“Ohio Youngster To Drive ARCA And K&N Pro Series East”
CONCORD North Carolina (December 19, 2013) – Matt Tifft confirmed today that he will join Ken Schrader Racing (KSR) for 2014 in a limited schedule in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) tours.
Tifft, a 17-year-old high school senior, has been racing since 2007, when he started in a go kart at Barberton Speedway in Norton, Ohio. Since then, Tifft has moved up, expanding his driving resume to include late models and stock cars in the NASCAR K&N East division and ARCA Series. In 2012, he won Rookie of the Year honors in the ARCA Midwest Tour. This year, Tifft ran the full NASCAR K&N East campaign and two ARCA races. His best finish of the season came at Toledo Speedway (ARCA) on May 19, where he finished fifth.
The rising phenom will compete in 10 ARCA races, with two of those events as a teammate to car owner Ken Schrader. A defined schedule is forthcoming.
“I am very excited to make the move to Ken Schrader Racing and extremely honored to represent Federated Auto Parts,” said Tifft. “The team is a proven winner and consistent contender and I look forward to adding to the success of this already well-established organization.
“It is also very cool for me to be driving for Ken Schrader. I’ve had one of his die-cast cars since I was about five years old. I know I will learn a lot from him on and off the track.”
In addition to Federated Auto Parts, the Buckeye native also welcomes IMC Marks, DOC 360, Malco Automotive and JLP CPA’s as supporting marketing partners for 2014. Federated Auto Parts will begin its 15th consecutive year with KSR.
“Everyone at Federated is excited about continuing our long relationship with Ken Schrader and our full-season sponsorship of the Ken Schrader Racing ARCA team in 2014,” said J.R. Bishop, director of motorsports and event marketing for Federated. “We are really looking forward to having Matt Tifft, one of the future stars of racing, drive the Federated ARCA car. We are putting together a great hospitality program surrounding the ARCA schedule that we know our members and their customers will really enjoy, so we can’t wait to get racing in 2014.”
Schrader commented on the announcement by saying, “We are proud to be running a full ARCA schedule next season. With Matt assisting with the team’s driving duties, I will be able to run our No. 9 Federated Auto Parts dirt modified, and still compete in the ARCA Series,” Schrader added. “Donnie Richeson will again head up our North Carolina-based team and be calling the shots from the pit box. He has worked with many young drivers and I believe he and Matt will be a great combination.”
In addition to ARCA, Tifft will also compete in four soon-to-be determined NASCAR K&N East races in a KSR, Inc.-prepared car.
For more on Matt Tifft, please visit MattTifftRacing.com or click on his Facebook page.
Tifft tweets too, follow him @matt89tifft.
About Matt Tifft Racing:
Matt Tifft, 17-year-old NASCAR Driver, began his career at age 11, racing Go Karts at the Barberton, OH Speedway. He quickly progressed to competing against the best drivers in Northeast Ohio in late model stock car racing. At age 16, Matt was named the ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year. Currently he races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and ARCA series. Matt is a senior at Highland High School in Medina, OH and is a spokesperson for the “Take Control” program designed to educate teens about safe driving.
About Ken Schrader Racing:
Ken Schrader Racing, Inc., established in 1982, is a family owned business specializing in motorsports with locations in Concord, North Carolina and Dittmer, Missouri. Its North Carolina operation houses the KSR, Inc., ARCA, NASCAR K & N and Truck Series teams, showcases a selection of Schrader’s race cars and employees 15 people. Schrader’s dirt car program is managed from the Missouri location. Schrader has driven race cars since the 1970s, including more than 27 years at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level. He has also competed with the ARCA, IMCA, UMP, USAC, USMTS, WoO sanctioning bodies and is co-owner of race tracks in Macon, Ill.; Pevely, Mo., and Paducah, Ky. For more information call KSR, Inc. at (704) 788-8315.
About Federated Auto Parts:
Federated Auto Parts, headquartered in Staunton, Virginia, is one of the largest auto parts distribution and marketing organizations in North America. Federated is dedicated to supporting its customers with quality name brand parts, programs designed to grow their businesses, and experienced counterpeople who are knowledgeable in today’s evolving automotive technology. For more information, visit www.federatedautoparts.com.
About IMC Marks:
IMC Marks manufactures and sells lead and xylene-free industrial paint markers, paint sticks, tire markers, lumber crayons and chalks. IMC Marks recently created a revolutionary new paint stick, the No. 1X. The No. 1X is a lead-free industrial paint in stick form, and adheres to any surface, including: metal, wood, ceramic, glass, rubber, concrete, cardboard and more. The No.1X can glide over all those surfaces, even when they’re wet, rough, dirty or rusty (the marine salvage industry can even use the No.1X to mark items that are under water). It leaves a fast drying, solid, permanent mark. IMC Marks is based in Medina, Ohio.
