MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie Matt Tifft confirmed Tuesday morning that he will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a seizure over the weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Tifft revealed the news in a video posted to social media, which also detailed the events leading up to the medical episode that sent him to an area hospital Saturday morning.
“I arrived on Saturday morning, went into the hauler and I was getting ready for the rookie meeting and making my morning coffee when I felt my tongue cramp up … and the next thing I knew, I blacked out,” Tifft recounted. “My crew guys helped me down, and the next thing I knew I woke up.
“I was actually out of the race this weekend because I suffered a seizure, but luckily my test results with the CT scan and MRI on Monday showed that there’s nothing there as far as my brain tumor is concerned,” he added. “We’re trying to find out some answers as to what’s going on … but unfortunately I will be missing the rest of the 2019 season.
“I want to wish Front Row Motorsports the best of luck the rest of this year, and I hate that I have to miss out on the rest of my rookie season, but the most important things right now are my health and getting to the bottom of what’s going on.”
Wanted to share an update with you all. Thank you for the support. pic.twitter.com/kOyQXTTwQn
— Matt Tifft (@matt_tifft) October 29, 2019
Front Row Motorsports confirmed in a team press release that John Hunter Nemechek will fill in for Tifft during the final three races of the Cup Series campaign.
Nemechek will make his Cup Series debut on Sunday during the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
“This isn’t the way any driver wants to make their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut,” said Nemechek. “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.”
Tifft, 23, ranked 30th in Cup Series points prior to missing Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville, with a top-10 finish (ninth) at Daytona Int’l Speedway in July to his credit.
“We want to thank John Hunter for filling in Matt’s seat as he continues to recover,” said FRM general manager Jerry Freeze. “Our thoughts are still with Matt and his family. We feel that John Hunter can step up and do a great job for us as Matt heals.”