NASCAR: John Hunter Nemechek to replace Matt Tifft at Front Row Motorsports
By Asher Fair
John Hunter Nemechek is set to replace Matt Tifft at Front Row Motorsports for the remainder of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Front Row Motorsports rookie Matt Tifft is set to miss the remainder of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season after suffering a seizure at Martinsville Speedway this past Saturday.
Ahead of Saturday’s opening practice session for Sunday’s round of 8 playoff race, the First Data 500, at the track, Tifft was taken to the track’s infield medical center.
He was then transported to Martinsville General Hospital. He was evaluated and released, but his condition was not disclosed at the time. It was revealed that he would not be competing throughout the remainder of the weekend.
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
Matt Crafton replaced him in this 500-lap race around the four-turn, 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometer) Martinsville Speedway oval in Ridgeway, Virginia.
Now Front Row Motorsports have confirmed that Tifft is set to miss the remainder three races of the 2019 season at Texas Motor Speedway, ISM Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
John Hunter Nemechek is set to replace him behind the wheel of the #36 Ford in these three races. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.
"“This isn’t the way any driver wants to make their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut. I am hoping that Matt feels better and can get back in his car as soon as possible. That is what is important. Hopefully I can learn a lot and make Matt, the Front Row Motorsports team and its partners proud.”"
Nemechek has made 98 career Truck Series starts over the course of seven seasons and 48 career Xfinity Series starts over the course of two seasons, but he has never previously competed in a Cup Series race.
The 22-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina native is currently in his first season of full-time Xfinity Series competition driving for GMS Racing. He qualified for the playoffs but was eliminated following the opening round, the round of 12. He has six Truck Series wins and one Xfinity Series win to his name.
Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
John Hunter Nemechek is set to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in this Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for Front Row Motorsports. This race is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from the Fort Worth, Texas track beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET. Out thoughts and prayers are with Matt Tifft as he recovers from his seizure.