By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
MARTINSVILLE, VA – Just prior to the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, Matt Tifft was transported from Martinsville Speedway’s infield medical center to Martinsville General Hospital.
In place of Tifft is NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Matt Crafton. The Tulare, Calif. native relieved Paul Menard two weeks ago at Talladega Superspeedway. Crafton will also drive the No. 36 Tunity Ford Mustang in the final practice and qualifying.
Front Row Motorsports issued a short statement that Tifft will not race this weekend.
“This morning, Matt Tifft was transported to a local hospital in Martinsville, Virginia for further evaluation and tests after suffering a medical condition at the track. Tifft was evaluated and released from the hospital and is returning home. Further updates will be sent when appropriate.”
Crafton has one start in NASCAR’s Premier Series, the 2015 Daytona 500 when he substituted for Kyle Busch following a vicious crash in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. The 2019 Truck Series Playoff Grid driver has also filled in for drivers in practice and qualifying on four other occasions.
The status for the Front Row Motorsports driver for the remainder of the weekend is unclear.
Tifft missed the final practice at Bristol Motor Speedway after suffering from symptoms of vertigo. The 23-year-old was able to race the following day that weekend. Tifft has one top-10 finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
In 2016, Tifft missed three months of competition after a successful surgery to remove a low-grade glioma in his brain.
The First Data 500 is scheduled to start at 3:00 pm on Sunday, October 26 with coverage on NBCSN, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio starting at 1:30 pm.