Josh Berry

Josh Berry (born October 22, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart–Haas Racing. Berry is noted for getting his start as a standout in Late Model Stock Cars with JR Motorsports from 2010–2023 where he became the all-time winningest driver in CARS Tour history.^[1]

Racing career

Early career and late model racing

Berry met his future car owner

At the 2015 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, Berry spun Lee Pulliam while racing him and Timothy Peters for the lead on the final lap; Berry was moved down to 17th in the running order and drew criticism from Pulliam, who called Berry "the biggest joke in racing."^[3] After being spun by Bobby McCarty in CARS Tour at Motor Mile Speedway in 2019 and Ace Speedway in 2020, both times when Berry was leading the race, Berry intentionally wrecked McCarty later in the Ace Speedway race, resulting in a one-race suspension.^[4] Berry ditched a planned CARS schedule and instead focused on the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, winning 24 races en route to a national championship.^[5]

On August 31, 2022 Berry was the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the CARS Tour Window World 125 late model race at North Wilkesboro Speedway^[6] and on May 17, 2023 again for the race at North Wilkesboro Speedway the following season.^[7]

NASCAR and ARCA

2014–2021

Berry's first

On October 22, 2020, JR Motorsports announced that it had scheduled Berry to drive its No. 8 car for 12 races in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.^[13] At Phoenix Raceway, Berry was turned by Santino Ferrucci, prompting him to give Ferrucci double middle fingers as he drove by.^[14] He recorded his first Xfinity win at Martinsville upon passing Ty Gibbs for the lead with 28 laps remaining; Berry was the fifth driver to win his maiden race in the series at Martinsville alongside Sam Ard (1982), Brett Bodine (1985), Brad Teague (1987) and Jeff Burton (1990).^[15]

In March, Berry returned to the Truck Series for the first time since 2016. He substituted for Kris Wright in the No. 02 for Young's Motorsports after Wright tested positive for COVID-19.^[16]

In May, Berry made his

Another Truck return came in June in the No. 25 of Rackley WAR for three races at Texas, Nashville, and Pocono after the departure of Timothy Peters.^[19] A month later, he rejoined JRM for the Xfinity race at Loudon in the No. 1 after Michael Annett suffered a leg injury.^[20]

On August 16, Berry was confirmed to drive the No. 8 for JR Motorsports full time in 2022.^[21] Later in the week, he filled in for Spire's other Cup driver Corey LaJoie at Michigan when LaJoie was not allowed to compete due to COVID-19 protocols.^[22] When Annett was re-injured in September, Berry once again took over as replacement at Bristol and Las Vegas, and he won the latter after passing teammate Justin Allgaier with under 20 laps to go.^[23]

2022

Berry began the 2022 season with a 16th place finish at Daytona. He scored wins at Dover and Charlotte to make the playoffs. During the playoffs, Berry won at Las Vegas to make the Championship 4.^[24] Berry would ultimately finish fourth in the final points standings.

2023

During the 2023 season, Berry drove winless, but stayed consistent enough to make the playoffs. He was eliminated at the conclusion of the Charlotte Roval race.^[25]

On March 3, it was announced that Berry would run the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 at the Las Vegas Cup race after Chase Elliott sustained a leg injury from snowboarding in Colorado.^[26] Berry finished 10th the following week in the Cup Series race at Phoenix, and filled in for the next three oval races until Elliott recovered to return at Martinsville.^[27] Berry finished second at Richmond, his career best in the Cup Series.^[28] On April 26, Berry was announced as the substitute driver of the No. 48 after Alex Bowman suffered a back injury from a sprint car racing accident.^[29] On May 21, he raced in the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race in place of Bowman, qualifying 1st place in the open qualifying race, allowing him to compete in the main race, where he finished 15th. He would then be announced as the driver for Legacy Motor Club in the No. 42 at Michigan after Noah Gragson was suspended indefinitely. He would go on to finish 34th after being involved in a crash while running sixteenth.

2024

On June 21, 2023, Stewart–Haas Racing signed Berry as Kevin Harvick's replacement in the No. 4 in 2024.^[30]

At Talladega, Berry's car nearly flipped coming to the checkers with the back end of his car in the air, but managed to stay on all 4 wheels in the end. He was credited with a 16th place finish.

On May 28, 2024, Stewart–Haas Racing announced it would shut down its NASCAR operations at the end of the season.^[31]

Personal life

Berry worked as a bank teller before his racing career provided a steady income.^[32] He is a graduate of Volunteer State Community College.^[2] Berry is a former classmate of IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden in the 7th and 8th grades as well as Taylor Swift in high school.^[33]

Motorsports career results

Stock car career summary

^† As Berry was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

Daytona 500

Xfinity Series

Camping World Truck Series

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series West

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josh Berry.

• Official website
• Official profile at Stewart–Haas Racing
• Josh Berry driver statistics at Racing-Reference