The 16-year-old Lawrence Area School pupil won the New Zealand ministocks federated track title at Kaikoura on Queen's Birthday weekend.
A self-confessed adrenalin junkie, Mark was unstoppable, winning all three heats to claim the main prize and was pretty "pumped" afterwards.
His 1200cc ministock reaches speeds of up to 80kmh, and the Kaikoura track made for some entertaining racing.
Unlike most tracks, which are oval, the Kaikoura track has a "dog-leg" corner, an S-bend and a "big sweeper" to keep the drivers interested.
Mark managed to avoid the carnage, which is just as well because the purpose-built racing cars are worth $2500 to $5000.
"In the first heat I got through and a car rolled behind me," he said.
Mark started towards the front of the pack in the first heat and powered away to win.
But he started in the middle of a field of about 20 ministocks in the second heat, and had to weave his way through the traffic to win.
In the final heat Mark was a marked driver and had to start from the back.
The other competitors did their best to block his path through but there was no slowing him down.
"When they knew I was leading they tried to attack me, but I was too fast for them," he said.
Mark took up the sport when he was 12, and is young enough to race ministocks for another year.
After that he would like to step up to stockcars.
Ministock drivers are not allowed to bump other drivers, but the action can get hair-raising with the drivers jostling for position.
The vehicles are equipped with crash and roll bars, but the sport still requires an iron nerve.
