Matt_Tifft

Matt Tifft

Matt Tifft

American racing driver (born 1996)


Matthew Kenneth Tifft (born June 26, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver and former team owner. He currently competes part-time in the Super Late Models, driving the No. 36 Chevrolet SS for Dan Fredricksonn Racing. In 2020, with his racing career in question due to a past brain tumor and a diagnosis of epilepsy, he became part owner of Live Fast Motorsports with B. J. McLeod & Joe Falk, becoming the youngest team owner in NASCAR Cup Series history. Tifft also was named to the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 Class. Medical issues sidelined Tifft as a driver from the end of 2019 until the end of 2023 season.

Quick Facts Born, Height ...

Racing career

Early career (2007–2010)

In the fall of 2007, Tifft had his first opportunity to race in a go-kart at Barberton Speedway in Norton, Ohio. He was coached by Kevin Harter of CRP Racing. In 2009, he made his first divisional and national level go kart schedule, under Beasley Motorsports, being coached by Gary Lawson. During this season, Tifft would win two national-level victories. In 2010, Tifft transitioned from karts to asphalt and dirt super late models, with the help of Josh Richards, Dale McDowell, Clint Smith, Benny Gordon, and Tim Schendel.

Stock car racing (2011–present)

2011 marked Tifft's first full year in stock cars, as he compiled two super late model victories and had multiple top-5 finishes. Along with the work with Schendel and Gordon, Tifft also raced a significant number of races with BJ McLeod Motorsports. In 2012, Tifft won the Rookie of the Year title in the ARCA Midwest Tour.[1] In addition, Tifft finished the season with 5th in points overall.

In 2013, Tifft joined the Win-Tron Racing team[2] to race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, as well as select ARCA Series races.

In 2014, Tifft signed with Ken Schrader Racing to run select ARCA and K&N East races.[3] Tifft also made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, finishing 8th.[4]

On November 14, 2014, it was announced that Tifft would be running a 6-race schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports for the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.[5]

Tifft made his Xfinity Series debut in 2015 with Joe Gibbs Racing, finishing 10th.[6] The following year, Tifft was then signed by JGR to drive the No. 18 in 13 races.[7] Tifft drove 3 races with JGL Racing driving the No. 24 in the Xfinity Series, before driving for JGR. Tifft also joined Red Horse Racing to drive the No. 11 in the Truck Series.[8]

Tifft sustained a disc condition in his back in 2016, and on recommendation of his doctor, sat out the American Ethanol E15 250.[9] Sam Hornish Jr. subbed for him and ended up winning the race.[10] Tifft eventually underwent surgery for a low-grade glioma in his brain.[11] On September 12, 2016, NASCAR officials cleared Tifft to return to racing.[12]

On November 4, 2016, it was announced that Tifft would drive full-time in JGR's No. 19 entry in 2017, competing for the Rookie of the Year.

Tifft's No. 19 Xfinity Series car at Road America in 2017

Tifft had not scored a top five in 2017, but at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on August 12, 2017, he finished a career best third place. On August 27, 2017, Tifft came within two laps of his first Xfinity Series victory at the season's annual trip to Road America. Tifft was leading on the penultimate lap when a fast-closing Jeremy Clements hooked Tifft in Turn 14, spinning both cars out within sight of the finish line. Tifft would ultimately finish 3rd behind Clements and Michael Annett, tying his Mid-Ohio finish.

On October 5, 2017, it was announced that Tifft had signed a multi-year deal to drive the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing starting in 2018.[13]

On November 27, 2018, it was announced that Tifft would drive the Front Row Motorsports No. 36 Ford Mustang GT in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and compete for 2019 Rookie of the Year honors.[14] Tifft selected 36 as his racing number to honor his mentor Ken Schrader, who raced with that number in the Winston Cup Series from 2000 to 2002.[15] Prior to the Martinsville race, Tifft was rushed to the hospital after suffering a seizure and blacking out in the team hauler, forcing Matt Crafton to take over the No. 36 for the race.[16] As a result of the seizure, he missed the rest of the 2019 season as John Hunter Nemechek substituted in the No. 36 for the final three races.[17] On November 13, 2019, he and FRM parted ways as Tifft intended to focus on his health and could not commit to a full-time 2020 schedule.[18]

