Eric Jr Finishes 11th (2nd in AMSW) at Phoenix Despite Issues

Eric Jr's No.5 Toyota Camry at Phoenix Raceway

In March 2025, Eric Johnson Jr. made his second ARCA Series West start of the 2025 season with Jerry Pitts Racing at Phoenix Raceway. The race, a combined event with the ARCA Central Series, brought a competitive 35-car field, and it also marked JPR’s first race with the new Illmore motor package. However, rain canceled practice and qualifying, leaving Eric with no laps of track time before the green flag and the team with no opportunity to gauge the cars performance.

Starting 15th based on owner points, Eric immediately faced handling issues with his car, struggling with rear grip. "The car is quick to react off the wall and comes unhooked in the rear as soon as it sets. I just need more grip. It feels like I'm on top of the track" he said on the radio. Despite the difficulties, he kept the car on the lead lap, running 18th at the halfway break.

During the break, the team made adjustments, and Eric began to fight his way through the field after the restart. With each restart, Eric gained ground, though the car remained loose. Around the lap 100 mark, Eric sustained left side damage while passing a lap car. The car made contact with Jr just behind the LF tire, caving in the door and opened the gaps of the crush panel (a divider seperating the driver from toxic exhaust fumes). With his helmet fan not working, Eric would have to fight through the effects of Carbon Monoxide poisoning as he finished the race. As the race wound down, a late yellow flag bunched up the field.

Eric found himself in the thick of things. With the late yellow flag rearranging the field, he saw an opportunity to capitalize. On the restart, Eric aggressively gained a couple positions, pushing hard without overdriving the car. In the final lap, he settled into 11th place, just a few spots behind the top contenders. What was even more impressive was that Eric was the second-highest finishing driver in the ARCA West Series, a testament to both his driving ability and his team’s resilience. As the checkered flag flew, Eric crossed the line side-by-side with point series leader Trevor Huddleston, barely holding him off for 11th overall. For Eric and Jerry Pitts Racing, it was a hard-fought race and an important milestone, especially considering the circumstances of no practice, no qualifying, and a challenging car setup. The result may not have been a win, but it was a strong finish in a competitive field, showing Eric's ability to adapt and fight until the very end.