By Joseph Wolkin Forbes.com | December 21, 2023
The Money Team Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series team, co-owned by legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., is preparing to enter its third part-time season in 2024.
The No. 50 team, which is managed daily by Becky Auchmoody and her husband Willy Auchmoody, ran four races in 2022. But due to a lack of sponsorship and a focus on bringing NTT IndyCar Series regular Conor Daly to Nascar, they only competed in two events in 2023. Nonetheless, in both seasons, the single-car effort qualified for the Daytona 500. Most recently, the team competed at Circuit of The Americas last March.
“We’re a mom-and-pop business at this point,” Becky said. “We don’t have a huge facility. We have a handful of employees. It’s very humbling because we’ve had so many people support us.
“To make the Daytona 500 not once, but twice, it’s really surreal.”
However, the clock is ticking to get a deal done for the 2024 Daytona 500. Thus far, BJ McLeod, David Ragan and Anthony Alfredo are entered as open cars. Jimmie Johnson will most likely enter the 500 in an open entry for Legacy Motor Club. This means the No. 50 team will have to beat at least one, if not more, cars to qualify their way into the Great American Race.
Auchmoody, a first-grade teacher in Upstate New York, has emerged as Mayweather’s main business partner with The Money Team Racing. She’s taken on an executive role, all while continuing to focus on teaching. Since the team’s inception in 2022, she’s held an owner’s license.
Becky teaches during the day, and at night, she works on managing the team. From booking hotels to working with the team’s partners to create weekend outlines, she does the behind-the-scenes work to make TMT Racing function. Her work has been sparse over the last half year, though is actively trying to put deals together.
“We are really excited to see TMT Racing continue to grow under Becky's leadership, she has been the heart of our team since day one,” Mayweather said in a statement. “Her involvement is great for Nascar and the empowerment of women in sports.”
The Money Team Racing, which has used ECR Engines in the past, is attempting to put together an entry for the 2024 Daytona 500, but nothing is finalized ahead of the new year. The team’s 2022 debut with Kaz Grala came together only 36 days before the team left for Speedweeks.
The team’s goal is to enter five to eight races in 2024, followed by the lofty goal of fielding a full-time effort with or without a charter in 2025.
“We wanted to compete in more races [in 2023], but it just didn’t work out,” she said. “We were prepared, started to get everything ready for the year and it just didn’t follow through. Every race is a learning experience for us. Every time we hit the track, we want to put forward the best effort we can.”
Becky traveled with her husband to meet with Mayweather in 2019. They met at Mayweather’s Los Angeles condo in the Ritz Carlton, just a few steps away from the Crypto.com Arena.
He Will recalled the encounter last year, "He [Mayweather] asked, ‘How much money is this going to cost me?’ I said, ‘There’s an opportunity for you to get involved in our sport with minimal expenses. I need startup money to get going, but with your fame and your social media following, we can build off of that.’ He said, ‘So it’s not going to cost me a lot of money?’ I said, ‘It can cost you whatever you want it to cost you. But I’m not sitting here saying give me 5, 10, 15 million dollars.’ He looked at me and said, ‘I respect that.’”
The trio of co-owners relies heavily on veteran crew chief Tony Eury Jr., who was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief from 2005-2009.
Mayweather himself has been busy as he continues to support those in need in Israel during the war. He just received the Champion of Isreal Award from American Friends of Magen David Adom for his efforts to send aid to Israel after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
As TMT looks to secure partnerships for 2024, the two New York-based co-owners are ready for the challenge ahead. There are only 59 days until the 63rd running of the Daytona 500.
Joseph Wolkin
