Matt Tifft
Tifft atSonoma Raceway in 2019
Born	Matthew Kenneth Tifft (1996-06-26)June 26, 1996 (age 29) Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Awards	2012ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year
NASCARCup Series career
32 races run over 1 year
2019 position	31st
Best finish	31st (2019)
First race	2019Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race	2019Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
NASCARO'Reilly Auto Parts Series career
77 races run over 4 years
2018 position	6th
Best finish	6th (2018)
First race	2015VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Kentucky)
Last race	2018Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 38 2
NASCARCraftsman Truck Series career
25 races run over 3 years
2016 position	21st
Best finish	21st (2015,2016)
First race	2014Kroger 200 (Martinsville)
Last race	2016Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 9 0
Statistics up to date as of August 19, 2023.

Matthew Kenneth Tifft (born June 26, 1996) is an American professionalstock car racing driver and former team owner. He currently competes part-time in theSuper Late Models, driving the No. 36Chevrolet 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 ofLive Fast Motorsports withB. J. McLeod &Joe Falk, becoming the youngest team owner inNASCAR 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.

In the fall of 2007, Tifft had his first opportunity to race in a go-kart at Barberton Speedway inNorton, 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 ofJosh Richards, Dale McDowell, Clint Smith,Benny Gordon, andTim Schendel.

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 theARCA Midwest Tour.^[1] In addition, Tifft finished the season with fifth in points overall.

In 2013, Tifft joined theWin-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 withKen 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 eighth.^[4]

On November 14, 2014, it was announced that Tifft would be running a six-race schedule withKyle Busch Motorsports for the2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.^[5]

Tifft made hisXfinity Series debut in 2015 withJoe Gibbs Racing, finishing 10th.^[6] The following year, Tifft was then signed by JGR to drive the No. 18 in thirteen races.^[7] Tifft drove 3 races withJGL Racing driving the No. 24 in the Xfinity Series, before driving for JGR. Tifft also joinedRed 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-gradeglioma in his brain.^[11] On September 12, 2016, 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 had not scored a top five in 2017, but atMid-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 toRoad America. Tifft was leading on the penultimate lap when a fast-closingJeremy Clements hooked Tifft in Turn 14, spinning both cars out within sight of the finish line. Tifft would ultimately finish third behind Clements andMichael 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. 2Chevrolet Camaro forRichard Childress Racing starting in 2018.^[13]

On November 27, 2018, it was announced that Tifft would drive theFront Row Motorsports No. 36Ford Mustang GT in theMonster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and compete for2019 Rookie of the Year honors.^[14] Tifft selected 36 as his racing number to honor his mentorKen Schrader, who raced with that number in the Winston Cup Series from 2000 to 2002.^[15] Prior to theMartinsville race, Tifft was rushed to the hospital after suffering aseizure and blacking out in the team hauler, forcingMatt 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 asJohn Hunter Nemechek substituted in the No. 36 for the final three races.^[17] 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.^[18]

On October 23, 2020, Tifft andB. J. McLeod purchased Archie St. Hilare's half ofGo Fas Racing's charter. Tifft, McLeod, andJoe Falk used the charter full-time in 2021 while Go Fas Racing scaled down to a part-time schedule.^[19] When the team was formed asLive 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 theForbes 30 Under 30 for 2022.^[20] Tifft stepped away as owner of Live Fast prior to the2024 season, after the team sold its charter and scaled back to a part-time operation.^[21]

After working with doctors atGeorgetown University and participating in a test session atHickory Motor Speedway, Tifft returned to racing in August 2023, competing inSuper Late Models for Dan Fredricksonn Racing at Marshfield Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway.^[22] 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 theSCCA Trans-Am TA2 series.^[23]

In a video posted onX, 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."^[24]

On June 1, 2025, Tifft announced he had purchasedMansfield Motor Speedway, with the intentions of restoring the facility.^[25] Tifft had previously shown interest in reviving the track.^[26]

Tifft was born inFairfax County, Virginia, and grew up with brother Morgan and sister Maggie inHinckley, Ohio. He graduated fromHighland High School in nearbyGranger, Ohio.^[27] He currently attends school atUNC Charlotte, majoring in Business Management. He is a fan of theCleveland Guardians,Cleveland Browns, andCleveland Cavaliers. Tifft has attended several Indians games and threw the first pitch at a Guardians game in 2018.^[28] Tifft also ran an IndiansFanatics car at his home track atMid-Ohio.^[29]

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.^[30]

Tifft became engaged in the offseason following the 2018 season.^[31] Tifft married Jordan Holt in December 2019.^[32] In a 2024 interview, Tifft revealed the couple welcomed a son earlier that year.^[33]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMatt Tifft.

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

• 1996 births
• Living people
• Sportspeople from Fairfax, Virginia
• Racing drivers from Virginia
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte alumni
• NASCAR drivers
• ARCA Menards Series drivers
• Sportspeople from the Washington metropolitan area
• Kyle Busch Motorsports drivers
• Joe Gibbs Racing drivers
• Richard Childress Racing drivers
• ARCA Midwest Tour drivers
• KCMG drivers
• Daytona 500 drivers
• Coca-Cola 600 drivers
• Brickyard 400 drivers
• Southern 500 drivers

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