Josh Berry
Josh Berry (born October 22, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 21 Ford Mustang for Wood Brothers Racing.[1][2] Born in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Berry began his racing career at age eight in the Tennessee Karting Association, progressing through karting circuits including the World Karting Association in 2001 before transitioning to Legends cars in 2006 and joining JR Motorsports in 2010.[3][1] He achieved early success in short-track racing, securing 21 wins in the CARS Late Model Stock Car Series and competing full-time in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, where he won the 2020 national championship.[1] Berry made his NASCAR national series debut in the Xfinity Series in 2014 at Iowa Speedway, finishing 12th, and went on to earn five victories in 97 starts, including his first win in April 2021 at Martinsville Speedway and a Championship 4 appearance in 2022 after triumphs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[1][3] In the Cup Series, he debuted in 2021 at Dover Motor Speedway and recorded his maiden victory on March 16, 2025, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Pennzoil 400, marking the 53rd start of his Cup career and Wood Brothers Racing's 101st win in the series.[4][5][6] In the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Berry notched one win, three top-five finishes, eight top-10s, and 207 laps led, concluding the year with a 16th-place points standing and a top-10 result at Phoenix Raceway.[1][2] He has also made 11 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and competed in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards East Series.[1]Early life
Family background and childhood
Josh Berry was born on October 22, 1990, in Hendersonville, Tennessee.[1] He grew up in a family of racing enthusiasts, which fueled his early passion for motorsports.[7] Berry's childhood took a profound turn at age 12 with the unexpected death of his mother, an event he has described as deeply traumatic: "I don’t really talk about this a whole lot, but I lost my mother unexpectedly when I was 12 years old. For lack of a better term, I just woke up to it — that traumatic of an experience."[8] With his father employed full-time, Berry was compelled to assume significant responsibilities early on, including handling his own laundry, cooking, and schoolwork independently.[8] This loss shaped his resilience, as he later reflected that it provided perspective on challenges: "It puts tough days at the racetrack in perspective, and I’m thankful for that."[8] During this period, working on race cars in the garage served as a constructive outlet, helping him avoid trouble and channel his energy positively.[8]Introduction to racing
Josh Berry's passion for racing was nurtured in his childhood in Tennessee, where his family were avid race fans who frequently attended local events. Growing up watching stock car races, Berry received his first go-kart as an eighth birthday gift in 1998, at age eight, which ignited his competitive drive and led to his initial forays into grassroots motorsports.[7][9] With strong support from his parents, who accompanied him to tracks, Berry began competing in local go-kart events around Tennessee, honing his skills on small circuits. This early involvement evolved into racing a self-built four-cylinder car at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, where he gained practical experience in mechanical preparation and on-track performance during his pre-teen and teenage years.[7] The family's hands-on approach, including building and maintaining the car, instilled a deep understanding of racing fundamentals from the outset.[7] Berry's progression faced a significant setback following the unexpected death of his mother, which imposed financial and emotional strains, prompting a brief hiatus from racing shortly after age 12. Undeterred, he resumed competition in his mid-teens, entering Legend Car racing at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2006 at age 15-16, where he quickly excelled by securing six championships.[7][9][10] These formative experiences in go-karts and Legend Cars laid the groundwork for his ascent in stock car racing, emphasizing perseverance and self-reliance.[9]Professional racing career
Late model stock car racing
Josh Berry began his late model stock car racing career after gaining attention through online sim racing platforms, leading to an opportunity with JR Motorsports in 2010. Driving the No. 88 Speedco Chevrolet full-time, he quickly established himself as a dominant force in Southeast short-track racing, accumulating 94 wins across regional events during his tenure with the team.[11][12] Berry's success in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour was particularly notable, where he secured 21 victories and clinched the driver's championship in 2017, marking his third title with JR Motorsports overall. In 2016, he won the South Boston Speedway Late Model Stock Car championship and contributed to the CARS Tour owner's championship for the team. His prowess extended to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, where he captured the national title in 2020, the first for both Berry and JR Motorsports in that series. These accomplishments solidified his reputation as one of the top late model drivers of the 2010s.[1][13][11] Among his standout victories was the 2019 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, where Berry started from the pole and led every lap to claim the win in the prestigious late model event. Other key triumphs included the Fall Brawl, Bobby Isaac Memorial, and Myrtle Beach 400, showcasing his consistency on short tracks. Berry remained a full-time late model competitor with JR Motorsports until 2020, transitioning to part-time starts in 2021 with his final race at Florence Motor Speedway later that year.[13][12]ARCA Menards Series
