Tanner Celebrates First SCoNE Championship at New England Racing Museum
Story By: JUSTIN ST. LOUIS / SCONE – LOUDON, NH – Matt Tanner had to haul his racecar one extra time to close out the 2025 McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England Tour season, but it was worth it: Tanner stood proudly with his family and team alongside their winning mount as it was on display next to the championship stage inside the New England Racing Museum on the grounds of New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the 2025 SCoNE Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 22.
The Stephentown, NY driver’s first McGee SCoNE Tour title run was honored, along with the efforts of mini-series champions Caiden Herbert, Travis Billington, and Tyler Chartrand and several other top drivers. In addition, SCoNE officials Dennis Douville and Matt Anderson also received standing ovations upon being named to SCoNE two highest annual special honors.
Tanner’s five-win campaign was among the best seasons in SCoNE’s 22-year history. In 14 point-counting races, he finished in the top five an impressive 10 times. He outdistanced Billington, Jake Williams, Matt Hoyt, and Chartrand for the title and collected a $2,000 check for the championship. Tanner’s name has been added to the Fred Frame Championship Trophy, which is on permanent display at the New England Racing Museum, and he received a replica of his own; positional awards were presented to the top 15 finishers in the point standings.
Herbert claimed his second consecutive Bear Ridge Speedway Track Championship in the five-race mini-series held each year at the Bradford, VT oval. The New Hampton, NH racer posted a perfect record of top-five finishes at Bear Ridge including a win in the September finale. Tanner was second in Bear Ridge standings with Williams third, Troy Comeau fourth, and Will Hull fifth; each of the top five drivers received a custom chainsaw-carved black bear trophy and a bonus payout from Bear Ridge Speedway including a $500 bonus to Herbert for winning the title.
Billington was crowed the Maine State Champion after his performances in the three events held at Unity Raceway. The South Glens Falls, NY native – driving the only Maine-based car in SCoNE for team owner David Bowser – finished second in all three Unity races and edged Hoyt and Williams for the title. Unity Raceway promoters Joey and Holly Doyon were in attendance and presented custom “Junkyard” trophies to the top three finishers.
Johnsonville, NY freshman Chartrand made a noticeable impression in his first season with SCoNE, taking the Rookie of the Year title over the course of the full schedule; he received a $200 bonus from Dave Bowser Motorsports and a custom commemorative helmet from Night Owl Creations. Chartrand also won the Lacaillade Masonry/LA Transportation Services Lake Champlain Series championship, which was contested over the weekend of August 9-10 at Airborne Park Speedway and Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and received his championship trophy for that as well.
The peer-voted Sportsmanship, Most Improved Driver, and Mechanic of the Year awards were also presented with popular recipients. Wentworth, NH’s Troy Comeau was named the Sportsmanship Award winner for the second time and was cited not only for his high standard of conduct on the track and in the pit area, but also for his fundraising efforts to benefit charities and his fellow competitors alike. Comeau asked his father, Fran, to join him on stage during his acceptance, and both received a standing ovation.
Salisbury, NH, rookie Mac MacDuffie was given the Most Improved Driver Award for his marked improvement that saw him progress from being lapped on a regular basis in his first outings at Bear Ridge to winning a qualifying heat race in the season’s final event at Unity.
The Mechanic of the Year Award was shared by two members of the Tanner No. 90 family team, with Tanner’s father, Henry Tanner, and stepfather, P.J. Roder, sharing the honors. They were recognized for their successful championship season and also for assisting many other teams during the season with advice, loaning parts, and helping make repairs.
The annual Award of Appreciation, which is reserved for someone who goes above and beyond to serve the Sprint Cars of New England organization, had a popular recipient in SCoNE official Matt Anderson of Franklin, NH. Anderson was presented with the plaque for his positive attitude, his ability to think and act on a large scale, and his willingness to help all competitors and his fellow officials in virtually any situation.
The formal award presentations concluded with the launch of a new honor – the Dennis “Pep” Douville Spirit of Racing Award. Established in the name of SCoNE’s Chief Steward, the award is defined as follows: “The Dennis ‘Pep’ Douville Spirit of Racing Award will be presented annually to an individual who exemplifies Pep’s enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication – a true reflection of the spirit of the Sprint Cars of New England, both on and off the track.”
Douville was surprised not only by the creation of the award, but to also be named the recipient in its first year. A retired Sergeant who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Douville, of Bridgewater, NH, received a lengthy standing ovation in recognition of his personality that has defined the criteria of the award bearing his name, and a lifetime spent in grassroots motorsports helping others – especially in the last two decades within the SCoNE group.
The evening finished with a surprise presentation by Mark Chartrand on behalf of the entire SCoNE membership, recognizing SCoNE Director of Competition Dan Douville – son of Dennis Douville – and SCoNE President Justin St. Louis with special plaques in appreciation of their efforts in the 2025 season.
Prior to the presentation of awards, the attendees enjoyed a meal prepared by Hart’s Turkey Farm and took part in a fun 50/50 raffle that included a cash prize, a new Hoosier tire donated by Bear Ridge Speedway, a free 2026 SCoNE competitor’s license, a wash bucket from O’Reilly Auto Parts, and several other prizes.
McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England
Final 2025 Championship Standings
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
# – denotes rookie
- (90) Matt Tanner, Stephentown, NY – 638 (5)
- (23B) Travis Billington, South Glens Falls, NY – 566 (1)
- (73) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH – 547
- (07) Matt Hoyt, Campton, NH – 543 (2)
- (12T) # Tyler Chartrand, Johnsonville, NY – 493 (1)
- (23NH) Caiden Herbert, New Hampton, NH – 492 (1)
- (12) Kadyn Berry, Goffstown, NH – 485
- (19) Floyd Billington, South Glens Falls, NY – 477
- (89) Troy Comeau, Wentworth, NH – 444
- (61) Will Hull, Plainfield, VT – 420
Award Winners:
- Dennis “Pep” Douville Spirit of Racing Award: Dennis Douville, Bridgewater, NH
- Award of Appreciation: Matt Anderson, Franklin, NH
- Sportsmanship Award: Troy Comeau, Wentworth, NH
- Most Improved Driver Award: Mac MacDuffie, Salisbury, NH
- Mechanic of the Year Award: Henry Tanner, Stephentown, NY & P.J. Roder, Stephentown, NY
- Dave Bowser Motorsports Rookie of the Year Award: Tyler Chartrand, Johnsonville, NY
- Bear Ridge Speedway Track Champion: Caiden Herbert, New Hampton, NH
- Maine State Champion: Travis Billington, South Glens Falls, NY
- Lacaillade Masonry/LA Transportation Services Lake Champlain Series Champion: Tyler Chartrand, Johnsonville, NY
