SPARTA, Kentucky – In perspective, the last two NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) races at Iowa Speedway and Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for B.J. McLeod Motorsports have felt like wins.
With an 11th place finish for BJMM driver Tommy Joe Martins at Iowa Speedway two weeks ago, last weekend, team principal and driver B.J. McLeod also finished 11th at the World Center of Racing easily propelling the sophomore XFINITY Series team into the spotlight.
On deck, the Mooresville, N.C. team heads to Kentucky Speedway eyeing another round of solid finishes through the series’ gruesome summer stretch.
“Iowa and Daytona have really felt like victories for us,” said McLeod who earned back-to-back career best finish himself in two consecutive races. “I’m really proud on how hard this team has worked, especially through adversity.
“Bringing back race cars in one piece have allowed the guys more time to prepare cars for upcoming races where we hope we can continue this solid climb through the points ladder. Hopefully, we can have another good weekend at Kentucky Speedway.
While McLeod returns to the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet this weekend, the team is happy to welcome Angela Ruch (Cope) who will drive the team’s No. 78 Chevrolet inSaturday’s Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
McLeod will be sponsored by longtime BJMM partner CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts, KeenParts.com.
“We’re pleased and excited to be back on board with BJ McLeod and the No. 8 Chevrolet at Kentucky Speedway this weekend,” said Keen Parts executive TJ Keen. “We’ve long been supporters of the underfunded teams and are happy to see BJ McLeod Motorsports making such great strides in only their second year in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.”
Ruch’s return to the XFINITY Series for the first time since 2012 will be backed by Give a Child a Voice.
Aimed at creating a campaign that launches a national movement of support of Children, Give a Child a Voice focuses on children circumstances they do not ask for, but they often find themselves a victim of.
From bullying, child abduction, child abuse and life threating illnesses, Give a Child a Voice is about communities coming together for children so they may find their voice and their stories to heal and or have the courage to get the help they need and not allow these circumstances to define them.
Joining Ruch’s effort this weekend at Kentucky with giveachildavoice.us include supporters FDS, Poole Anderson Construction, Guardian Glass, United Auto Auctions, Alvold Polk and CM Eichenlaub who will all see their decals plastered on Ruch’s No. 78 Chevrolet.
“We’re glad to have Angela in our team car this weekend,” said McLeod. “She is working with a great partner who has a great cause. She has obtainable goals for Friday night’s race. If she can go out there, run all the laps and see the checkered flag, I think it will be a good night.
“As a team, we have all the confidence in the world that she can get the job done.”
Starr, currently ranked 22nd in the XFINITY Series standings complete the three-car BJMM trio. The Houston, Tex. native is set for his sixth start in the Bluegrass state and looks to better his 20th place showing after qualifying 29th in 2015.
Last Saturday afternoon at Daytona, Starr earned his career-best XFINITY Series finish with a fifth in the postponed Coca-Cola Firecracker 250.
For Kentucky, B.J. McLeod Motorsports is also proud to welcome the additional support of B.J.’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, ICE-FROST, @CouchCrewChief, GraphicSurge Media, EPIC Racewear, MOMO Motorsport, Safecraft Safety Equipment, ZAK Products, Circle Track Wearhouse, Mechanix Wear and WIX Filters who will serve as associate marketing partners for the team’s 48th career XFINITY Series race.
The Alsco 300 (200 laps / 300 miles) is the 17th of 33 NASCAR XFINITY Series on the 2017 schedule. Practice begins on Thurs., July 6 from 2:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. A second session is set from 4:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., while a final session has been etched in from 6:00 p.m. – 6:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Fri., July 7 beginning at 4:30 p.m. The 40-car field will take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m. with live coverage on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Eastern).
Be sure to follow B.J. McLeod Motorsports on social media; Facebook.com/bjmsinc, on Instagram (@BJMcLeodMotorsports) and on Twitter @TeamBJMcLeod.
About CorvetteParts.net / KeenParts.com:
Corvettes are all they do, so whether you’re looking for a complete interior for your vintage ’58 Corvette or a performance accessory for your ’09, they have the Corvette part you need and the expertise you want. For your Corvette exterior, they got you covered bumper-to-bumper. They even have emblems, moldings, grilles, bumpers and brackets, fiberglass, exterior trim and weather stripping.
For the interior, they have steering wheels, seats, dash pads, consoles, carpeting, door panels, seat belts, interior trim and fasteners. Under the hood, they’ve got it all from air cleaners to exhaust systems, air conditioning, radiators, and valve covers all the way down to the decals and correct fasteners to bolt it all back together. For more information, please visit corvetteparts.net or call 1-844-Tom-Keen.
CovetteParts.net / KeenParts.com is small enough to give personalized service and assistance with your project, yet large enough to supply you with those hard to find specialty parts. They strive to go the extra mile to help you get your project done, be it a complete interior for your vintage ’58 Corvette or a performance accessory for your ’09 – They’ll have the Corvette parts you need and the expertise you want.
For more information about Keen Parts, please visit corvetteparts.net, Facebook.com/KeenParts or find them on Twitter (@KeenParts).
About ICE-FROST:
ICE-FROST (ice-frost.com) is a combination of environmentally safe minerals that when added to the ice in your cooler, will take the temperature down from 30° (that’s the average ice temperature in a cooler) to a frosty -10°.
Extend the life of your ice. Turn your cooler into a freezer. Made in the USA.
Follow on Twitter @Ice Frost.
About @CouchCrewChief:
Six years ago, Jonathan Gruenke, started the twitter handle @CouchCrewChief as a fun race day gag. In the following years, it has grown to include in-race updates and a motorsports blog focused on new drivers, new teams, and road crew members who sacrifice to entertain the motorsports fans.
About B. J. McLeod Motorsports:
B.J. McLeod Motorsports (BJMcLeodMotorsports.com) is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The team is owned by B. J. McLeod and wife Jessica. The team will field three Chevrolet Camaros in the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway with drivers Angela Ruch (No. 78), B.J. McLeod (No. 8) and David Starr (No. 99).
