Video released of Matt Tifft punching Billy VanMeter

Billy VanMeter and the Edco Racing team have released an in-car video that shows Matt Tifft walking over to Billy VanMeter and throwing a punch immediately after the Glass City 200.

This was before Tifft was wrestled to the ground in the VanMeter pit area and kicked in the face by crew member Bryan Glaze, an action that resulted in an indefinite suspension for the latter and fines plus probation for the drivers.

“[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.”

Eddie VanMeter is standing by his son and says he hit Tifft as well.

“I invite drivers to come down and talk to Billy and help him get better,” the elder VanMeter told Liberty Racing Review. “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.”

When asked about the initial contact captured on video, Tifft offered the following response.

“I stand by what I’ve always said in that I confronted him,” Tifft told Short Track Scene. “And after that punch, I’m good with everything that happened up until I got kicked in the face.”

This does align with the argument that Glaze made that he kicked Tifft in response to a belief that VanMeter was punched.

“I’m sure by now everyone has saw the video going around I first of all want to apologize to Matt Tifft. I acted in a manner that isn’t acceptable and wish I could change it. I truly and honestly thought he just knocked my little brother Billy out. I reacted outta anger which by any means isn’t acceptable. I can promise you one thing I’m very disappointed in myself and my actions. Billy isn’t just a driver he’s my little brother that I sacrifice all of my free time to make sure I can do my part to grease the wheel. I also want to apologize to Billy, Ed & Donne, Vandoorn Racing, and all of our sponsors.”

Glaze has since been dismissed from the VanMeter team.

Glaze was fined $2,000 and indefinitely suspended from all ASA sanctioned events. VanMeter was placed on probation for the rest of the season for repeated on-track incidents and Tifft was issued a $250 fine and placed on probation.

The entire ordeal was over a series of on-track incidents, first TIfft spinning off the nose of VanMeter early in the race and collecting Evan Shotko.

VanMeter also spun Brian Campbell in an incident that collected Chase Burda and Tifft says he saw that and felt like something needed to be said and done.