On October 23, 2020, Tifft and B. J. McLeod purchased Archie St. Hilare's half of Go Fas Racing's charter. Tifft, McLeod, and Joe Falk will use the charter full-time in 2021 while Go Fas Racing will scale down to a part-time schedule.[19] When the team was formed as Live Fast Motorsports, Tifft would later say in an interview that part of the reason he decided to move to team ownership was because of the uncertainty over continuing his racing career due to his health issues, and his desire to continue his involvement in the sport. He also confirmed in the interview that doctors advised him to retire after 2019, because of his health issues. Tifft was the youngest Cup Series team owner in 2021 at age 24. Because of this achievement, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2022.[20]

Personal life

Tifft was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, and grew up with brother Morgan and sister Maggie in Hinckley, Ohio. He graduated from Highland High School in nearby Granger, Ohio.[21] He currently attends school at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Business Management. He is a fan of the Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Tifft has attended several Indians games and threw the first pitch at an Indians game in 2018.[22] Tifft also ran an Indians Fanatics car at his home track at Mid-Ohio.[23]

On July 1, 2016, Tifft underwent surgery to remove a low-grade benign brain tumor. The tumor was discovered during treatment of a back injury.[24]

Tifft became engaged in the offseason following the 2018 season.[25]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Monster Energy Cup Series

More information Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results, Year ...
Daytona 500
More information Year, Team ...

Xfinity Series

More information NASCAR Xfinity Series results, Year ...

Camping World Truck Series

More information NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results, Year ...

K&N Pro Series East

More information NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results, Year ...

K&N Pro Series West

More information NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results, Year ...

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

More information ARCA Racing Series results, Year ...

References

  1. "Matt is Rookie of the Year- Wins Futures Race!". Matt Tifft Racing. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  2. "Win-Tron Racing Announces Full-Time NASCAR K&N Pro Series Effort With Matt Tifft". ARCA Midwest Tour. Jan 29, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  3. "Matt Tifft Joins Ken Schrader Racing For 2014". ARCA Midwest Tour. Dec 19, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  4. "Matt Tifft's Worthy Performance Earns Attention In Truck Series Debut". Chris Knight via Catchfence. October 25, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  5. "Matt Tifft Joins Joe Gibbs Racing Lineup For Kentucky Speedway". Chris Knight via Catchfence. September 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  6. "Matt Tifft Joins Red Horse Racing". Motor Racing Network. April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  7. Spencer, Lee. "Matt Tifft to sit out this weekend due to back injury". Motorsport. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  8. Knight, Chris. "WHAT RUST? HORNISH STOMPS FIELD EN ROUTE TO IOWA WIN". NASCAR. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  9. "TIFFT TO UNDERGO SURGERY TO REMOVE BRAIN TUMOR". NASCAR. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  10. Utter, Jim (September 12, 2016). "Matt Tifft set to make NASCAR return after brain surgery". Motorsport.com. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  11. "RCR Re-Signs Hemric for 2018, Adds Matt Tifft to XFINITY Series Lineup". rcrracing.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  12. "Front Row Motorsports adds third team, signs Matt Tifft to drive No. 36". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media LLC. November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  13. McFadin, Daniel (November 27, 2018). "Matt Tifft to drive third car for Front Row Motorsports in 2019". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  14. "Tifft transported to local hospital, Crafton fills in for No. 36 team". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  15. Albert, Zack (October 29, 2019). "Matt Tifft sidelined for remainder of 2019 season; Nemechek to fill seat". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  16. "Matt Tifft & B.J. McLeod buy charter from Go Fas Racing". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  17. "Matt Tifft named to prestigious Forbes '30 Under 30′ list". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  18. "High school classmates cheer on Matt Tifft". www.motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  19. Pedone, Nick (12 August 2018). "NASCAR Cleveland Native Returns Home". Cleveland Sports Talk. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  20. Tifft, Matt (15 August 2018). "Matt Tifft Column: Hometown Week". Motorsports Tribune. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  21. "Matt Tifft takes first laps since brain tumor surgery". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 5, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  22. Gluck, Jeff (28 March 2019). "The Driven Life: Matt Tifft on the keto diet". JeffGluck.com.
  23. "Matt Tifft – 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  24. "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  25. "Matt Tifft – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  26. "Matt Tifft – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  27. "Matt Tifft – 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  28. "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  29. "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  30. "Matt Tifft – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  31. "Matt Tifft – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  32. "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  33. "Matt Tifft – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  34. "Matt Tifft – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  35. "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  36. "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  37. "Matt Tifft – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  38. "Matt Tifft – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  39. "Matt Tifft – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  40. "Matt Tifft – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  41. "Matt Tifft – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 15, 2017.

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