Tanner Barsch, a fifth grader at R.B. Godley Elementary School, won the 206 Cadet 2024 Championship with Texas Spring Racing Series.

This division includes drivers aged 8-12 with the series comprising five races in New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Cresson and Amarillo.  Tanner won three of the races and placed second in another.  The fifth grader also participated in the IKF Grand Nationals held in Amarillo last August and the CKNA Grand Nationals in New Castle, Indiana during Fall Break.

Tanner got an early start in karting five years ago, beginning in kindergarten with the Honda Kid Kart Class.  His brother Brennan, a RBG second grader, followed when he reached the age of four.

Together with parents Ian and Rachel, racing is a time to be together. The family is on the road many weekends at club races across the state as well as regional and national events.  Ian spurred the boys’ passion after watching NASCAR, IndyCar and F1 races on television.  The family turned to karting during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused all other sports to halt temporarily.

The brothers help each other with support from their family.  Rachel handles logistics, and Ian serves as coach, mechanic, pit crew and other car-related jobs.  The parents also capture moments through photography and videography.  Sister Hannah, a kindergartener, is also along for the ride, cheering on her brothers on the track.