Josh Berry, a stock car racer who has had a longstanding relationship with Chevy, is expected to join NASCAR Ford team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) as a Cup Series driver in 2024, according to a report by The Athletic.
Berry is reportedly in active negotiations with SHR, and a contract is likely to be finalized within the next few weeks. Berry will fill the open seat at SHR left by Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who is retiring from racing at NASCAR’s highest echelon at the end of the 2023 racing season. While nothing is set in stone as of this writing, Harvick’s departure leaves the No. 4 NASCAR Ford Mustang without a driver for 2024, meaning that Berry could assume the number.
Currently, Berry pilots the No. 8 Chevy Camaro fulltime in the Xfinity Series, which is fielded by JR Motorsports (JRM). However, lately, he has been given the chance to show his prowess as a potential Cup Series driver, as he has already substituted for several injured Chevy racers in 2023.
Chase Elliott had to step away from the No. 9 Camaro ZL1 in the Cup Series for several weeks due to a broken leg, and Berry was tapped by Elliott’s team, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) to race in his absence. Then, shortly after completing his stint in the No. 9 Camaro, Berry substituted in the No. 48 Camaro in place of Alex Bowman, another HMS racer. So far, Berry has made eight Cup Series starts in the 2023 season, with a best finish of second at Richmond Raceway on April 2nd.
Most of Berry’s experience in NASCAR has been behind the wheel of a Chevy, although he has previously raced for The Blue Oval in the ARCA Series in 2014 and 2018. His decision to join SHR would not be a surprise, as he certainly seems ready for fulltime Cup Series competition, and the open seat left by Harvick could provide Berry with the perfect opportunity to advance his racing career as a NASCAR Ford driver.
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