Eric Johnson Jr. Bio
Eric Johnson Jr. (born February 17, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver from La Center, Washington. 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 is a graduate of the Pacific Northwest short-track scene who rose quickly from local Baby Grand competition to the ARCA national tour in only a few seasons.
Early Life and Background
Eric Johnson Jr. was born on February 17, 2003, in La Center, Washington, in the southwest part of the state near the Portland metro area. He grew up surrounded by short-track racing culture, with a family-operated shop where Late Models were prepped and maintained. The Washington racing community shaped his earliest understanding of car preparation, teamwork, and race-day discipline.
From a young age, Johnson worked alongside his family in their home shop, learning the mechanical side of the sport before he ever turned a competitive lap. That hands-on education built a strong foundation in setup work and race craft, giving him an unusual level of technical confidence for a driver his age. His roots in the Pacific Northwest continue to shape his approach to racing.
Path to NASCAR
Johnson began his racing career in 2019, competing in Baby Grand Stock Cars on regional short tracks. He scored multiple Baby Grand Series main event wins in 2021, establishing himself as one of the rising young talents in the local division. Those early victories provided the springboard he needed to take the next step up the stock car ladder.
In 2022, Johnson made his Super Late Model debut at Mission Valley Super Oval in a car he built alongside late model crew chief Travis Sharpe. He followed that with seven additional late model starts that season, posting five top-five finishes and a third-place result. After gaining further experience preparing and maintaining family-owned Late Models, Johnson transitioned to the ARCA Menards Series West in 2023.
Eric Johnson Jr. Career
Early Career (2019-2022)
Johnson opened his racing resume in 2019 in the Baby Grand Stock Cars, learning the basics of stock car racing in tightly contested regional fields. His breakout season came in 2021, when he collected multiple Baby Grand Series main event wins and built a reputation as a clean, consistent driver. That success convinced him it was time to test himself against faster, more experienced competitors.
In 2022, Johnson stepped up to Super Late Models at Mission Valley Super Oval, building his own race car with the help of crew chief Travis Sharpe. He balanced driving duties with shop work, continuing to prep family-owned Late Models in Washington. By season’s end, his résumé included a third-place run and five top-five finishes across seven starts, a strong return that validated his move up the ladder.
ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2023-2024)
On December 30, 2022, it was announced that Johnson would run part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West for Bill McAnally Racing in 2023, driving the No. 19 Chevrolet. He had previously served as a crew member and spotter for drivers including Derek Kraus, Jesse Love, and Cole Moore, gaining perspective that helped him prepare his own cars before each ARCA race alongside crew chief Chuck Jones. He made his series debut at Portland International Raceway, starting and finishing tenth after late-race contact resulted in a spin.
Johnson continued to learn on the job through the 2023 season. At Sonoma Raceway, he started eighteenth but retired with transmission issues midway through the race. He returned at Evergreen Speedway in a Toyota, racing from fourteenth to eleventh, then posted another solid result with a ninth-place finish at All American Speedway after starting eleventh. On January 19, 2024, it was announced that he would run the full West Series schedule in 2024, driving the No. 19 for BMR. He earned Rookie of the Year honors that season and finished sixth in the championship standings.
Jerry Pitts Racing Era (2025-Present)
On December 23, 2024, Johnson announced a major career step, signing to drive the No. 5 Toyota Camry full-time for Jerry Pitts Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2025. The move marked his first full-time ride with a single-car operation and a new team structure built around his development. The deal signaled growing confidence from team owners in the young Washington driver’s long-term potential.
Johnson opened the 2025 season with strong early form for Jerry Pitts Racing. Just three races into the schedule, he earned a career-best second-place result in a dramatic three-wide finish at Tucson Speedway. The result showed both his race craft and his growing comfort inside the No. 5 Toyota Camry.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson’s background as a mechanic and spotter gives him an unusually strong understanding of car setup and tire management. He is comfortable preparing his own race cars and communicating setup changes with his crew chief, a skill set that helps him adapt quickly between practice and qualifying. His late-model experience on short tracks translates well to the ARCA Menards Series West, where track position and mechanical sympathy often decide the outcome.
Notable Races and Milestones
Johnson’s 2025 second-place finish at Tucson Speedway stands as his career-best ARCA result to date. His 2024 Rookie of the Year honor in the ARCA Menards Series West, paired with a sixth-place points finish, marked his first major series-wide award. Earlier milestones include his 2021 Baby Grand Series wins and his 2022 Super Late Model debut at Mission Valley Super Oval.
Eric Johnson Jr. Career Wins
Eric Johnson Jr. is best known at this stage of his career for regional victories and a fast-developing ARCA résumé. His verified win total in the ARCA Menards Series West is not currently supported by the available verified data. His earlier Baby Grand Series main event wins in 2021 remain his most clearly documented victories.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
Johnson made his ARCA Menards Series West debut in 2023 at Portland International Raceway and quickly showed race-winning pace in the following seasons. In 2024, he earned Rookie of the Year honors after finishing sixth in the championship standings with Bill McAnally Racing. His career-best ARCA result came in 2025, when he finished second at Tucson Speedway in just his third start with Jerry Pitts Racing.
Other Wins & Performances
Before reaching the ARCA level, Johnson captured multiple Baby Grand Series main event wins in 2021, the foundation of his early stock car résumé. In 2022, he added a third-place Super Late Model finish and five top-five results across seven starts, helping him earn his first regional attention. Those performances opened the door to his 2023 ARCA opportunity with Bill McAnally Racing.
Eric Johnson Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Racing has long been a family pursuit for Eric Johnson Jr. He grew up around a family-owned shop in Washington, where he helped prep and maintain Late Models alongside relatives and crew members. That shop environment gave him both his mechanical education and his introduction to competitive racing. His early exposure to crew and spotting work with drivers such as Derek Kraus, Jesse Love, and Cole Moore reflects the close-knit nature of his racing community.
Personal Life
Eric Johnson Jr. continues to make his home in the Pacific Northwest, where his family shop remains an important part of his racing program. Public details about his personal life beyond his career are limited, and he is widely described as a focused, shop-oriented young driver.
2025 Season Performance
Johnson entered 2025 with a fresh opportunity at Jerry Pitts Racing, moving from Bill McAnally Racing’s No. 19 to the No. 5 Toyota Camry full-time. The early portion of his season produced his most promising ARCA results, capped by a runner-up finish at Tucson Speedway in just his third start. That result established him as a regular threat inside the top five.
Across the opening stretch of the ARCA Menards Series West schedule, Johnson paired consistency with steady improvement, putting himself in position to challenge for his first series victory. His pairing with Jerry Pitts Racing gave him a stable platform for the season, allowing him to focus on race execution rather than equipment uncertainty. Strong qualifying efforts and clean race runs through the early races suggested the No. 5 team was trending upward.
Looking ahead, Johnson’s 2025 outlook points toward his first potential ARCA Menards Series West victory and a deeper run in the championship standings. With the experience of his 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign behind him, he now aims to convert his growing pace into consistent top-five finishes and a shot at his first series win.