RELATED: Grinding like a rock star, McLeod savors every moment in climbNASCAR.com 2021 team previews schedule
Jan. 18: 23XI Racing Jan. 19: Trackhouse Racing Team Jan. 20: Live Fast Motorsports Jan. 21: Spire Motorsports Jan. 22: JTG Daugherty Racing Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports Jan. 26: Richard Petty Motorsports Jan. 27: Roush Fenway Racing Jan. 28: Wood Brothers Racing Jan. 29: Richard Childress Racing Jan. 30: Non-chartered and teams outside the top 30 Feb. 1: Chip Ganassi Racing Feb. 2: Stewart-Haas Racing Feb. 3: Joe Gibbs Racing Feb. 4: Team Penske Feb. 5: Hendrick Motorsports