Matt Tifft Has Been Ruled Out For Rest of 2019 Season, Nemechek to Fill in

UPDATE: Matt Tifft has posted a video describing his medical condition. He suffered a seizure in Martinsville but his brain tumor has not returned. He is out for the rest of 2019 while his medical team tries to figure out what caused the seizure.

Matt Tifft’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie season is over.

After suffering an undisclosed medical condition this past weekend at Martinsville, Tifft has been ruled out for the final three races of the 2019 season after further evaluation of doctors on Monday.

Front Row Motorsports shared the news through a statement released on social media on Tuesday.

Update on Matt’s condition: pic.twitter.com/eBK46UyxO6

— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) October 29, 2019

John Hunter Nemechek, who has driven the full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season for GMS Racing, will fill in for Tifft over the final three races of 2019.

“We want to thank John Hunter for filling in Matt’s seat as he continues to recover,” said Jerry Freeze, General Manager, Front Row Motorsports. “Our thoughts are still with Matt and his family. We feel that John Hunter can step up and do a great job for us as Matt heals.”

These will mark Nemechek’s first-career starts in the Cup Series.

“This isn’t the way any driver wants to make their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut,” said Nemechek in a FRM team release. “I am hoping that Matt feels better and can get back in his car as soon as possible. That is what is important. Hopefully I can learn a lot and make Matt, the Front Row Motorsports team and its partners proud.”

Nemechek has scored seven victories over his career between the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and Xfinity Series.