Tifft hospitalized prior to first Martinsville practice
NASCAR Cup Series driver Matt Tifft was transported to a local hospital Saturday morning and will sit out all track activity today.
Tifft, 23, suffered a "serious medical issue" prior to the start of Saturday morning's practice at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, sources confirmed to Motorsport.com.
Front Row Motorsports officials confirmed Tifft was taken first to the track's infield care center and then transported to Martinsville General Hospital. He would be evaluated there to determine whether he needed to go to a different facility.
The team said Tifft would not participate in any further track activity today and his status for the remainder of the weekend was unclear.
Truck Series playoff driver Matt Crafton was tapped to serve as Tifft's substitute driver and got into his No. 36 Ford about 15 minutes into the first 50-minute session.
Tifft had missed final practice at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway with symptoms of vertigo but was able to race the next day.
So far in his rookie Cup season, Tifft has one top-10 finish in 32 starts and ranked 30th in the series standings.
In 2016, Tifft had successful surgery for the removal of a low-grade glioma in his brain.
According to a team statement, Tifft was evaluated and released from a local hospital Saturday afternoon and is returning home. The team said it will provide further updates "when appropriate."
Previous article
NASCAR Cup/Trucks Martinsville race weekend schedule
Next article
Joey Logano tops first Cup practice; Elliott changes engines
About this article
| Series | NASCAR Cup |
| Event | Martinsville II |
| Drivers | Matt Tifft |
| Author | Jim Utter |
From the archive: Dale Earnhardt’s final Autosport interview
The death of Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500 shocked NASCAR to the core. At the Daytona 24 Hours, two weeks before his fatal accident, ‘The Intimidator’ shared his expectations of challenging for an eighth Cup title with JONATHAN INGRAM, in an article first published in the 15 February 2001 issue of Autosport magazine. Little did we know then what tragedy would unfold…
The lasting NASCAR legacy after Dale Earnhardt’s death
On February 18, 2001, seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt – the fearless ‘Intimidator’ – was in his element at Daytona International Speedway. While his own DEI team’s cars ran 1-2 towards the finish line, his famed #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo was playing rear gunner to block any late runs from the chasing pack. As the cars tore through Turns 3 and 4 on that fateful final lap, Earnhardt maintained the strongarm tactics that encapsulated his persona… but his actions in those moments sadly proved to be his last.
Inspired by Pitbull, the “revolution” sweeping through NASCAR
The NASCAR Cup Series is changing. Whether it be the gradual morphing out the seasoned drivers of yesterday as the next generation step up, a radical calendar shake-up featuring more road courses than ever before and the prospect of an all-new car on the horizon, stock car racing’s highest level is nearing the end of a huge facelift.
The NASCAR storylines to watch out for in 2021
This weekend's Daytona 500 kickstarts a NASCAR Cup season that promises plenty of intrigue courtesy of new owners and a refreshed calendar. Here's what you need to know ahead of the new season…
Why Kyle Larson can't blow his big shot at redemption
From a disgraced NASCAR exile, Kyle Larson has been given a chance of redemption by the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports squad. Effectively replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is no easy billing, but Larson has every intention of repaying the team's faith...
Why Roger Penske is an American motorsport icon
In this exclusive one-on-one interview, Roger Penske reveals the inner drive that has made him not only a hugely successful team owner and businessman but also the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar. He spoke to David Malsher-Lopez.
Why NASCAR's latest second-generation champion is just getting started
Chase Elliott's late charge to the 2020 NASCAR Cup title defied predictions that it would be a Kevin Harvick versus Denny Hamlin showdown. While the two veterans are showing no signs of slowing down, Elliott's triumph was a window into NASCAR's future…
Why Kyle Larson deserves his second chance in a cancel culture
“You can’t hear me? Hey n*****” Those fateful words uttered by Kyle Larson, spoken into his esports headset on April 12, were directed at his sim racing spotter – but instead they quickly became amplified around the world via social media, including his own Twitch stream.
