NASCAR Cup Series: Matt Tifft to drive for Front Row Motorsports in 2019
By Asher Fair
Matt Tifft is set to make the move to the NASCAR Cup Series in the 2019 season as the third driver for Front Row Motorsports.
Matt Tifft, who has spent each of the last two seasons competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, is set to compete full-time in the Cup Series beginning in 2019.
The 22-year-old Fairfax, Virginia native is set to drive a third full-time car for Front Row Motorsports, a team that have been a two-car full-time team since the start of the 2016 season.
In August, Front Row Motorsports purchased the majority of the assets of the bankrupt BK Racing for a total $2.08 million, allowing them to field three full-time entries in the 2019 season as opposed to only two like they have done in each of the last three seasons.
This third car is the #36 Ford, and it is this car that Tifft is set to drive as a teammate to David Ragan, who drives the #38 Ford and has driven full-time for the team since the 2017 season, and Michael McDowell, who drives the #34 Ford and began driving full-time for the team this past season.
Here is what Tifft had to say about the opportunity to drive the #36 Front Row Motorsports Ford in the 2019 season, according to NASCAR.
"“Today is a huge moment in my career, announcing my move to the Cup Series. This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and I can’t believe it’s finally coming true.“I’m so thankful to Front Row Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to drive the No. 36 next season. I’m looking forward to guidance from veterans Michael McDowell and David Ragan and am ready to take on the challenge of driving with 39 of the best drivers in the world.”"
Here is what Front Row Motorsports team owner Bob Jenkins had to say about Tifft driving for the team in the 2019 season, according to NASCAR.
"“Not only are we here to stay, we’re here to grow. We already have two proven veterans in our lineup, and now we’ll get to add an impressive young talent and championship contender who will inject some new energy into the group. With the introduction of the Ford Mustang into the Cup Series, 2019 is shaping up to be an exciting season for us.”"
More from NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
- NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500
Tifft spent the 2017 Xfinity Series season driving full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota, and he spent this past season driving full-time for Richard Childress Racing behind the wheel of the #2 Chevrolet.
Tifft finished in seventh and sixth place in the championship standings in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively. He recorded an average starting position of 11.9 and an average finishing position of 13.6 in the 2017 season, and he recorded an average starting position of 13.3 and an average finishing position of 12.6 in the 2018 season.
He did not win any of the 66 races that were contested during these two seasons, but he did rack up eight top five finishes, 32 top 10 finishes and one pole position to go along with the one top five finish, six top 10 finishes and one pole position he earned as a part-time Xfinity Series driver in the 11 races that he contested in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Tifft’s career-high finish in the Xfinity Series is the second place finish that he recorded in this past season’s race at Road America.
Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
How will Matt Tifft perform in his first season as a NASCAR Cup Series driver behind the wheel of the #36 Front Row Motorsports Ford? The 36-race 2019 season is scheduled to begin on Sunday, February 17, 2019 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, and it is set to be broadcast live on FOX.