NASCAR: New Chevrolet car’s first driver confirmed for four races
By Asher Fair
Josh Bilicki is the only driver confirmed in Live Fast Motorsports’ lineup for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, and he is scheduled to run four races.
Just three of the 36 chartered entries still need drivers for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, but one of those three entries recently had its first part-time driver confirmed.
Live Fast Motorsports, which entered the Cup Series in 2021, have run just one entry, the No. 78 Ford, since joining the sport. Team co-owner B.J. McLeod has been the primary driver of the car, competing in all races except for the road course races and the dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway in both seasons.
For 2023, the McLeod and Matt Tifft-owned team have confirmed a manufacturer switch from Ford to Chevrolet, and they have also confirmed their first driver: Josh Bilicki.
Bilicki, who competed part-time for Spire Motorsports during the 2022 season, is set to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet part-time throughout the 2023 season.
The 27-year-old Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin native, who is set to compete with sponsorship from Zeigler Auto Group, has been confirmed for four events on the 36-race calendar, the first of which being the season’s sixth race at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, March 26.
He is also set to compete in the inaugural race at the Chicago Street Course on Sunday, July 2, the race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 6, and the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Sunday, August 13.
Interestingly, the fact that the race Michigan International Speedway is one of the four races for which Bilicki has been confirmed means that McLeod’s plan is at least somewhat different for the 2023 season. Unlike in 2021 and 2022, the 39-year-old Wauchula, Florida native will not compete in all of the non-dirt oval races on the schedule.
Live Fast Motorsports have not yet announced their driver for the season-opening Daytona 500, which is set to be broadcast live on Fox from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 19.
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Aside from the No. 78 Chevrolet, there are just two chartered entries still in need of drivers for the 2023 season, both at Rick Ware Racing: the No. 15 Ford and the No. 51 Ford. The other 33 chartered entries all have confirmed full-time drivers for next year.