Billy VanMeter releases video of Matt Tifft punching him first at Toledo Speedway
After an ugly fight was captured on camera following the Glass City 200, an alternate in-car camera angle has emerged showing that Matt Tifft threw the first punch against Billy VanMeter.
Previously video had emerged that made VanMeter’s team seem like the aggressors in a post-race fight.
That video helped trigger the indefinite suspension of one of VanMeter’s crew members. The incident in question involved crew member Bryan Glaze kicking Tifft while he was being held down by another crew mate. It instantly sparked outrage across the racing community.
But the new footage shows that Tifft was seeking a confrontation.
“[Matt Tifft] is playing a card like he didn’t do anything to begin with,” Billy VanMeter told Liberty Racing Review. “I’m not saying what Bryan [Glaze] did was cool or the right thing to do, but I also didn’t go to [Tifft’s] pit box and beat him up.
“He’s calling me the worst person on earth, but I never swung back or anything. I didn’t even get a chance to talk to him really.”
The ASA reacted quickly to the incident, with Tifft, Glaze and VanMeter all penalized by the ASA STARS National Tour on Monday for their roles in the pit road fight on Saturday at the Toledo Speedway.
The pit road incident occurred after Billy VanMeter spun Matt Tifft out early in the race, which prompted Tifft to confront VanMeter at his pit stall. Tifft was quickly tackled to the ground before Glaze kicked him in the face.
In accordance with the ASA member code of conduct, Matt Tifft received a $250 fine, a loss of 25 ASA STARS National Tour and ASA/CRA Super Series Championship Driver Points and a stay on probation for the remainder of the calendar year for all ASA and CRA sanctioned events, according to Matt Weaver of Short Track Scene.
Glaze has been suspended indefinitely from all ASA and CRA-sanctioned events. EDCO Welding received a $2,000 fine and a loss of 25 Owner Points. Both owner and team have been placed on probation for the remainder of the calendar year. Glaze was already on probation for fighting in last month’s Masters of the Pros JEGS Tour race at Owosso Speedway.
VanMeter, meanwhile, was docked 25 points and placed on probation for the remainder of the calendar year. He issued a public apology on Facebook after ASA announced the penalties. VanMeter said that Glaze is “no longer involved with the team.”
On3’s Jonathan Howard also contributed to this report.