Berry made two starts in the ARCA Menards Series, debuting in 2018 and returning in 2022, driving for different teams in each outing. He also competed in the ARCA Menards East Series, making five starts with a best finish of second at Dover in 2021.[14] His debut came on September 15, 2018, at Salem Speedway in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200, where he qualified second and finished fourth in a Ford fielded by Chad Bryant Racing. Berry led 10 laps during the 200-lap event, marking a strong performance in his first national series start outside of late models.[15][16] Berry's second ARCA Menards Series appearance was on November 4, 2022, at Phoenix Raceway in the General Tire 150, piloting the No. 17W Chevrolet for McGowan Motorsports. Starting 11th, he completed all 150 laps to finish eighth, earning his second top-10 result in as many starts.[17][18] Across his limited ARCA Menards Series career, Berry has zero wins, one top-five finish, two top-10 finishes, and no pole positions, with an average finishing position of sixth.[19]NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Berry has competed in 11 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with one start in 2016 and ten in 2021. His series debut occurred on September 16, 2016, at Chicagoland Speedway, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet for Contreras Motorsports to a 13th-place finish.[20][21] In 2021, Berry made ten starts, beginning with the No. 02 Chevrolet for Young's Motorsports at [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]], filling in for Kris Wright who tested positive for COVID-19, where he finished 22nd.[22] He then drove nine races for Rackley W.A.R. in the No. 25 Chevrolet, replacing [[Timothy Peters]] midway through the season. His best performance was a tenth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway. Most of his other results were between 11th and 20th.[23] Berry concluded the year with no wins, no top fives, and one top ten. Detailed results are available in the Motorsports career results section.[24][25]NASCAR Xfinity Series
Berry's entry into the NASCAR Xfinity Series came in 2014, when he made his debut at Iowa Speedway for JR Motorsports in the No. 5 Chevrolet, starting 10th and finishing 12th. Over the next several years, he made limited appearances, primarily at short tracks and road courses, accumulating eight starts before 2021 with no top-10 finishes. These early outings highlighted his short-track prowess but were constrained by funding and opportunities.[26][27] In 2021, Berry joined JR Motorsports for a part-time schedule in the No. 8 Chevrolet, originally planned for 12 races but ultimately competing in 12, backed by sponsors including Tire Pros. Additionally, he made five starts with Jordan Anderson Racing in the No. 31 Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio (finishing 8th), Pocono (9th), Atlanta (23rd), Richmond (24th), and the fall Martinsville race (28th), earning two top-10 finishes with a best of 8th at Mid-Ohio. Berry also substituted for the injured Michael Annett, who suffered a stress fracture in his right leg, in JR Motorsports' No. 1 Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (finishing 4th on July 17) and Michigan International Speedway (finishing 8th on August 21). After Annett returned for three more races following Michigan (Watkins Glen, Darlington, and Richmond) before re-injuring his leg and being eliminated from the playoffs, Berry substituted for him at Bristol Motor Speedway (finishing 35th on September 17), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (finishing 1st on September 25), and Talladega Superspeedway (finishing 9th on October 2), for a total of 22 starts across the season. He quickly established himself as a contender, securing two victories. His maiden win occurred on April 10 at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 8, where he passed Ty Gibbs with 28 laps remaining to lead the final 28 circuits and claim the checkered flag by 0.590 seconds, marking the first victory for the No. 8 since Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2006. Later that season, on September 25 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the No. 1, Berry led 112 laps en route to another triumph, spearheading a JR Motorsports sweep of the top three positions ahead of Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson. These results propelled him to 17th in the final driver points standings, with six top-five finishes overall.