By Jared Moon
 |
| Matt Tifft is getting plenty of attention as a NASCAR Xfinity Series driver. |
This was the reality for UNC Charlotte student
Matt Tifft as he made his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut last September at
Kentucky Speedway in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300. Driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs
Racing Toyota Camry, Tifft raced to a top 10 finish.
“I think tonight went really well for my
very first XFINITY race. We made it up to as high as second at one point and
thought we had a car capable of staying up there.” said Tifft. “Unfortunately,
I just got shuffled on those last two restarts, but it was really cool to be up
there running with those guys. I’m really proud of the guys and all of the hard
work they put in to come out with a top-10 finish. Thanks to everyone at JGR
(Joe Gibbs Racing) and UNC Charlotte for this opportunity.”
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.
For the Kentucky race,
the No. 20 car was decked out in UNC Charlotte colors and logos, and Tifft and
his crew wore UNC Charlotte-branded suits, too.
“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.
The UNC Charlotte
branding package was accomplished with no University funds being spent;
both were arranged between the racer’s management group and the Office
of University Communications. Branding materials were provided by the
University’s Marketing Department, which promoted Tifft and the car
through social media – making it the most popular post of the month.
“I’ve had a very
positive experience at UNC Charlotte, so it’s made it much more worthwhile to
represent the school,” expressed Tifft.
GROWING UP RACING
Tifft ‘caught the
racing bug’ as a kid going to the racetrack with his father. A fixture at the
track, he developed a strong affinity for the sights and smells of the race
track.
“As a kid, I can still
remember the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber and the roar of the motors,”
said Tifft. “I’d come home covered in dirt and dust from a day at the dirt
track and think it was the greatest thing in the world.
“And now as a driver,
I find myself still taking notice of those things which constantly remind me of
why I first got into racing and how much I love it.”
While his career is
still in its early stages, Tifft already has had the opportunity to learn from
some of the biggest names in the sport, namely Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs.
“I think the biggest
thing you understand is their expertise and attention to detail,” Tifft noted.
“There’s such a high level of professionalism in those teams, and it’s a huge
learning curve when you go to those type of places, but those experiences with
individuals of that caliber are priceless and will pay dividends throughout my
journey.”
THE CAPITAL OF RACING
 |
| The UNC Charlotte-branded car of Tifft's cut a striking figure. |
With 90 percent of the
NASCAR Sprint Cup teams located within 50 miles, Charlotte serves as the
proverbial capital of racing. A claim that was further cemented with NASCAR
Hall of Fame now calling the city home. As a result, Tifft’s decision to move
to Charlotte was fairly simple.
“The decision to come
to Charlotte was similar to someone pursuing a dream of being an actor or
model,” said Tifft. “If you want to be an actor or model you go to Los Angeles
or New York City, race car drivers go to Charlotte.”
A business management
major, Tifft understands at an early age the importance of being business
savvy, especially in a sport where sponsorship deals can hinge on a driver’s ability
to be a quality and effective spokesperson.
“I chose to major in
business to help me better understand the sponsorship aspect of racing rather
than the engineering side that a lot of people do,” explained Tifft. “There’s
no hiding that we’re essentially moving billboards out on the track, so if you
can represent your sponsors in the right way, it leads to better
relationships.”
Ultimately, Tifft
hopes to continue his rise up the ranks to compete in the Sprint Car Series.
But his current challenge is striking a balance between his duties as a
full-time driver and as a full-time college student. In fact, Tifft admits that
striking the balance of racing and school is a constant internal struggle.
“I can’t do the things
many of my friends do so it’s definitely a different college experience,” said
Tifft. “But at the end of the day, achieving my goal of racing full-time at the
top level far outweighs everything else.”
He finds success by
maintaining a rigid schedule that artfully allots him time to keep up with
everything.
“My typical week is
front-loaded with classes, Thursdays are classwork and travel days, and Fridays
are practice day and Saturdays are race day,” said Tifft.
The life of a
19-year-old student driver is far from typical. And while he recognizes the
importance of education, he fully acknowledges the small window of opportunity
an individual has to find success on racings grandest stage.
“Succeeding in school
and getting a degree has always been really important to me. But looking from a
professional standpoint, there’s a very limited window of when you can make in
NASCAR. For me, this next year is going to be a very critical year in racing,
and hopefully, I can make the most of that opportunity.”
Jared Moon is communications coordinator in the Office of Public
Relations.
No comments:
Post a Comment