Matt Tifft

Matt Tifft
Tifft in 2018
Born Matthew Kenneth Tifft
(1996-06-26) June 26, 1996
Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg)
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
73 races run over 4 years
Car no., team No. 2 (Richard Childress Racing)
2017 position 7th
Best finish 7th (2017)
First race 2015 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Kentucky)
Last race 2018 Kansas Lottery 300 (Kansas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 34 2
NASCAR Camping World 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 October 6, 2018.

Matthew Kenneth "Matt" Tifft (born June 26, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.

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 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 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]

Personal life

Tifft was born in Fairfax County, Virginia and grew up with his brother and sister in Hinckley, Ohio. He currently attends school at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Business Management. He is a fan of the Cleveland Indians being shown many times at Indians games and even throwing out the first pitch at a Indians game in 2018. Tifft also ran a 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.[14]

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.)

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
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 TEX PHO HOM -* -*

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 [15]
45 PHO
20		 HOM
21
2015 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota DAY
19		 ATL MAR
9		 KAN
29		 21st 327 [16]
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 West

* 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 [17]
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 [18]
10 TOL
3
11 IRP
5
2015 52 DAY MOB
6		 NJE
14*		 CHI
4		 WIN IOW
5		 IRP POC
23		 BLN 20th 1550 [19]
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 [20]
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 [21]
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. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  3. ↑ "Matt Tifft Joins Ken Schrader Racing For 2014". ARCA Midwest Tour. Dec 19, 2013. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  4. ↑ "Matt Tifft's Worthy Performance Earns Attention In Truck Series Debut". Chris Knight via Catchfence. Oct 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. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  9. ↑ Specer, 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. ↑ {{cite web|url=http://www.rcrracing.com/news-media/series/series2/2017/10/05/hemric-tifft-sign-with-rcr-xfinity-series-2018/|title=RCR Re-Signs Hemric for 2018, Adds Matt Tifft to XFINITY Series Lineup|publisher=rcrracing.com|date=October 5, 2017|accessdate=October 5, 2017}}
  14. ↑ http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/9/5/matt-tifft-brain-tumor-surgery-first-laps-in-race-car.html
  15. ↑ "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Arca Racing. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Arca Racing. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Arca Racing. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
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