Josh Berry Reflects on Challenging First NASCAR Cup Series Rookie Year
Josh Berry's rookie NASCAR Cup Series season with Stewart-Haas Racing proved to be a challenging yet rewarding experience, marked by both significant achievements and unexpected challenges.
NASCAR driver beside racing car
Berry's season started with high expectations as he took over the No. 4 car from Kevin Harvick. However, the announcement of Stewart-Haas Racing's closure at the end of the year created early uncertainty for the team's 300+ employees.
Despite these challenges, Berry achieved notable success:
- 4 top-10 finishes
- 2 top-5 finishes
- Led laps in 10 different races
- Strong performance at Iowa Speedway, leading 32 laps
Key highlights included competitive runs at:
- Iowa
- New Hampshire
- Richmond
- Charlotte (Coca-Cola 600)
- Daytona
- Darlington
Significant challenges included:
- 10 DNFs throughout the season
- A dramatic crash at Daytona while leading
- Struggles at high-speed tracks like Pocono and Michigan
- Missing out on Rookie of the Year honors to Carson Hocevar
Berry showed particular strength on short tracks and unique intermediates like Darlington and Dover. Though he faced adaptation challenges with the Next Gen car at certain tracks, he demonstrated consistent improvement throughout the season.
Looking ahead to 2025, Berry will transition to the iconic No. 21 car with Wood Brothers Racing, where preparations are already underway. He enters this new chapter with valuable experience and lessons learned from his rookie season.
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