RPW Column: Busy ’23 Ahead For Mark Connoly Sr. Sprints & Sportsman At Accord; Full-Time Sportsman At OCFS

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – HOWELLS, NY – It appears there’s increased interest in the North East Wingless Sprints division (N.E.W.S.) at Accord Speedway for the 2023 season.

Some recent developments indicate that the car count for the division will be improved in 2023.

Mark Connoly Sr., who raced in the Rookie Sportsman division at Accord in 2022 is one of those preparing for racing the Sprints at Accord.

“I’m putting together a Sprint car for Accord for this season and then we have a Sportsman that we will race on the off weeks for the Sprints. We will be racing at Middletown every week with the Sportsman.”

While he didn’t post a win at Accord in 2022, Mark had some good finishes, a pair of 2nd place runs. His son, Mark Connoly Jr. picked up a Rookie Sportsman win at OCFS.

Mark has been around racing a long time. He sold the Hard Clay program as a youngster. After racing go karts in his mid 20’s, Connoly didn’t race much until 2017 when he got back into racing with a Sportsman.

“I picked up a car in about August of the 2017 season. I raced about 4 races. I tried the Eastern States, but didn’t qualify. I raced for about 5 weeks in the following season. Got in a pretty good wreck. The photo that Bob Armbruster took of it made it into his calendar for the following season. Took a while to fix it up.”

“After that, I picked up a Sprint car from Thomas Radivoy and I raced that at Accord for a year. Crashed it, got a new frame and raced some with the CRSA. But I went back to Sportsman. I figured there were more places to race with the Sportsman. But there seems to be more guys ready to race the Sprints this year.”

“We would like for my son, Mark Jr., to continue to race in the Rookies at Middletown. We sold the #86 and we only have the #19 left and with me racing it in the Sportsman, you can’t race the same car in the Rookies and Sportsman at Middletown. So we will see what happens.”

A friendly, easy going type of guy, Mark asks around for advice and gets advice from top notch people.

“I ask a lot of questions. Danny Creeden has helped us with set up stuff. Jerry Higbie, I race a Hig Fab, so I look to him for advice. My son-in-law is Patrick Reiser and I get some driving tips from him. And his dad, Doug Reiser, I ask him set up questions here and there.

And though he is a racer, he is still a fan of some top Sprint car drivers.

“Lance Dewease and Danny Dietrich. The last time the All Stars were at Middletown, Danny was so happy to make a little video for my daughter to say hello. Very nice guy. It made my daughter’s day.”

Sponsors on the car include Mark R Connoly Accounting and Tax Services, 5L Enterprises, Snap-On (Tom Moza), Precision Engine, Equitable Advisors (Jeffrey Little), CD Slots, Hig Fab Chassis and LMH Motorsports.

Mark appreciates the great job that Simplicity Designs does on his car.

Crew members include his son Mark Jr., Mike Traver, and Bill Szulewski.

As he summed it up, Mark says, “We’re having fun.” And that’s the most important thing.

It’s an unusual double that Mark Connoly Sr. is doing this season. He’s a good person to talk with. Good luck to the team in 2023.