XFINITY: Tifft to have surgery for brain tumor

Joe Gibbs Racing announced on Tuesday that part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Matt Tifft will soon undergo surgery to remove a recently-discovered low-grade brain tumor.

The "low-grade glioma" was first discovered during a recent evaluation for the disc condition in his back which had sidelined him from participating in the June 19 Xfinity Series event at Iowa Speedway. Tifft stated on Twitter that there is no correlation between the two medical issues.

JGR added that Tifft will undergo rehab and surgery on the tumor and is expected to return to racing at some point afterward. Sprint Cup veteran David Ragan will drive the No. 18 Xfinity Series entry on Friday night in the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona.

Tifft has made seven career Xfinity Series starts and has three top-10 finishes to his credit. He finished eighth at Talladega and Dover in the spring and has also competed in 18 Camping World Truck Series events for Red Horse Racing.