[28][29][11][30][31][32] Berry returned to the No. 8 for JR Motorsports in 2022 on a full-time basis, again running 33 events with sponsorship from similar partners. He elevated his performance that year, capturing three wins and advancing to the playoffs' Championship 4 for the first time. His victories included a dominant performance at Dover Motor Speedway on April 30, leading the final 55 laps for his first win of the season; a May 28 triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his second of the year amid JR Motorsports' strong form; and a playoff-clinching win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 15, where he led 65 laps to secure his spot in the final round at Phoenix Raceway. Berry notched 11 top fives and 20 top 10s, led 356 laps, and had only 2 DNFs, culminating in a career-best fourth-place points finish.[33][34][35] The 2023 season marked Berry's third consecutive full-time campaign with JR Motorsports in the No. 8, where he competed in 33 races. Although he did not secure a victory, Berry delivered consistent results with 12 top-five finishes—including runner-up efforts at Darlington Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway—and 19 top 10s. He earned three pole positions, at Sonoma Raceway, Iowa Speedway, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and led 320 laps across the year. Berry concluded the season 11th in the driver points standings, showcasing his growth into a reliable playoff-caliber performer.[11][36] Following his promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing in the No. 4 car in 2024, Berry made two additional Xfinity starts for AM Racing in the No. 15 Ford Mustang: a 27th-place finish at Pocono Raceway on July 13 and a 38th-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 20 after a lap 1 crash. Over his Xfinity career spanning 98 starts from 2014 to 2024, Berry amassed five wins, 29 top fives (29.6% rate), 51 top 10s (52.0% rate), three poles, 992 laps led, and an average finish of 13.8, primarily with JR Motorsports. His success in the series paved the way for his full-time NASCAR Cup Series opportunity, underscoring his transition from late-model standout to national series winner.[37][38]NASCAR Cup Series
Berry made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2021, substituting for Spire Motorsports in the No. 77 Chevrolet at the Drydene 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, as primary driver Justin Haley was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols, where he finished 30th after running the full distance.[39][40] He made one additional start that year at the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, finishing 26th in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, substituting for Corey LaJoie who was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.[41][40] In 2023, Berry returned to the series for 11 starts, primarily as a relief and substitute driver. He drove the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in five races subbing for the injured Chase Elliott starting at Las Vegas. In his second start of the season at Phoenix Raceway on March 12, he scored his first top-10 finish in the Cup Series, placing 10th. His best finish in these starts was second place at the Richmond Raceway race in April.[42][43] He also drove the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick in the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and three points races—Dover Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and Darlington Raceway—subbing for Alex Bowman, who was sidelined due to a fractured vertebra from a sprint car crash, with a best finish of 10th at Dover. In the All-Star Race on May 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Berry won the All-Star Open to advance to the main event, finishing 15th.[40][44][45] He made two starts for Legacy Motor Club in the No. 42 Chevrolet, substituting for Noah Gragson, who was suspended by the team for liking an insensitive meme on Instagram related to George Floyd's death ahead of the Michigan weekend; Berry crashed there and finished 34th at Michigan International Speedway, then returned at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in August and finished 22nd. These appearances showcased his potential, earning him a top-10 finish three times overall that year.[40][46] Berry transitioned to a full-time role in 2024 with Stewart-Haas Racing, replacing the retiring Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Ford across all 36 races.[47] Berry started the 2024 season with a 25th-place finish in the Daytona 500.[48] His season highlights included third-place finishes at Darlington Raceway in May and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June, along with top-10 finishes of 10th at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 7th at Iowa Speedway (leading 32 laps).[40] A notable incident occurred during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in August, where Berry, while in contention for the win down the backstretch, made contact with Austin Cindric's No. 2 Ford, causing his No. 4 Ford to go airborne in a blowover, flip once, and land upside down against the wall; he walked away uninjured but suffered a DNF.[49][50] Berry ended the 2024 season with a 24th-place finish in the Championship race at Phoenix Raceway.[51] He ended the year 27th in the driver points standings with 579 points and 0 wins, 2 top-5 finishes, 4 top-10 finishes, and 96 laps led, recording an average finish of 22.7 and 10 DNFs.[52] For 2025, following the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of 2024, Berry joined Wood Brothers Racing in the No. 21 Ford, replacing Harrison Burton and marking a significant step in his career with the historic team.