Matt Tifft
Matt Tifft | |||||||
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Tifft in 2014 | |||||||
Born |
Matthew K. Tifft June 26, 1996 Fairfax, Virginia | ||||||
NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
11 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Car no., team | No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing) | ||||||
2016 position | 101st | ||||||
Best finish | 95th (2015) | ||||||
First race | 2015 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Kentucky) | ||||||
Last race | 2016 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead) | ||||||
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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career | |||||||
25 races run over 3 years | |||||||
Truck no., team | No. 11 (Red Horse Racing) | ||||||
2016 position | 21st | ||||||
Best finish | 21st (2015, 2016) | ||||||
First race | 2014 Kroger 200 (Martinsville) | ||||||
Last race | 2016 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of November 19, 2016. |
Matthew "Matt" K. Tifft (born June 26, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing,[1] he currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. Toyota Camry for JGR. He also races in the Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse 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 amount of races with BJ McLeod Motorsports. In 2012, Tifft won the Rookie of the Year title in the ARCA Midwest Tour.[2] In addition, Tifft finished the season with 5th in points overall.
In 2013, Tifft joined the Win-Tron Racing team[3] 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.[4] Tifft also made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, finishing 8th.[5]
On November 14, 2014, it was announced that Tifft will be running a 6-race schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports for the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.[6]
Tifft made his Xfinity Series debut in 2015 with Joe Gibbs Racing, finishing 10th.[7] The following year, Tifft was then signed by JGR to drive the No. 18 in 13 races.[8] 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.[9]
Tifft sustained a disc condition in his back in 2016, and on recommendation of his doctor, sat out American Ethanol E15 250.[10] Sam Hornish Jr. subbed for him and ended up winning the race.[11] Tifft eventually underwent surgery for a low-grade glioma in his brain.[12] On September 12, NASCAR officials cleared Tifft to return to racing.[13]
On November 4, 2016, it was announced that Tifft would drive full-time in a JGR's No. entry in 2017, competing for the Rookie of the Year.
Achievements
2011
- 2 Wins
- 4 Top-5 Finishes
- 6 Top-10 Finish
2012
- ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year
- 5th Place Overall Points
2013
- 2 Top-5 Finishes
- 8 Top-10 Finishes
2014
- 2-Time Scott Rookie Challenge Award Winner (Toledo[14] & Chicagoland[15])
- 5 Top-5 Finishes
- 11 Top-10 Finishes
2015
- 3 Top-5 Finishes
- 6 Top-10 Finishes
Personal life
Tifft grew up with his siblings Morgan and Maggie in Hinckley, OH. He currently attends school at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Business Management.
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. [16]
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 |
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 | [17] | ||||||||||||||||||
45 | PHO 20 |
HOM 21 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Toyota | DAY 19 |
ATL | MAR 9 |
KAN 29 |
21st | 327 | [18] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
* 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 | [19] | |||||||||||||||||
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 | [20] | ||||||||||||||||||||
10 | TOL 3 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | IRP 5 |
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2015 | 52 | DAY | MOB 6 |
NJE 14* |
POC 10 |
MCH | CHI 4 |
WIN | IOW 5 |
IRP | POC 23 |
BLN | 20th | 1550 | [21] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toyota | NSH 2 |
SLM | TAL | TOL | 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 | KEN | KAN | -* | -* | [22] |
References
- ↑ Press Release (September 18, 2015). "Dusenberry Martin Racing Signs Matt Tifft As Game Ambassador". Charlotte, North Carolina: Catchfence.com. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ↑ "Matt is Rookie of the Year- Wins Futures Race!". Matt Tifft Racing. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft Joins Ken Schrader Racing For 2014". ARCA Midwest Tour. Dec 19, 2013. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft's Worthy Performance Earns Attention In Truck Series Debut". Chris Knight via Catchfence. Oct 25, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft Joins Kyle Busch Motorsports; To Run Six Truck Races in 2015". RACECHASER. Nov 14, 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft Joins Joe Gibbs Racing Lineup For Kentucky Speedway". Chris Knight via Catchfence. September 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "MATT TIFFT TO MAKE 13 STARTS IN XFINITY SERIES FOR JGR". NASCAR. February 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft Joins Red Horse Racing". Motor Racing Network. April 20, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
- ↑ Specer, Lee. "Matt Tifft to sit out this weekend due to back injury". Motorsport. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ↑ Knight, Chris. "WHAT RUST? HORNISH STOMPS FIELD EN ROUTE TO IOWA WIN". NASCAR. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ↑ "TIFFT TO UNDERGO SURGERY TO REMOVE BRAIN TUMOR". NASCAR. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- ↑ Utter, Jim (September 12, 2016). "Matt Tifft set to make NASCAR return after brain surgery". Motorsport.com. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ↑ "TIFFT HUSTLES TO 3rd PLACE AT TOLEDO, WINS SCOTT ROOKIE CHALLENGE AWARD". Matt Tifft Racing. May 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑ "Top 3 in the Windy City". Matt Tifft Racing. Jul 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ↑ http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/9/5/matt-tifft-brain-tumor-surgery-first-laps-in-race-car.html
- ↑ "Matt Tifft – 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Arca Racing. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ↑ "Matt Tifft − 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Arca Racing. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Matt Tifft driver statistics at Racing-Reference