Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images

Matt Tifft Ready to Go Racing Again

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

After a long offseason, NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers like Matt Tifft are waiting for the chance to hit the track. Tifft has transitioned from one powerhouse team, Joe Gibbs Racing, to another, Richard Childress Racing. Tifft joins fellow competitor Daniel Hemric at the organization.

Tifft’s move to Richard Childress Racing marks a return to Chevrolet. He last competed in a Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2014 for B.J. McLeod Motorsports.

When the Xfinity Series takes to the track at Daytona International Speedway, Tifft will be behind the wheel of the No. 2 Nexteer Chevrolet Camaro SS. Last year in the Hinckley, OH native’s first full season, he earned two top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. Tifft also made the Playoffs, despite being a rookie. He ultimately finished seventh in the final points standings.

“The biggest thing when you join a new team is all the prep work you have to do,” Tifft explained. “It’s one thing to get everything set and rolling, but it’s another to actually get to the racetrack and get to work. That’s when the performance part comes into play. I’m excited to be going to Daytona with the amount of success RCR has had there in the past. The organization has had really strong cars at superspeedways in years past, so that’s a huge confidence booster going in. It seems like forever since we’ve been racing and while it’s been fun getting to know everyone at RCR, I’m ready to get going and get racing again.”

In five Restrictor Plate races, Tifft has earned two top-10 finishes, both at Talladega. At the “World Center of Racing,” he has a best career finish of 11th. Tifft also has three Restrictor Plate starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with a best finish of ninth at Talladega.

Now Tifft will prepare to perform in the PowerShares QQQ 300 on Saturday afternoon.

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Seth Eggert has followed NASCAR his entire life. Seth is currently pursuing a writing career and is majoring in Communications and Journalism. He is an avid iRacer and video gamer. Seth also tutors students at Mitchell Community College in multiple subjects. He has an Associate's Degree in History.