Mark Johnson grew up in the New Jersey area. Early on he exhibited a keen interest in race boats, engines and all the details of competitive racing. He started racing when he was 14 in the T boat class in 1975. Teamed up with his Dad, he enjoyed immediate success and they won national championships and high point titles in that class. As he grew older Mark became very adept not only in all the hydro classes but in the Jersey Speed class as well. In 2000, he won the summer nationals in 3 separate classes on the same weekend in Hampton, Va. At years end, Mark was inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions. In 2002 at Decatur, Illinois, Mark piloted the Barker’s Rewinder to the summer nationals title. Later, the team won the eastern divisionals and UIM World championship. Which earned Mark another induction into the APBA Hall of Champions. He continued to drive the Rewinder, winning the Summer Nationals in 2003 and 2008.
In his later years, he also participated in the Vintage & Historic division as driver in the JSS class.
While a resident of Grand Island, Mark became involved as a worker in the pits for the NFBRA Thunder on the Niagara annual races . Mark was a superb driver on the course and a true sportsman. He was always there to help anyone in need in the racing community.
