Matt Tifft

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.

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 (2011–2023) 2011 marked Tifft's first full year in stock cars, as he compiled two super late model victories and had multiple top-five 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 fifth 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 eighth.

On November 14, 2014, it was announced that Tifft would be running a six-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 thirteen 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, 2016, 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 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 third 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, 2019, 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 used the charter full-time in 2021 while Go Fas Racing scaled 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. Tifft stepped away as owner of Live Fast prior to the 2024 season, after the team sold its charter and scaled back to a part-time operation.

Return to racing (2023–present)

After working with doctors at Georgetown University and participating in a test session at Hickory Motor Speedway, Tifft returned to racing in August 2023, competing in Super Late Models for Dan Fredricksonn Racing at Marshfield Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway. Tifft earned a top-five finish in his first race at Marshfield, and in two races at Golden Sands he earned a pole, and fourth and seventh place finishes.

Tifft announced that he would compete in 30 events in 2024, split between dirt late models and the SCCA Trans-Am TA2 series.

In a video posted on X, Tifft revealed he has had discussions with NASCAR regarding a comeback, and that the sanctioning body has stated that he wouldn't be cleared until "2031."

Business ventures Mansfield Motor Speedway On June 1, 2025, Tifft announced he had purchased Mansfield Motor Speedway, with the intentions of restoring the facility. Tifft had previously shown interest in reviving the track.

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 a Guardians 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. Tifft married Jordan Holt in December 2019. In a 2024 interview, Tifft revealed the couple welcomed a son earlier that year.

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 Pts Ref 2019 Front Row Motorsports 36 Ford DAY36 ATL28 LVS34 PHO20 CAL26 MAR29 TEX24 BRI27 RCH29 TAL37 DOV32 KAN21 CLT20 POC33 MCH24 SON28 CHI29 DAY9 KEN27 NHA24 POC23 GLN24 MCH25 BRI27 DAR27 IND32 LVS30 RCH20 CLT25 DOV25 TAL13 KAN25 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 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 KEN10 DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 95th 01 2016 JGL Racing 24 Toyota DAY21 ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX20 BRI23 101st 01 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota RCH33 TAL8 DOV8 CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN5 DOV CLT8 KAN TEX9 PHO HOM25 2017 19 DAY11 ATL12 LVS34 PHO12 CAL17 TEX9 BRI16 RCH14 TAL6 CLT26 DOV9 POC10 MCH26 IOW22 DAY18 KEN14 NHA11 IND11 IOW19 GLN13 MOH3 BRI17 ROA3 DAR40 RCH13 CHI6 KEN9 DOV6 CLT9 KAN8 TEX8 PHO11 HOM7 7th 2211 2018 Richard Childress Racing 2 Chevy DAY19 ATL12 LVS11 PHO7 CAL8 TEX6 BRI35 RCH4 TAL25 DOV8 CLT9 POC14 MCH16 IOW9 CHI16 DAY20 KEN11 NHA5 IOW26 GLN37 MOH4 BRI10 ROA2 DAR8 IND6 LVS36 RCH5 CLT6 DOV15 KAN6 TEX7 PHO3 HOM10 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 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 MAR8 TEX 43rd 83 45 PHO20 HOM21 2015 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota DAY19 ATL MAR9 KAN29 21st 327 Kyle Busch Motorsports 51 Toyota CLT8 DOV TEX GTW25 IOW KEN ELD21 MSP23 LVS19 TAL23 MAR TEX 54 POC8 MCH BRI CHI9 NHA PHO8 HOM 2016 Red Horse Racing 11 Toyota DAY ATL MAR KAN14 DOV12 CLT5 TEX IOW GTW KEN ELD POC BRI MCH MSP CHI12 NHA LVS15 TAL9 MAR16 TEX17 PHO8 HOM12 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 Pts Ref 2013 Win-Tron Racing 89 Chevy BRIDNQ GRE26 FIF16 RCH10 BGS17 IOW7 LGY6 COL16 IOW24 VIR15 GRE12 NHA13 DOV16 RAL23 16th 378 2014 Ken Schrader Racing 52 Dodge NSM12 DAY BRI9 GRE RCH13 IOW BGS FIF LGY NHA12 COL IOW GLN DOV19 24th 193 B. J. McLeod Motorsports 89 Chevy VIR6 GRE 2017 Jefferson Pitts Racing 27 Toyota NSM GRE BRI SBO SBO MEM BLN TMP NHA IOW GLN10 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 Pts Ref 2013 TEI Motorsports 89 Chevy PHO S99 BIR IOW L44 SON CNS IOW EVG9 SPO MMP5 SMP AAS KCR9 PHO11 21st 130 2014 41 PHO IRW S99 IOW KCR SON10 SLS CNS IOW EVG KCR MMP AAS PHO 61st 34 2015 Jefferson Pitts Racing 55 Toyota KCR IRW TUS IOW SHA SON15 SLS IOW EVG CNS MER AAS PHO 55th 29

Season still in progress 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 Pts Ref 2013 Win-Tron Racing 89 Chevy DAY MOB SLM TAL TOL5 ELK POC MCH ROA WIN CHI NJE15 POC BLN ISF MAD DSF IOW SLM KEN KAN 70th 360 2014 Ken Schrader Racing 52 Chevy DAY MOB6 SLM TAL NJE3 POC19 MCH ELK WIN CHI3 POC22 BLN ISF MAD9 DSF SLM KEN2 KAN28 17th 1820 10 TOL3 11 IRP5 2015 52 DAY MOB6 NJE14* CHI4 WIN IOW5 IRP POC23 BLN 20th 1550 Toyota NSH2 SLM TAL TOL POC10 MCH KAN15 Venturini Motorsports 55 Toyota ISF28 DSF SLM KEN 2016 15 DAY NSH SLM TAL TOL NJE POC MCH5 MAD WIN IOW IRP POC BLN ISF DSF SLM CHI 55th 425 Ranier Racing with MDM 28 Chevy KEN3 KAN 2017 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota DAY12 NSH SLM TAL TOL ELK POC MCH MAD IOW IRP POC WIN ISF 57th 335 MDM Motorsports 28 Toyota ROA15 DSF SLM CHI KEN KAN

ASA STARS National Tour (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.) ASA STARS National Tour results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pts Ref 2024 Anthony Campi Racing 57 Chevy NSM FIF HCY MAD MLW AND OWO TOL20 WIN NSV 81st 32