Matt Tifft

Matthew Kenneth "Matt" Tifft (born June 26, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 36 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports. Tifft is currently taking a break from racing due to health issues he suffered at the end of the 2019 season.

Matt Tifft
Tifft in 2018
Born	Matthew Kenneth Tifft (1996-06-26) June 26, 1996 Fairfax, Virginia
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Awards	2012 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
32 races run over 1 year
2019 position	31st
Best finish	31st (2019)
First race	2019 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race	2019 Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
77 races run over 4 years
2018 position	6th
Best finish	6th (2018)
First race	2015 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Kentucky)
Last race	2018 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 38 2
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
25 races run over 3 years
2016 position	21st
Best finish	21st (2015, 2016)
First race	2014 Kroger 200 (Martinsville)
Last race	2016 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 9 0
Statistics current as of November 17, 2019.

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, 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, he and FRM parted ways as Tifft intended to focus on his health and could not commit to a full-time 2020 schedule.[18]

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.[19] He currently attends school at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Business Management. He is a fan of the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Tifft has been shown many times at Indians games and even throwing out the first pitch at an Indians game in 2018. Tifft also ran an Indians Fanatics car at his home track at Mid-Ohio.

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.[20]

Tifft became engaged in the offseason following the 2018 season.[21]

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

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	MENCC	Pts	Ref
2019	Front Row Motorsports	36	Ford	DAY 36	ATL 28	LVS 34	PHO 20	CAL 26	MAR 29	TEX 24	BRI 27	RCH 29	TAL 37	DOV 32	KAN 21	CLT 20	POC 33	MCH 24	SON 28	CHI 29	DAY 9	KEN 27	NHA 24	POC 23	GLN 24	MCH 25	BRI 27	DAR 27	IND 32	LVS 30	RCH 20	CLT 25	DOV 25	TAL 13	KAN 25	MAR	TEX	PHO	HOM	31st	352	[22]

Daytona 500

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
2019	Front Row Motorsports	Ford	33	36

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	NXSC	Pts	Ref
2015	Joe Gibbs Racing	20	Toyota	DAY	ATL	LVS	PHO	CAL	TEX	BRI	RCH	TAL	IOW	CLT	DOV	MCH	CHI	DAY	KEN	NHA	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI	ROA	DAR	RCH	CHI	KEN 10	DOV	CLT	KAN	TEX	PHO	HOM	95th	0^1	[23]
2016	JGL Racing	24	Toyota	DAY 21	ATL	LVS	PHO	CAL	TEX 20	BRI 23																											101st	0^1	[24]
	Joe Gibbs Racing	18	Toyota								RCH 33	TAL 8	DOV 8	CLT	POC	MCH	IOW	DAY	KEN	NHA	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI	ROA	DAR	RCH	CHI	KEN 5	DOV	CLT 8	KAN	TEX 9	PHO	HOM 25
2017		19		DAY 11	ATL 12	LVS 34	PHO 12	CAL 17	TEX 9	BRI 16	RCH 14	TAL 6	CLT 26	DOV 9	POC 10	MCH 26	IOW 22	DAY 18	KEN 14	NHA 11	IND 11	IOW 19	GLN 13	MOH 3	BRI 17	ROA 3	DAR 40	RCH 13	CHI 6	KEN 9	DOV 6	CLT 9	KAN 8	TEX 8	PHO 11	HOM 7	7th	2211	[25]
2018	Richard Childress Racing	2	Chevy	DAY 19	ATL 12	LVS 11	PHO 7	CAL 8	TEX 6	BRI 35	RCH 4	TAL 25	DOV 8	CLT 9	POC 14	MCH 16	IOW 9	CHI 16	DAY 20	KEN 11	NHA 5	IOW 26	GLN 37	MOH 4	BRI 10	ROA 2	DAR 8	IND 6	LVS 36	RCH 5	CLT 6	DOV 15	KAN 6	TEX 7	PHO 3	HOM 10	6th	2254	[26]

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	NCWTC	Pts	Ref
2014	B. J. McLeod Motorsports	0	Chevy	DAY	MAR	KAN	CLT	DOV	TEX	GTW	KEN	IOW	ELD	POC	MCH	BRI	MSP	CHI	NHA	LVS	TAL	MAR 8	TEX				43rd	83	[27]
		45																						PHO 20	HOM 21
2015	Venturini Motorsports	25	Toyota	DAY 19	ATL	MAR 9	KAN 29																				21st	327	[28]
	Kyle Busch Motorsports	51	Toyota					CLT 8	DOV	TEX	GTW 25	IOW	KEN	ELD 21				MSP 23			LVS 19	TAL 23	MAR	TEX
		54													POC 8	MCH	BRI		CHI 9	NHA					PHO 8	HOM
2016	Red Horse Racing	11	Toyota	DAY	ATL	MAR	KAN 14	DOV 12	CLT 5	TEX	IOW	GTW	KEN	ELD	POC	BRI	MCH	MSP	CHI 12	NHA	LVS 15	TAL 9	MAR 16	TEX 17	PHO 8	HOM 12	21st	211	[29]

