Matt Tifft Breaks Silence On NASCAR Return Possibility After Medical Issues

Matt Tifft has spoken publicly about his possible return to NASCAR.

Back in 2019, his racing career came to an unexpected halt due to a seizure while he was driving for Front Row Motorsports. Post-seizure, Tifft was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Before his health issues, Tifft completed full seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2017 and 2018, where he made a name for himself with consistent top-10 finishes. However, after the diagnosis, Tifft redirected his focus, co-owning Live Fast Motorsports from 2020 to 2023 until he and co-owner BJ McLeod sold their shares to Spire Motorsports.

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The road back to NASCAR has not been without its challenges. Tifft has undergone extensive medical consultations to ensure his safety. Sharing an update to social media, Tifft explained:

“I’ve been busy the past two years racing.

“I want to start with that because I would not be able to if it wasn’t for my medical team clearing me. I’ve spent a lot of time, effort, and money travelling around the country to get cleared by the top neurologists, upper cervical physicians, all this kind of stuff just to be sure that I was safe out there [on track], and obviously it’s not just me but other competitors.

“I wanted to make sure I did that first before I ever got on the racetrack.

“With that being said, I have talked to NASCAR, not only recently, but in previous years about what that path may look like to come back. Ultimately, they have said ‘that it is a no for right now.’

“Where that comes from is they have their own panel neurologists and physicians. I do think that from insurance and liability that NASCAR has to think about as a whole it is a bit different here. That is why other sanctioning bodies can clear me, and they cannot.”

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Although NASCAR’s medical guidelines currently prevent him from competing in any national touring series until at least 2031, Tifft remains hopeful for a compromise that might allow his involvement sooner, at lower-speed events like short track races.

He added:

“I understand it and I respect that side of it. But I have had ARCA teams, Truck teams, and Xfinity teams call me to want to go run races.

“That side frustrates me a little bit because I don’t see why an ARCA car at Salem Speedway, Winchester Speedway, Toledo Speedway, why I couldn’t go hop in that. That is an option that has been presented to me for this season.

“I hope that there is a way to figure out a middle ground for me to be able to go do races at slower speeds, almost like the 17-year-old rule. From my side of things, I’m not looking to run the Daytona 500 or anything like that right now.

“I would love to go hop in for some short track racing. We’ll see where this all leads, but as of right now, to answer the question, 2031 is what NASCAR has told to me tentatively as long as everything goes well that we’ll review at that point.”

In recent years, Tifft returned to the racing scene, albeit in a different capacity. He’s been participating in Dirt and Pavement Late Model races. He also has future plans for full-time racing in the Reveal the Hammer Series in 2025, racing with the #19 team, which will include events at Michigan’s Owosso Speedway.

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