Former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft reacts to getting kicked in face in 'chickenshit' pit road fight
Former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft said Monday he is undecided about pressing charges against the VanMeter Racing crew member who kicked him in the face during an altercation in Saturday’s ASA STARS National Super Late Model race at Toledo Speedway.
Billy VanMeter spun Tifft out early in the race, which prompted him to confront VanMeter at his pit stall. Tifft was quickly tackled to the ground before crew member Bryan Glaze kicked him in the face. Tifft, sporting a black eye from the incident, said he was asked at the track if he wanted to press charges, which he declined. After thinking more on it, Tifft is asking his fans what they think he should do about the “chickenshit move.”
Matt Tifft speaks out after pit road fight at Toledo Speedway
“First off, I’m OK,” Tifft said in an X video. “Nothing broken, just got that [black eye]. But wanted to address something from all the comments and people asking me if I am going to press charges. First of all, I went over there to go confront the driver. I wasn’t not expecting a fight — that happens. But what’s a chickenshit move really is getting thrown on the ground and then somebody coming up and kicking someone while they’re on the ground and that’s about as low as it gets.
“At the track, they asked me if I wanted to press charges. I initially said no but looking back on it, I don’t think I would press charges for myself. But what I don’t like is the fact that that series of Late Model racing, a lot of 13, 14, 15-year-old kids come up through there. And we don’t need somebody like that in the pit area who’s dangerous and obviously something’s wrong with him. I’ve been thinking about it more. We’ll see. Let me know what you guys think I should do but we’ll see what happens there. I will be back and racing the series. Had a lot of fun driving those cars. But a driver who takes out $200,000 worth of equipment and crew guys like that. They got no place in our sport.”
VanMeter Racing crew member issues public apology to Matt Tifft
Both Tifft and Glaze are subject to penalties in accordance with the ASA member code of conduct, according to Matt Weaver of Short Track Scene.
Glaze issued a public apology after Tifft posted the video Monday.
“I’m sure by now everyone has saw the video going around I first of all want to apologize to Matt Tifft. I acted in a manner that isn’t acceptable and wish I could change it,” Glaze wrote on Facebook. “I truly and honestly thought he just knocked my little brother Billy out. Reacted outta anger which by any means isn’t acceptable. I can promise you one thing I’m very disappointed in myself and my actions.
“Billy isn’t just a driver he’s my little brother that I sacrifice all of my free time to make sure I can do my part to grease the wheel. I also want to apologize to Billy, Ed & Donne, Vandoorn Racing, and all of our sponsors.”