UNC Charlotte student Matt Tifft will make his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Kentucky Speedway driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry. The car will be bedecked in UNC Charlotte logos and colors.
The 19-year-old business management major from Hinckley, Ohio, currently runs a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He also competes in a limited amount of ARCA Series events throughout the year.
“I’m real excited for this opportunity to run my first NASCAR XFINITY Series race with the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing and to have UNC Charlotte on the No. 20 Toyota Camry,” Tifft said. “This is definitely a big step."
Tifft, the car and the pit crew will be branded for UNC Charlotte. The sponsorship is provided free of charge for an indefinite period of time.
“Having a national television audience watch a UNC Charlotte-sponsored car — driven by a UNC Charlotte student — racing for 300 miles is fantastic exposure for the University,” said Stephen Ward, executive director for University communications at UNC Charlotte.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me, and it’s really cool to get a shot,” he said. “Kentucky is a unique track — it’s just so rough. It has a lot of character, and it’s very different from other mile-and-a-half tracks — you really have to make sure the car is balanced.”
Although this is his first time in an NXS car, Tifft noted: “I did finish second in an ARCA race at Kentucky last year.”
Crew chief Mike Wheeler said the team has a lot of confidence in Tifft.
“Going back to Kentucky after being so close to a win earlier this season is motivating for all of our team,” he said. “We’re bringing the same car we competed with back in July, so I’m equally excited about the possibilities with Matt Tifft.
“We’ve had several good runs with a few different young guys this year and I’m hoping to do the same with Matt this weekend.”
The VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky Speedway is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.