Exclusive: NASCAR’s Youngest Team Owner Backs Richard Childress’ ‘Forced Signing’ Narrative Amid Michael Jordan’s Charter Rebellion

Understanding NASCAR’s pulse gives a unique insight into the current legal showdown, where issues of team ownership, sponsorship stakes, and racing goals converge. Matt Tifft, who saw his Cup Series driving career pause in 2019 due to health issues, returned in a big way as a team owner, bringing an insider’s perspective to the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit. In an Exclusive chat with EssentiallySports journalist Brahmi Dhaytadak, Tifft expressed his support for another outspoken team owner. Yes, it’s Michael Jordan we are talking about.

The decision by Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Bob Jenkins to challenge NASCAR’s direction was no small move, as they’ve risked vast resources in their stance. Now, Matt Tifft has recognized the pressure these team owners face—between employees, high-value sponsors, and drivers counting on them—and sympathizes with those who opted to sign NASCAR’s new charter deal. But keeping in view his background, the 28-year-old sees both sides, which makes his voice one of reason and experience in a complicated legal battle. Here’s what he revealed to EssentiallySports.

Matt Tifft understands how tough it is

When NASCAR dropped the new charter deal in early September, teams did not have much of a choice. They had to decide whether to sign or face NASCAR’s wrath in a 6-hour window. So when only 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports stood out, one team owner hailed their courage. “I did not have the balls to do what 23XI and FRM are doing because I was afraid I’d lose my charters.” However, the 13 team owners had reasons of their own, as Richard Childress explained. Taking up arms against executives would have jeopardized his team. “I didn’t have a choice because we had to sign. I got over 400 employees, OEM in contract, contracts with sponsors, and I gotta take care of my team.”

That is what Matt Tifft quipped in his Exclusive Interview with Brahmi Dhaytadak for EssentiallySports. Tifft founded Live Fast Motorsports in 2020 with BJ McLeod. Although he left ownership of the team last year to focus on reviving his racing pursuits, the young team owner accurately understands Richard Childress‘ sentiment. He said, “I believe that if we would have been there on that Friday and they said you’ve got to sign this by midnight, we would have had to do it just like Richard Childress said. You know, he’s got 300 employees, he’s got sponsors, and he’s got people to take care of. I don’t have any other other money. I have to do this because you take that charter away, you take that revenue away…All of a sudden, we’re losing 4. 5 6 seven million dollars a year.”

Matt Tifft and McLeod sold their team’s charter to Spire Motorsports for $40 million. So he understands the fluctuating charter prices and the overall jittery economic situation for team owners. “It’s not the 25 million dollar investment (of a charter). It’s really a 40- to 50-million-dollar investment because you have to do that plus invest year after year after year.” Being a heavily sponsor-dependent sport, NASCAR leaves teams at the hands of shifty benefactors.

Tifft continued, “If that one chief marketing officer there comes in and says, ‘I don’t really like NASCAR.’ That’s what 15-20 million dollars’ worth of sponsorship is gone. And now one of the top most talented drivers in NASCAR doesn’t have a ride and sponsor, like, Are you kidding me?”

Despite siding with the owners who did not sign, Matt Tifft saluted the recalcitrants.

Teams’ bravery enthralls Tifft

The Race Team Alliance has been negotiating with NASCAR for two years. Expenses hacked teams from all sides—the single-source parts of the Next-Gen cars, temporary charters, and minuscule slices of the media pie. However, NASCAR barely budged when they dropped the new charter deal, making slight concessions in media revenue.

So Michael Jordan, a six-time NBA champion and 23XI Racing owner, had enough. FRM owner Bob Jenkins joined him; since he first founded his team in 2005, he has not turned in a profit and instead shelled out millions from his own pocket. Even Rick Hendrick had admitted that his team did not break even in finances for many years.

So while telling EssentiallySports about his support for Childress, Matt Tifft also acknowledged the NASCAR lawsuit’s relevance. “I do believe that 23XI and front row that they’re onto something… that there’s more equitable revenue to share across the teams. I do believe in the permanent charter system.” 

He tipped his hat, especially to Curtis Polk, 23XI co-owner who wore a rebellious shirt to Darlington. “I’ll say Curtis Polk has really led this charge from day one of 23XI. He is a bulldog, and from, you know, the very beginning he ruffled feathers within NASCAR.” He further added, “I do think there needs to be a fundamental change, and you look at how many teams have had to come in and exit, the issue is that you’re so dependent on sponsorship and OEM help.”

Evidently, Matt Tifft is essentially siding with whatever will benefit the racing teams. As the lawsuit grows more intense, let us wait and see where Michael Jordan and Co. go with it.