Williams named Mechanic of the Year, Comeau cousins earn laurels
MEREDITH, N.H. (January 28, 2024) – An enthusiastic crowd officially brought the curtain down on the 2023 McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) racing season on Saturday, January 27. The accomplishments of the tour’s top competitors were celebrated at the SCoNE Awards Banquet amid a party atmosphere at the Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant in Meredith, New Hampshire.
Chris Donnelly and car owner Jason Fornwalt collected awards for their dominant run to the SCoNE championship – the eighth title of Piermont, N.H., driver Donnelly’s SCoNE career – including a $1,500 check from the McGee Automotive Family-sponsored point fund. The Donnelly/Fornwalt team drove to four A-Main victories and never finished worse than fourth place in the 11-race season in 2023.
Jason Goff was honored as the SCoNE Rookie of the Year after a well-fought battle with Ron Davis Jr. and J.P. Vaillancourt. The Preston Hollow, N.Y., driver piloted Don Mason’s machine to a pair of runner-up finishes in A-Mains and led the tour with five CMD Logging heat race victories while gathering eighth place in the point standings. Goff was presented with a plaque and a $200 bonus from Dave Bowser Motorsports.
Behind Donnelly in the point standings, in order, were former SCoNE champion Will Hull, Floyd Billington and Troy Comeau – who tied for third place – and Jake Williams. Kadyn Berry finished sixth, followed by Matt Tanner, Goff, Nick Comeau, and Doug McPhail.
Lance “Nipper” Williams was presented with the inaugural Mechanic of the Year Award and delivered a hilariously memorable speech. Williams guided his son, Jake, to a victory in SCoNE’s first-ever event at Unity Raceway in September, and he is well-known for his willingness to help his fellow competitors.
The Comeau cousins were each honored with special annual awards as well; Troy Comeau received the Sportsmanship Award, and sophomore driver Nick Comeau was named the year’s Most Improved Driver. Troy Comeau was recognized for his positive attitude and his tendency to advocate for SCoNE as a whole group. Nick Comeau’s Most Improved Driver award was given due to his remarkable progress from struggling in his first SCoNE starts in 2022 to a run of three top-five finishes in the final four races of 2023.
SCoNE President Justin St. Louis closed the night with three Awards of Appreciation, to acknowledge and applaud the efforts of SCoNE officials Dennis and Dan Douville, and SCoNE founder Mike Kondrat. The father-son Douville duo were thanked for their involvement in the restructuring of SCoNE just before the start of the 2023 season, in which Dan Douville – a two-time SCoNE champion driver – took on the role of Race Director for the tour, and his father, Dennis “Pep” Douville, became SCoNE’s Chief Steward.
Kondrat received a standing ovation as he accepted his award. Kondrat was recognized for his efforts in forming and growing SCoNE in 2004 out of Nick Berry’s former New England Sprint Car Club. Kondrat served as SCoNE President for many years and has continued to serve the tour as an advisor, a major sponsor through his Kondrat Kustoms engine service, and as a competitor. In a gesture of goodwill and continued support, he sold the SCoNE operation to St. Louis for $1 in November, marking the end of his 20-year run at the helm.
The McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England tour opens its 12-race schedule on Saturday, May 11, at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vermont. Several exciting sponsorship and program announcements are expected to be made in the coming weeks and months leading up to the season.
To learn more about the McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England, visit www.nesprintcars.com or find the “SCoNE – Sprint Cars of New England” page on Facebook.
McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England
Final 2023 Championship Standings
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
(#) - denotes rookie
- (17) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H. – 531 (4)
- (61) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt. – 411
- (69K) Floyd Billington, South Glens Falls, N.Y. – 371
(89) Troy Comeau, Warren, N.H. – 371
- (73) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H. – 356 (1)
- (12) Kadyn Berry, Goffstown, N.H. – 335
- (90) Matt Tanner, Stephentown, N.Y. – 323 (3)
- (19J) # Jason Goff, Preston Hollow, N.Y. – 318
- (03) Nick Comeau, Hebron, N.H. – 293
- (6) Doug McPhail, Tilton, N.H. – 268
Special Award Winners:
• Award of Appreciation – Mike Kondrat, Freedom, N.H.
• Award of Appreciation – Dennis Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
• Award of Appreciation – Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
• Rookie of the Year – Jason Goff, Preston Hollow, N.Y.
• Mechanic of the Year – Lance Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
• Sportsmanship Award – Troy Comeau, Warren, N.H.
• Most Improved Driver – Nick Comeau, Hebron, N.H.
(Photos by Kasen Hodgdon / VT&NH Racing News)