This is an important message from Great Race director, Jeff Stumb:
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Great Racer Tag Lewis passed away after suffering a massive heart attack after the awards banquet in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Several of our Great Race staff are still here with us supporting Mary Beth in this time of need.
Many in our Great Race family have already reached out to Mary Beth. She wants everyone to know she is very grateful for all your prayers, the help and support. She is particularly thankful for Great Race staff-members Jessie Simon and David Essex for their assistance and care.
Tag’s 1940 Cadillac was selected as the Lokar Best in Show for the Great Race. Mary Beth said that Tag was more proud of that award than he would have been to win the whole race.
Please keep Mary Beth and the entire Lewis family in your prayers.bWe will pass along details as they are available.
Our hearts pour out for Mary Beth and we are all thankful for the time we got to spend with Tag this past week on the race. You will be in our prayers.
With love,
The Reeder and Stone families
Mary Beth, my thoughts and prayers are going out to you and your loved ones.
Our dear friend. We miss you.
So sorry to hear. Thoughts and prayer are with you.
Mary Beth, My prayers and deepest sympathy to you . We will always remember the good times we enjoyed with you and Tag over the years and especially during the past week. I pray that you and the family find peace and comfort in knowing that he was enjoying life to the fullest.
TOM
Our sympathies go out to you and your entire family.
Richard Fredette and Jim Caudle #58
Mary Beth, I am so sad and so shocked to hear about Tag. We will miss him. Our thoughts are with you.
Dear Ms. Mary Beth Lewis and the Lewis Family,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Mr. Lewis. I was one of the Buffalo residents who cheered your start at the race. Please know that Mr. Lewis brought a lot of joy to ordinary people like me who got to see his gorgeous car up close ( the award was well deserved) . You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Such sad news. I will keep Mary Beth and her family in my prayers.
Prayers to all the family. We will keep you in our prayers.
Tag was our first mentor as we began making plans to enter Great Race. He and Mary Beth showed us how much FUN rallying can be. We will miss that big grin of his. RIP good friend.
Von Wolfe Bucket List Motor Sports #73
I am so saddened by this news. Tag and Marybeth shared their love with all of us in so many ways. Marybeth, “May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace.”
Tag, thanks for sharing the secret of your success!
Marybeth, we are devastated and the news of Tag. Our hearts are with you and your family. We will be praying for you.
Scott and Jenny Culp and X-Cup team from Murfreesboro, TN
We are so sorry to hear of Tags passing we send our prayers,thoughts and hugs to the Lewis family. Tim & Marlene car # 94 .
Praying for you MaryBeth. We followed you on the race and hate we missed seeing you this year.
Chad and Jennie
Condolences to Mary Beth. We briefly met at the Buffalo cookout on the 20th. So sorry.
Prayers for you & your family Mary Beth.
prayers and condolence sent,very sad……sorry to hear such terrible news….
We love you Mary Beth. It’s been a privilege to have you and Tag as friends these past few years. Godspeed Tag.
Prays Mary Beth for you and your family. I enjoyed seeing you and Tag in your beautiful Cadillac everyday as you came through checkpoints. May God’s angels surround you and God’s strength get you through this difficult time.
Prayers for the family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God bless.
Dale and Candy Kasson (Dale navigator of #39)
Prayers and our thoughts are with you so sad this happened God Bless
Blaine Veinot and Juanita Sharp (2001 Mustang at show in Rothesay N.B.)
We only talked to you for a short while in Bangor, Maine but we really enjoyed talking to both of you. Steve will treasure the shirt Tag gave him always. Our deepest sympathy in your time of loss.
Mary Beth
Tag came to the souvenir tent after the Race to buy more merchandise and joked that we should be having a sale. He came up to us in the after party to thank us for our hard work during the Race and to say goodbye.
I was so proud for the Best of Show award for your Cadillac.
Tag has joined many Greatracers in the Heavenly kingdom. You came at registration one year saying you just wanted to get an “ace” – you had one all along in Tag.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. He is gone, but will not be forgotten. Blessings, Sister
McRae
Mary Beth, we are so very sorry to hear about Tag. Our deepest sympathy to you & your family. Doug & I will miss you both following us in the transits. Our thoughts & prayers will be with you. Our Great Race family has lost a dear friend. Our love goes out to you.
Howard, Doug and our whole Sharp Team
Our thoughts and prayers for Mary Beth and the family.
Lucke Family
#86
Marybeth, our deepest sympathy to you and your family. We are praying for God to give you strength and comfort.
