Matt Tifft Comeback: Matt Tifft was a promising NASCAR driver. He experienced an epilepsy-related episode in 2019 before practicing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Unfortunately, this seizure ended his career. The unpleasant news stopped Tifft from driving.
Tifft’s love of sports remained. He made a major NASCAR return, but not as a driver. Instead, he co-owned Live Fast Motorsports. The team showed its strength by playing in the Cup series last year.
After six months without a seizure, Tifft drove with passengers again in May 2021. This was significant progress. He improved by racing three Late Models in Wisconsin over the weekend. He raced twice at Marshfield Speedway on Saturday and Golden Sands Speedway on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Hinkley, Ohio driver returned well. He started Sunday’s qualifying best and finished fifth, fourth, and seventh.
When thinking about his vacation, Tifft was shocked and grateful. Half a year ago, he doubted this would happen. This trip helped me find myself, my strengths, and how to return stronger and better.
We faced emotional and physical hurdles while improving. Tifft worked with his doctors to begin a “big, but worth it.” healing process.
Two days were spent testing at Hickory (N.C.) Speedway for Tifft. The test assessed his driving performance and readiness to race again.
Additional factors could go wrong on race day. Tifft remarked, “I knew I had worked hard on my body like never before in my career, but the mental challenge was still something I didn’t understand.” He called breaking that emotional barrier “really significant and a victory on its own.”
Tifft’s work is strong. He competed frequently in NASCAR Xfinity for two years with Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing. He began full-time Cup Series racing in 2019 with Front Row Motorsports’ third vehicle. Before his first seizure at Martinsville in the fall, he finished in the top 10 in 32 races.
Interestingly, Tifft had other health issues before this one. In July 2016, he had surgery to remove a minor, harmless brain tumor found during back treatment. Two months later, he excelled in the tournament.
Tifft worked hard, was daring, and loved the sport. His racing comeback is a personal victory but shows individual strength and perseverance.
