TAG Racing International today announced the posting of the 2011 technical rules to the www.tagracing.net website and the updated list of participating 2011 TAG Regional series track programs.

We are proud to welcome “Mid state Kart Club” “Indy Karting Series” “I-5 Corridor Series” and The “Oregon State Karting Championship Series” as Regional series.

In addition we would like acknowledge and provide web links to the series listed below as returning series with additional series yet to be announced before the season begins.

Dave Larson, President of the sanctioning body said:
"We are proud to have the addition of new regional series and welcome back the returning series”

   The 7th TAG World Championships at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indianapolis August 19, 20 and 21st, 2011 will be open to all TAG Racing International and TAG USA members. Karters wishing to join TAG Racing International / TAG USA may go to www.tagracing.net to register online. The Top Ten TAG Members of a qualifying series will receive a reduced entry fee for the TAG Worlds. Racers should keep watching the TAG website as it will provide updated information as the race date moves closer

By Greg Wright
Rapid Racing Inc.
Host- Karting News Live

The TAG Worlds VI are in the books and despite the unexplainably light turn out the weekend has to be termed a success. This event returned in 2010 to the site of the first two editions the always immaculate and truly decked out New Castle Motorsports Park. Practice on Friday went smooth with no issues of any note and all involved certainly seemed to be having a good time with plenty of track time available.

Saturday dawned cool and cloudy but thanks to race director Terry Riggins, Series organizer Dave Larson and the dedicated crew of rowdies that make up the race day staff for TAG USA. The first round of practice took place on a cold but dry track and due to threatening skies most if not all racers took advantage of the time available.

Unfortunately the rains came just as the second round of practice got underway and while a few brave souls ventured out the rain was unrelenting and became heavier as the afternoon went along. Trying to stay on the published schedule qualifying began right on time but it was soon obvious that many competitors chose to stand down and not take a time.

The race event staff had a meeting with furrowed brows and grim looks on their faces and in a short while Race Director Terry Riggins called a drivers meeting and announced that in order to insure that everyone had a shot at running in the dry the heat races, prefinals and finals would all be run on Sunday.

There was a bonus to the change in schedule to the effect that "Social Hour" presented by the Shadow Beverage Group began early and everyone including this writer had a great time bench racing and sampling some unique uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh adult beverages.

Sunday morning dawned thankfully dry and sunny but bitterly cold with temps in the high thirties and practice was interesting to say the least as everybody tried to get a grip on a cold and green surface. Fortunately the sun continued to shine brightly and the track began to take rubber and as the heat races and prefinals went it was clear that the track was coming in to the racer's satisfaction. Some of the junior classes were very lightly attended other than TAG Junior, but TAG Sr, TAG Masters and 125 Spec Moto turned in some stirring races during the preliminaries. Interestingly the biggest class in the place was 125 Spec Moto, sixteen racers strong and frankly a stout field of competitors were ready to do battle.

Through qualifying, heat race and prefinal it appeared that Cole Mathewson was going to be the man to beat but come final time Cole who led the first handful of laps in the eighteen lap final had his luck run out and local favorite Eric Batt took control of the lead. Starting several rows back Algonquin Ilinois Josh Lane was on a mission slotting into second place around the half way point and he methodically hunted down the leader Batt slipping by into the lead with a only a few laps left. Batt continued to chase lane in full hot pursuit mode but Lane's pace was too much and he came to the checkers a deserving winner.

TAG Senior was all about Robbie (The Rocket) Seward. Seward set fast time, won the heat then the prefinal without breaking a sweat. However when it was time for the final veteran Caleb Loniewski went with Seward and was in true hot pursuit mode keeping Seward honest for the entire eighteen laps but Seward's Motori Seven powered machine was too strong and Robbie the Rocket earned a well deserved victory.

TAG Masters looked to be the sole property of Evansville Indiana's John Dixon, setting fast time, winning both the heat and the prefinal with ease. Come time for the finals Dixon once again got the hole shot but this time his team mate Mike Burrell was able to keep him in sight until about lap five when Dixon's Sonik spontaneously disassembled itself handing the lead to Burrell. It wasn't a cake walk for Burrell either as another veteran Brian MacHattie chased hard the rest of the day but never could quite make it to Burrell's Bumper. NKN Editor Burrell came home with a well deserved win.

TAG Junior was the sole property of Karl (The Flying Farmer) Weber. Unstoppable in everything he sat in all weekend Weber put on a driving clinic and plowed the competition under. Winning by nearly a twelve second margin the Flying Farmer added another title to his resume for 2010 with the TAG Junior World Title. Awards for the weekend were amazingly cool with a variation of the often used Screaming Eagle that were painted in a very life like fashion, Fast time awards were also handed out not to mention a boat load of merchandise.

To my knowledge there wasn't a significant complaint nor protest all weekend long and the safety crew nearly passed out from boredom as thankfully their services were'nt needed. TAG USA has announced that the 2011 TAG Worlds Version VII will return again next year to NCMP and as the financial fitness of our great country continues to improve I have to predict a strong field will bring this event back to the stature that it truly deserves.