[53][54] Berry began the 2025 season with a 37th-place finish in the Daytona 500 after being involved in a multi-car crash on lap 63, followed by a DNF at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing 25th due to an accident on lap 265 despite winning Stage 1 and leading 56 laps.[55][56][57] He achieved his first Cup Series victory in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, leading 18 laps en route to the win after starting 21st in qualifying.[40] Following his win, Berry achieved a 6th-place finish at Kansas Speedway in race 12 but then struggled through the summer, recording no top-10 finishes until an 8th at Richmond Raceway in August.[58][59] During this period, he was involved in incidents at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Chicago Street Course, contributing to his inconsistency.[60][61] Berry qualified for the playoffs but faced inconsistency and misfortune in the Round of 16, suffering DNFs in all three races: a Lap 1 crash at Darlington Raceway in the September playoff event,[62] contact with Chase Elliott on lap 35 at World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway) that sent him spinning into the wall,[63] and a mechanical failure due to a right front tire issue at Bristol Motor Speedway in Stage 1, leading to his elimination from the playoffs.[64] A week later, on September 21, he secured a second-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.[65] One week later at Kansas Speedway, Berry suffered a DNF, finishing 33rd. He closed out the season with a 10th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway and a 7th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway.[40][66] Overall, Berry tallied three top-five finishes and eight top-10s, finishing 16th in the final points standings with 2,882 points.[67]Personal life
Family and marriage
Josh Berry has been married to Ginny Berry since April 27, 2018.[68] The couple began dating in 2012, after meeting through mutual connections in the racing community.[69] Ginny, a registered nurse, maintains a low public profile but frequently supports Berry at NASCAR events and shares family moments on social media.[70] The Berrys have two daughters. Their first child, Mackenzie Berry, was born on January 7, 2020.[69] Their second daughter, Charlotte Blake Berry, arrived in October 2024.[70]Residence and early occupations
Berry resides in Hendersonville, Tennessee, his hometown located just outside Nashville.[71] Before his racing career provided a full-time livelihood, Berry held a job as a bank teller at Volunteer State Bank in Hendersonville to support himself financially.[72][73] During this period, he also attended Volunteer State Community College for one year, balancing his studies with work amid his early racing pursuits.[71][74]Motorsports career results
NASCAR Cup Series
| Year | Team(s) | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Spire Motorsports | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40th |
| 2023 | Hendrick Motorsports / Legacy Motor Club | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 383 | 32nd |
| 2024 | Stewart-Haas Racing | 36 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 112 | 2424 | 23rd |
| 2025 | Wood Brothers Racing | 36 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 512 | 2150 | 16th |
| Career | - | 85 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 669 | - | - |
NASCAR Xfinity Series
| Year | Team | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | JR Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 46th |
| 2016 | Various | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 42nd |
| 2017 | Various | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 56th |
| 2018–2020 | Various | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - |
| 2021 | JR Motorsports | 33 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 245 | 3186 | 10th |
| 2022 | JR Motorsports | 33 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 0 | 456 | 3512 | 4th |
| 2023 | JR Motorsports | 33 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 3 | 320 | 3324 | 11th |
| 2024 | AM Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 69th |
| Career | - | 109 | 5 | 31 | 54 | 3 | 1021 | - | - |
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
| Year | Team(s) | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Contreras Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 35th |
| 2021 | Young's Motorsports / Rackley W.A.R. | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 687 | 20th |
| Career | - | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 767 | - |
ARCA Menards Series
| Year | Team | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Chad Bryant Racing | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 185 | 18th |
| 2022 | McGowan Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 21st |
| Career | - | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 345 | - |
CARS Late Model series
| Year | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | - |
| 2015 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 8 | - |
| 2016 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 9 | - |
| 2017 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
| 2018 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 7 | - |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | - |
| 2020 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - |
| Career | 56 | 22 | 40 | 50 | 1 |