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	NKNPSEC	Pts	Ref
2013	Win-Tron Racing	89	Chevy	BRI DNQ	GRE 26	PEN 16	RCH 10	BGS 17	IOW 7	LGY 6	COL 16	IOW 24	VIR 15	GRE 12	NHA 13	DOV 16	RAL 23			16th	378	[30]
2014	Ken Schrader Racing	52	Dodge	NSM 12	DAY	BRI 9	GRE	RCH 13	IOW	BGS	FFL	LGY	NHA 12	COL	IOW	GLN			DOV 19	24th	193	[31]
	B. J. McLeod Motorsports	89	Chevy														VIR 6	GRE
2017	Jefferson Pitts Racing	27	Toyota	NSM	GRE	BRI	SBO	SBO	MEM	BLN	TMP	NHA	IOW	GLN 10	LGY	NJM	DOV			50th	34	[32]

K&N Pro Series West

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	NKNPSWC	Pts	Ref
2013	TEI Motorsports	89	Chevy	PHO	S99	BIR	IOW	L44	SON	CNS	IOW	EVG 9	SRP	MMP 5	SMP	AAS	KCR 9	PHO 11	21st	130	[33]
2014		41		PHO	IRW	S99	IOW	KCR	SON 10	SLS	CNS	IOW	EVG	KCR	MMP	AAS	PHO		61st	34	[34]
2015	Jefferson Pitts Racing	55	Toyota	KCR	IRW	TUS	IOW	SHA	SON 15	SLS	IOW	EVG	CNS	MER	AAS	PHO			55th	29	[35]

^* 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.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	ARSC	Pts	Ref
2013	Win-Tron Racing	89	Chevy	DAY	MOB	SLM	TAL	TOL 5	ELK	POC	MCH	ROA	WIN	CHI	NJE 15	POC	BLN	ISF	MAD	DSF	IOW	SLM	KEN	KAN	70th	360	[36]
2014	Ken Schrader Racing	52	Chevy	DAY	MOB 6	SLM	TAL		NJE 3	POC 19	MCH	ELK	WIN	CHI 3		POC 22	BLN	ISF	MAD 9	DSF	SLM	KEN 2	KAN 28		17th	1820	[37]
		10						TOL 3
		11													IRP 5
2015		52		DAY	MOB 6					NJE 14*			CHI 4	WIN	IOW 5	IRP	POC 23	BLN							20th	1550	[38]
			Toyota			NSH 2	SLM	TAL	TOL		POC 10	MCH											KAN 15
	Venturini Motorsports	55	Toyota																ISF 28	DSF	SLM	KEN
2016		15		DAY	NSH	SLM	TAL	TOL	NJE	POC	MCH 5	MAD	WIN	IOW	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	DSF	SLM	CHI				55th	425	[39]
	Ranier Racing with MDM	28	Chevy																			KEN 3	KAN
2017	Joe Gibbs Racing	18	Toyota	DAY 12	NSH	SLM	TAL	TOL	ELK	POC	MCH	MAD	IOW	IRP	POC	WIN	ISF								57th	335	[40]
	MDM Motorsports	28	Toyota															ROA 15	DSF	SLM	CHI	KEN	KAN

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 Kyle Busch Motorsports; To Run Six Truck Races in 2015". RACECHASER. Nov 14, 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
6. "Matt Tifft Joins Joe Gibbs Racing Lineup For Kentucky Speedway". Chris Knight via Catchfence. September 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
7. "MATT TIFFT TO MAKE 13 STARTS IN XFINITY SERIES FOR JGR". NASCAR. February 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
8. "Matt Tifft Joins Red Horse Racing". Motor Racing Network. April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
9. Spencer, Lee. "Matt Tifft to sit out this weekend due to back injury". Motorsport. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
10. Knight, Chris. "WHAT RUST? HORNISH STOMPS FIELD EN ROUTE TO IOWA WIN". NASCAR. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
11. "TIFFT TO UNDERGO SURGERY TO REMOVE BRAIN TUMOR". NASCAR. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
12. Utter, Jim (September 12, 2016). "Matt Tifft set to make NASCAR return after brain surgery". Motorsport.com. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
13. "RCR Re-Signs Hemric for 2018, Adds Matt Tifft to XFINITY Series Lineup". rcrracing.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
14. "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.
15. McFadin, Daniel (November 27, 2018). "Matt Tifft to drive third car for Front Row Motorsports in 2019". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
16. "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.
17. 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.
18. "Matt Tifft leaves Front Row Motorsports to focus on health". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
19. "High school classmates cheer on Matt Tifft". www.motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
20. "Matt Tifft takes first laps since brain tumor surgery". nascar.com. NASCAR. September 5, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
21. Gluck, Jeff. "The Driven Life: Matt Tifft on the keto diet". JeffGluck.com.
22. "Matt Tifft – 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
23. "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
24. "Matt Tifft – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
25. "Matt Tifft – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
26. "Matt Tifft – 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
27. "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
28. "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
29. "Matt Tifft – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
30. "Matt Tifft – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
31. "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
32. "Matt Tifft – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
33. "Matt Tifft – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
34. "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
35. "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
36. "Matt Tifft – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
37. "Matt Tifft – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
38. "Matt Tifft – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
39. "Matt Tifft – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
40. "Matt Tifft – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 15, 2017.

External links

• Official website
• Matt Tifft driver statistics at Racing-Reference