Jack Johnson (racing driver)

Jack Johnson (September 2, 1944 – April 1, 2021) was an American dirt modified racing driver. A six-time Mr. Dirt Champion and four-time Super DIRT Series Champion, Johnson won 428 Modified feature races at 35 tracks in 10 states and two Canadian provinces.[2][3]

Jack Johnson
BornJack R. Johnson
September 2, 1944
Duanesburg, New York
DiedApril 1, 2021(2021-04-01) (aged 76) [1]
Debut season1966
Car number12A
Championships18
Wins428
Finished last season2009
Championship titles
Mr. Dirt Champion
1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988

Racing career

Jack Johnson got his interest in racing from his father Rollie Johnson who raced sprint cars. After discharge from the Army in 1966, Jack began his Modified career at the Fonda Speedway (New York), where he went on to win 11 track championships.[2]

Johnson also won championships at the New York tracks at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Brewerton Speedway, Rolling Wheels Raceway, Utica-Rome Speedway, and Weedsport Speedway. In 1979 and again in 1984 Johnson won the Super Dirt Week main event at the Syracuse Mile.[1][2]

Jack Johnson was inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association and Eastern Motorsports Press Association Halls of Fame.[3][4] Johnson was also nominated to the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2002, but postponed his induction until 2012, saying that he had more races to win.[5][6]

Personal life

Jack Johnson's last win was at Sharon Speedway (Ohio) in 2009, as a crash sidelined him later that year. While in the hospital, doctors discovered a cancerous nodule on Johnson's right lung. He underwent surgery and began the recovery process. Shortly after the operation Johnson showed symptoms of ALS, and after a long battle he succumbed to the disease in 2021.[2][7]

References
  1. "Jack Johnson (NY)-Career Results by Series". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. "Longtime racer Jack Johnson dies". Times Union (Albany). April 3, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. "EMPA Hall of Fame-" Jumpin" Jack Johnson". Eastern Motorsport Press Association. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  4. Ellis, Jim (November 21, 2020). "Jack Johnson's iconic 12A on display at the Saratoga Automobile Museum". The Leader Herald. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  5. "Johnson, Beberwyk headed for Dirt Hall of Fame". The Daily Gazette. April 18, 2002. p. C6. Retrieved August 31, 2023 – via Google Books.
  6. Szczerba, Ron (May 31, 2002). "Johnson tells DIRT to wait". The Daily Gazette. p. C6. Retrieved August 31, 2023 – via Google Books.
  7. Elkins, Doug (June 10, 2010). "Jack Johnson's on a better road now". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
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