MARTINSVILLE, Va.: Front Row Motorsports driver Matt Tifft has been transported to a local hospital Saturday morning ahead of the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
A team spokesperson declined to elaborate any further details on Tifft’s condition, but the Hinckley, Ohio native isn’t expected to compete in any practice session or qualifying at the 0.526-mile paperclip oval, according to NBC.
NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Playoff driver Matt Crafton has been tapped to drive the team’s No. 36 Ford Mustang entry for at least the first practice session – but likely will fill the seat for final practice and qualifying if Tifft isn’t medically cleared by NASCAR to return to competition.
Tifft, 23, in his rookie season in Cup has just one top-10, a career-best ninth-place effort at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in July. He is 30th in the championship standings after 32 races.
Shortly before 2:00 p.m., Front Row Motorsports issued a statement that Tifft was released from a local Virginia hospital and was returning home for the remainder of the weekend.
Crafton will qualify and race the car in Sunday’s First Data 500.
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