The NASCAR XFINITY Series is coming to Portland International Raceway next weekend.

It’s an exciting time for race fans and the drivers. One of those drivers is Eric Johnson Jr. of Woodland, Washington. Eric is just 20 years old and yet he is living in the fast lane. Eric is going to make his NASCAR Racing debut next weekend at Portland International Raceway.

Eric’s father, Eric Johnson Sr., was a race driver years ago and retired in the early 2000s. Junior followed in his footsteps.

“I never got to be a part of that environment,” says Eric Jr., “but I watched my dad’s old VHS tapes and watched all the NASCAR races growing up with him and eventually, the driving aspect of it, I got hooked on from video games.”

Eric learned fast and went fast.

“I drove a race car before I ever drove a street car,” says Eric, “which is pretty crazy to say you’re going over 100 mph on a racetrack before I ever went 20 mph on the street.

He made his real racing debut in 2019 at South Sound Speedway. He won the race and is winning on the track and in life.

Did I mention he builds cars? He built a super late model last December.

“It’s powered by a Chevy 350 sealed engine,” says Eric. “It makes about 420 horsepower to the wheel. We have a road racing late model over in the corner, that we’ll also run at Portland later this year in the Rose Cup Races.”

Eric started building cars when he was just 15 years old.

“My parents, I’m so grateful for them. They’ve been there every step of the way. They helped me get into it,” he says.

Now, Eric will make his NASCAR debut at Portland International Raceway for the Pacific Office Automation 147.

“My goal,” says Eric, “is to drive professionally for a living. Ever since I started, it’s been everything to me. It’ been a dream of mine. To get in a car every weekend and call that your job and profession, and if I can get to the point that I’m working and driving race cars for a living, I’ll be the happiest man on earth.”