Gary & Jean Ann Martin
Mary Beth
Our Deepest condolences to you and all your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Tag will always be in everyone’s hearts and memories. He was loved by all…… Godspeed
With heartfelt sympathy,
Mike and Cindy White
Marybeth, our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Pat and I send prayers for your loss. You and Tag have always been a source of joy to us all. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Marybeth, our deepest sympathy to You and your family. Pat and I send prayers for your loss. You and Tag have always been a source of fun and laughter to us all. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Marybeth, we are so shocked and saddened to hear of Tag’s passing. Our sympathy to You and your family. Pat and I send prayers for your loss. You and Tag have always been a source of fun and laughter to us all. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Marybeth, so very sad to hear this news. All of the checkpoint workers enjoyed seeing your “Best of Show” Cadillac every day. Sincere sympzthy to you and your family.
Shocked and saddened to hear this news. Our thoughts are with you.
The Metcalf Family #95
So sorry to hear this tragic news…we ran into Tag and Mary Beth SO much during the GR, was with him in the wine line hours before chatting…wish Id bought him a drink?
Mark & Lennel #72
Mary Beth we are so sorry to hear this. I visited with you yet after the banquet. Our prayers are with you now and in the weeks and months ahead. Harlan and Kathy Mouw-support crew for Car #3.
Marybeth, A beautiful soul, full of love and adventure, has ascended to heaven, I only got to know Tag through the great race family team; He will be very much missed. His smile and friendship will forever remain in my memory… my sincere condolences.
Tag lived and loved life to its fullest. When its my turn, let it be at the end of the Great Race! You got an Ace Tag!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Mary Beth..Tag will always be remembered as a great, fun loving guy…he will be sorely missed by all
Rex Gardner and the entire VCRA family
Marybeth, Our hearts are with you at this time. Jeff & Eric were grateful to support you and Tag on rally details and admire your passion for the event. The Fredette Family is keeping you in our thoughts and prayers ?
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marybeth and the Lewis family. We saw him many times throughout the race this year and he was always joking about something. Tag was never at a loss for words. He was so very proud of the Best of Show and we are so happy he got to enjoy that to its fullest in the last day!
The Gentry Family
Beth, Oliver, Olivia and Genna Gentry
Dear Mary Beth,
We are so, so sorry to hear of Tag’s passing. We were just getting to know you both and looking forward to our time together on the boat home. We know you are a brave lady–I can hardly believe you learned to drive that beautiful car just for the rally!. Thank you for being so kind and sociable to both of us, especially me. You know where we are and if there is anything at all we can do to help you, just call.
Anne and Sam Pratt–#40 Chevy
Mary Beth, I had the pleasure of your company at dinner in Fairport after Stage 1. I did, indeed, follow #67 for the rest of the race. Please know that you and all who loved Tag are in my prayers. Juli
Marybeth, both John and I offer our thoughts and prayers to you during this time. I hope you will take comfort in knowing that at the darkest moment you were not alone, but were surrounded by your Greatrace family. Tag will always be a part of you and Greatrace.
Peace and love
Rachel and John
Mary Beth we at Hemmings are so sorry to hear this awful news. You are deep within our thoughts.
Mary Beth, words can not express the sadness we feel for you at the loss of Tag. Please know that myself and the entire Jenkins family are praying for you. Team 24
Marybeth, weve just heard and are shocked. We are so sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our minds, thoughts and hearts.
It was always a pleasure seeing both of you on the road fly by.
Best, Annegret and Uli #12
Marybeth, just checked for results today, am stunned and saddened. Met you on the peak of Mt Washington,took your pictures. You are in my prayers. Most of us have only dreamed of what you two have experienced. So inspiring.
Marybeth my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Sorry for your loss. It was so glad to see it in Lockport New York.
Love Alice Emmens
Lockport New York
We are all keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers Marybeth. We have enjoyed getting to know you and Tag over the last few years. We will always remember Tag and his fun/loving personality!
Your friends from the Midwest (Indiana),
Team Maxinkuckee Mayhem – #82
Jeff, Kathy, Kylie, and Mike
Marybeth,
Please accept our condolences for Tag’s passing. We wish you and your entire family God’s Peace.
From Team Pioneer from Marietta, Ohio #50
Wally, Dean, Dave and Gary
Dear Marybeth,
A family member, a great race brother, and a gentle friend has passed away from all of us. My heart is filled with sadness at our loss, but most of all your loss. I stand with all of my great race brothers and sisters with tears of love and sadness. I hope, I pray, when it is my turn to go that I may go through that gate on such a high note as he did. He is a Great Race champion to me and all of us. You are my, and our Great Race sister. You have my love, you have my thoughts, and you have my prayers.