BJ McLeod recently recalled missing a significant opportunity with Dale Earnhardt Jr's JR Motorsports. The story dates back to the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Michael Annett, the full-time driver for JR Motorsports, suffered a last-minute leg injury. With him unable to drive in the Credit Karma Money 250, the team began searching for a substitute driver. Dale Jr. recalled pitching McLeod's name, but a physical hurdle got in the way.

On Wednesday's episode of the "Dale Jr Download" podcast, McLeod opened up on that incident and how he was simply too large for the car's existing seat and safety liner setup. McLeod shared just how much that moment meant to him and the lengths he was willing to go to make it work.

"I was willing to drive the car without a liner. Like I would have drove that car that day sitting on the carbon."

He even joked about the desperation of the moment, adding, "David Green's (Safety Manager and Technical Inspector)the one that takes care of all of us. I would have choked him if I had to get in that car."

Eventually, JR Motorsports opted to field Austin Dillon for the race. BJ McLeod recalled that moment and said:

"I walked out there, and Austin was starting to get fitted for it. And when I walked up, (Robin) Pemberton told me that they were just worried about, you know, me not being able to ride, not having a—not having a liner."

McLeod, who was a part-time driver and owner of BJ McLeod Racing in the O'Reilly Series and Live Fast Motorsports in Cup, sold the charter owned by the latter in 2023. However, he retained ownership of the O'Reilly team.

Choosing Loyalty Over a Cup Series Opportunity

The missed seat at JR Motorsports wasn't the only time BJ McLeod faced a major career dilemma. During the same conversation with Dale Jr, McLeod revealed a much earlier crossroads where he had to choose between his professional loyalty and a shot at the top level of NASCAR.

After testing for Herzog–Jackson Motorsports, the team offered him a seat, but with one condition. They wanted McLeod to sign with their in-house agency and let go of his own agent. In an effort to make it work, McLeod offered a compromise. He said:

"I went, and I told him, I said, 'I don't mind if it's about a percentage thing. You guys can take your percentage, he'll take his percentage. I'm going to keep him, but I'm not signing with y'all—with the agency.' And I never got a phone call back, and it really just all ended right there as far as that one goes."

His decision ultimately ended his chance with the team, but McLeod has no regrets. Despite the opportunity being taken away, he remains thankful that he stayed true to the person who had supported him from the start.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Sanskriti Pastor

Edited by

Yask Kotak