Eric Johnson Jr. Bio
Eric Johnson Jr. (born February 17, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series West and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 5 Toyota Camry for Jerry Pitts Racing. Johnson has built a reputation as a determined young racer who prepared many of his own cars early in his career before climbing the national stock car ladder.
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Johnson developed his craft on short tracks across Washington before moving into regional and national touring series. His progression from grassroots Baby Grand Stock Cars to Super Late Models and eventually the ARCA Menards Series West has marked him as one of the promising West Coast drivers of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Eric Johnson Jr. was born on February 17, 2003, in La Center, Washington. Growing up in a region with a deep short-track racing tradition, he was introduced to motorsports at a young age through local competition. La Center and the surrounding Clark County area provided a steady stream of grassroots racing events that helped shape his early interest in stock cars.
Coming from a family involved in racing, Johnson spent his formative years around cars and race shops. His family owned Late Models that were maintained at their shop in Washington, giving him direct exposure to vehicle preparation and race engineering from a young age. This hands-on environment played a key role in building his technical understanding of race cars.
Johnson began racing Baby Grand Stock Cars in 2019, quickly establishing himself as a competitive driver at the entry level of American stock car racing. His early results on local tracks laid the foundation for a steady climb through the developmental ranks of the sport.
Path to NASCAR
Johnson’s climb through the racing ladder started with the Baby Grand Series, where he captured multiple main event wins in 2021. Those victories showcased his race craft and helped him earn opportunities at the next level. Following that successful season, he made his Super Late Model debut in 2022 at Mission Valley Super Oval in a car he built alongside late model crew chief Travis Sharpe.
That same year, Johnson continued prepping and maintaining his family-owned Late Models at their Washington shop while competing in select Super Late Model events. He posted impressive results, recording a third-place finish along with five top-five results across seven starts. His ability to combine driving duties with car preparation set him apart from many of his peers.
On December 30, 2022, it was announced that Johnson would run part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 19 Chevrolet for Bill McAnally Racing. Before that move, he had served as a crew member and spotter for drivers including Derek Kraus, Jesse Love, and Cole Moore, gaining valuable experience inside race teams.
Eric Johnson Jr. Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Johnson began his competitive career in 2019 in Baby Grand Stock Cars, learning the fundamentals of stock car racing on short tracks in the Pacific Northwest. Over the next two seasons, he developed into a consistent winner, capturing multiple Baby Grand Series main event victories in 2021.
That momentum carried into 2022, when he transitioned to Super Late Models. He debuted at Mission Valley Super Oval in a car he built with late model crew chief Travis Sharpe, then balanced driving duties with car preparation at his family’s Washington shop. His results, including a third-place finish and five top-five efforts in seven starts, confirmed his readiness for a step up in competition.
ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Johnson made his ARCA Menards Series West debut in 2023 driving the No. 19 Chevrolet for Bill McAnally Racing. His first start came at Portland International Raceway, where he started and finished tenth after late-race contact led to a spin. At Sonoma Raceway, he started eighteenth but was forced out early by transmission issues and finished twenty-seventh. Returning at Evergreen Speedway in a Toyota, he started fourteenth and finished eleventh, followed by an eleventh-to-ninth run at All American Speedway.
On January 19, 2024, Johnson announced he would run the full ARCA Menards Series West schedule in 2024 with Bill McAnally Racing. The season proved successful, as he earned Rookie of the Year honors after finishing sixth in the championship standings. His consistent results across the West schedule established him as a regular winner contender in the series.
Jerry Pitts Racing Era (2025–Present)
On December 23, 2024, it was announced that Johnson would drive the No. 5 Toyota Camry full-time for Jerry Pitts Racing in 2025. The move marked a new chapter for the young Washington native, partnering with a long-established ARCA team.
Just three races into the 2025 season, Johnson recorded a career-best result of second place in a dramatic three-wide finish at Tucson Speedway. The result highlighted his growing comfort with the team and his ability to compete at the front of the field in the ARCA Menards Series West.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson is recognized for his smooth, calculated approach on short tracks and road courses. His experience preparing his own cars gives him strong feedback for crew chief Chuck Jones and the Jerry Pitts Racing team, allowing for detailed setup conversations. He has shown poise in traffic and an ability to capitalize on late-race opportunities, as seen in his three-wide run at Tucson Speedway.
Notable Races and Milestones
Johnson’s career milestones include his first ARCA Menards Series West start at Portland International Raceway, his 2024 ARCA Menards Series West Rookie of the Year award, and his career-best second-place finish at Tucson Speedway in 2025. Each step has marked steady progress through the national stock car ladder.
Eric Johnson Jr. Career Wins
Eric Johnson Jr. has built his win ledger from the grassroots level upward, beginning with multiple Baby Grand Series main event victories in 2021. His transition into Super Late Models and the ARCA Menards Series West produced strong results and a 2024 Rookie of the Year honor, with continued momentum in 2025 with Jerry Pitts Racing.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
In the ARCA Menards Series West, Johnson has recorded consistent top finishes, including a career-best second place at Tucson Speedway in 2025. His 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign, which ended with a sixth-place finish in the championship standings, marked his most decorated season in the series to date.
Other Wins and Performances
Johnson captured multiple Baby Grand Series main event wins in 2021, which served as the foundation for his move into Super Late Models. In his first Super Late Model season in 2022, he posted a third-place finish and five top-five results across seven starts, confirming his potential at higher levels.
Eric Johnson Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Johnson comes from a family with ties to short-track racing in Washington. His family owned Late Models that were prepared and maintained at their shop in the state, and that hands-on involvement shaped his early path in the sport. Before his ARCA opportunity, he also worked as a crew member and spotter for drivers including Derek Kraus, Jesse Love, and Cole Moore, deepening his family-style connection to the racing community.
Personal Life
Eric Johnson Jr. continues to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where his family’s shop remains an important part of his racing life. Public personal details beyond his racing career are limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Eric Johnson Jr.’s first full year with Jerry Pitts Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West. Driving the No. 5 Toyota Camry, he has quickly adapted to his new team and shown front-running pace early in the schedule.
His standout moment came at Tucson Speedway, where a three-wide finish produced a career-best second-place result in just his third start of the year. The performance signaled his potential to contend for victories as the season continues and as his partnership with crew chief Chuck Jones develops.
With the Rookie of the Year phase behind him and a stable team environment in place, Johnson enters the rest of 2025 focused on converting strong finishes into his first ARCA Menards Series West victory. His progression through 2025 will be closely watched as he builds on the foundation of his early career.