It’s All in the Family for Brian Tagg
THOMPSON, CT – For nearly four decades the Tagg name has appeared on entry lists at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. John Tagg piloted one of the earliest versions of his Modified. His son, Tom, competed in the Sunoco Modifieds, a division he earned a championship in 1990. Currently, third generation driver, Brian, keeps the family tradition alive, piloting the No. 9 entry in the Thompson Speedway Motorsport Park Late Model Division.
The 2015 Late Model Champion, Brian, started his career behind the wheel of a Thompson Modified. There he achieved reasonable success, missing a 2009 championship due to a self-admitted driver error. After the division was disbanded in 2012, Tagg decided along with his team – AKA his family – that they would take a year off.
In 2014, when Tagg got back behind the wheel, he traveled with the American Canadian Tour, competing with some of the toughest Late Model competitors in the northeast.
With some experience under his belt, Tagg decided to return to his home track, Thompson, in 2015. The results were more than the team could have imagined – a Divisional Champion, and one of few father-son combinations to ever win a championship at the famed 5/8-mile oval. It was Tom’s advice that anchored Brian during the final race, “Go out and do what you do all season. Don’t be too eager or defensive,” the 1990 Sunoco Modified Champion reminded his son.
Tagg’s title defense was not what he hoped to be. Accidents and mechanical issues plagued the Oxford, MA driver. He was able to rally in the second half of the season, though, visiting victory lane on August 24. At season’s end, Tagg was able to rebound for a third place finish in championship standings. In spite of this, though, Brian and the entire Tagg family suffered a huge loss in 2016.
Shortly before the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, Brian’s biggest fan, his grandmother, passed away after a lengthy illness. The team’s matriarch was at every race, sitting in her usual spot in the grandstands to cheer on her grandson, Brian, and her other grandson, Troy, who occasionally races a Tour Type Modified. When remembering his grandmother, Brian, recalled, “she was the biggest fan and critic. She would never want me to leave her disappointed.” This is what will motivate Tagg, as he and his family make final preparations to his Crazy Horse Late Model.
On track, Tagg hopes to finish the season with his third consecutive top three finish. Off the track, he and his wife, Kate, are expecting their first child. They’ve chosen not to have the gender revealed, but one thing is for certain – racing will be in that child’s blood.
Brian Tagg leads a strong field of drivers into the season opening, Icebreaker 2017, at a Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Friday, March 31 – Sunday, April 2. For more information about the event, or Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, please visit www.thompsonspeedway.com
Sources: Jeffrey Price/Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park PR
Photo by Paul Fohlin