Matt Tifft

Matt Tifft
Matt Tifft Driver Introductions Sonoma 2019.jpg
Tifft at Sonoma Raceway in 2019
BornMatthew Kenneth Tifft
(1996-06-26) June 26, 1996 (age 25)
Fairfax, Virginia
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Awards2012 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
32 races run over 1 year
2019 position31st
Best finish31st (2019)
First race2019 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race2019 Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
77 races run over 4 years
2018 position6th
Best finish6th (2018)
First race2015 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Kentucky)
Last race2018 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 38 2
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
25 races run over 3 years
2016 position21st
Best finish21st (2015, 2016)
First race2014 Kroger 200 (Martinsville)
Last race2016 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 9 0
Statistics current as of November 17, 2019.

Matthew Kenneth Tifft (born June 26, 1996) is an American former professional stock car racing driver, and current team owner. He last competed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 36 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports until health issues cut his 2019 season short. 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 current team owner in NASCAR. Tifft also was named to the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 Class.

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. In addition, Tifft finished the season with 5th in points overall.

In 2013, Tifft joined the Win-Tron Racing team 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. Tifft also made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, finishing 8th.

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.

Tifft made his Xfinity Series debut in 2015 with Joe Gibbs Racing, finishing 10th. The following year, Tifft was then signed by JGR to drive the No. 18 in 13 races. 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.

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

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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Tifft became engaged in the offseason following the 2018 season.

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
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 01
2016 JGL Racing 24 Toyota DAY
21
ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX
20
BRI
23
101st 01
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
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

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
45 PHO
20
HOM
21
2015 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota DAY
19
ATL MAR
9
KAN
29
21st 327
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

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
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
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

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
2014 41 PHO IRW S99 IOW KCR SON
10
SLS CNS IOW EVG KCR MMP AAS PHO 61st 34
2015 Jefferson Pitts Racing 55 Toyota KCR IRW TUS IOW SHA SON
15
SLS IOW EVG CNS MER AAS PHO 55th 29

* 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
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
10 TOL
3
11 IRP
5
2015 52 DAY MOB
6
NJE
14*
CHI
4
WIN IOW
5
IRP POC
23
BLN 20th 1550
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
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
MDM Motorsports 28 Toyota ROA
15
DSF SLM CHI KEN KAN

This page was last updated at 2022-06-08 09:35 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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