By Toby Christie (Follow on Twitter @Toby_Christie)
The NASCAR news carousel has been flooded lately with teams closing down or shrinking going into 2019. Thursday, BJ McLeod Motorsports announced that they will actually be expanding for the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
The team which fielded two cars in 2018, will now be a three-car organization as it has moved into a brand-new race shop in Mooresville, NC this offseason.
According to a press release, 21-year-old Vinnie Miller will drive the team’s flagship No. 78 machine. Miller has a multi-year agreement with the race team, which started late last season.
“Vinnie did a great job coming on board the last six races of last year,” team owner BJ McLeod said. “We are ready to repeat and this time, it will be for a full season.”
Joining Miller, is another youngster Matt Mills.
Mills, 22, will climb behind the wheel of the No. 8 car for the full-season.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Matt again this year,” said McLeod. “He is a very hard working young man with lots of talent. Our goal for the year is to work together to create a solid foundation for this season and beyond.”
The young duo of drivers for the team have combined for just 45 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in their early careers.
The team will be supported by sponsorship from JF Electric and Thompson Electric.
BJMM’s third machine will sport the No. 99 and it will feature a rotating roster of drivers throughout the 2019 season. Listed in the release as drivers for the No. 99 are McLeod, Tommy Joe Martins and JA Avila Jr.
The release mentions that there are races up for grabs for any other drivers who may become available throughout the season.
BJ McLeod Motorsports has run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2016. The team’s best finish to date was a fifth-place effort by David Starr at Talladega Superspeedway in 2017.
