September 18, 2024
It appears that the other side of the pit box is shedding new light on an altercation that occurred between Matt Tifft and Billy VanMeter following the ASA STARS National Tour Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway.
New in-car video submitted to Liberty Racing Review has shown a different angle of the confrontation, which presumably shows Matt Tifft’s actions upon entering the VanMeter pit box.
The video in question comes from inside Billy VanMeter’s Super Late Model. In the clip, you can see Matt Tifft approach VanMeter and throw a punch at the driver, before VanMeter’s crew quickly jumps in after Tifft.
The following scenes from the altercation have been shared to social media by Matt Tifft, including video of Tifft initially approaching the VanMeter pit box.
However, it is important to note that this part of the incident was not able to be seen in the video shared by Tifft.
The respective clips highlight both the initial confrontation from Matt Tifft, but also the retaliation kick from crew member Bryan Glaze, who as of the time of this story, is no longer with the VanMeter team.
In addition to his removal from the team, Glaze was suspended indefinitely from all ASA and CRA sanctioned events and was also fined $2,000. Glaze’s involvement also cost VanMeter’s team 25 ASA STARS National Tour and ASA/CRA Super Series owner points.
Matt Tifft and Billy VanMeter were also subject to penalties, with both drivers receiving losses of 25 ASA STARS National Tour and ASA/CRA Super Series driver points. The pair also were both placed on probation by the sanctioning body for the remainder of 2024.
Matt Tifft was also fined $250.
The full penalty report can be found here.
VanMeter Family Speaks Out on the Issue
Billy VanMeter, along with parents Eddie and Donna, say their side of the story hasn’t been throughly or accurately told.
“[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.”
VanMeter spoke on the on-track incidents that led to the post-race scuffle.
“I made some actions that weren’t smart, tried to push certain people out of the way and caused some things that I shouldn’t have. I did nothing different than what anyone else would do, I just tried too hard to do it.”
So how does Billy VanMeter plan to go back to the track from this point forward and leave this behind him?
“It’s gonna be really hard to go to the track because everybody’s gonna be staring at me like I’m the guy who let a guy kick someone in the face. And I’m sure people are going to treat me different, but you’re bound to get into something occasionally. Other drivers get into things and they just don’t blow up as bad as mine. Their teams sometimes handle it better than mine did.”
“My apology is sincere. It may feel half-assed to people, but it was sincere. I genuinely do not appreciate what happened with everybody. I don’t really want to be known as this person. I never have and never will.”
Eddie VanMeter, Billy’s father and a veteran of the sport himself, played a part in the incident. While he stated separately that he condemned the actions of crew member Bryan Glaze, Eddie VanMeter stands behind his own actions.
“I invite drivers to come down and talk to Billy and help him get better. When I tell him what he’s doing wrong, I’m just the asshole dad. But if they come down and tell him, he’ll listen to them. With Matt coming down, he swung at Billy and hit Billy first. When you come into a guy’s pit and you swing first, you don’t get to choose the outcome.”
“Tifft hit Billy, and I did hit Tifft. That was where the black eye came from, that was not from the kick. That was from me hitting him after he struck Billy. Obviously Billy’s grown, but he’s still my baby and you’re not gonna put your hands on him.”
In a social media post, Donna VanMeter, Billy’s mother, made a lengthy statement on the matter.
Liberty Racing Review 
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