Josh Berry
Joshua William Berry (born October 22, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver, driver coach, and crew chief. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the Nos. 9 and 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1's for Hendrick Motorsports as a relief driver for Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman respectively and the No. 42 Camaro ZL1 for Legacy Motor Club as a fill-in driver for Noah Gragson. 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]
Josh Berry | |||||||
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Born | Joshua William Berry October 22, 1990 Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S. | ||||||
Achievements | All-Time Wins Leader in the CARS Tour overall and CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour (22) 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Champion 2017 CARS Late Model Stock Tour Champion 2016 Fall Brawl Winner (LMSC) 2017 Myrtle Beach 400 Winner 2017 Bobby Isaac Memorial Winner 2018, 2021 Throwback 276 Winner (LMSC) 2019 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Winner 2020, 2021 Old North State Nationals Winner 2021 Hampton Heat 200 Winner 2021, 2022 Thanksgiving All-Star Classic 150 Winner 2021 Battle Of The Stars Winner 2022 Icebreaker 125 Winner 2022 Jack Ingram Memorial Winner 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race Open winner | ||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
12 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Car no., team | Nos. 9/48 (Hendrick Motorsports) No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club) | ||||||
2021 position | 60th | ||||||
Best finish | 60th (2021) | ||||||
First race | 2021 Drydene 400 (Dover) | ||||||
Last race | 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 (Daytona) | ||||||
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NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
87 races run over 7 years | |||||||
Car no., team | No. 8 (JR Motorsports) | ||||||
2022 position | 4th | ||||||
Best finish | 4th (2022) | ||||||
First race | 2014 U.S. Cellular 250 (Iowa) | ||||||
Last race | 2023 Contender Boats 300 (Homestead) | ||||||
First win | 2021 Cook Out 250 (Martinsville) | ||||||
Last win | 2022 Alsco Uniforms 302 (Las Vegas) | ||||||
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
11 races run over 2 years | |||||||
2021 position | 102nd | ||||||
Best finish | 92nd (2016) | ||||||
First race | 2016 American Ethanol E15 225 (Chicagoland) | ||||||
Last race | 2021 United Rentals 200 (Martinsville) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series career | |||||||
2 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Best finish | 74th (2018) | ||||||
First race | 2018 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 (Salem) | ||||||
Last race | 2022 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series East career | |||||||
4 races run over 3 years | |||||||
Best finish | 31st (2019) | ||||||
First race | 2014 Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 (Greenville) | ||||||
Last race | 2021 General Tire 125 (Dover) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
Best finish | 53rd (2022) | ||||||
First race | 2022 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of September 15, 2023. |
Racing career
Early career and late model racing
Berry met his future car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008 when competing in an online sim racing league called DMP Online Racing. At the time, he was Legends car racing at his home track of Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville while also attending Volunteer State Community College and working as a bank teller to fund his racing career. Earnhardt Jr. then signed Berry to his JR Motorsports team in 2010 to compete in late model racing.[2]
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]
On May 17, 2023 Berry was the crew chief for Dale Earnhardr Jr. in the CARS Tour Window World 125 late model race at North Wilkesboro Speedway[7]
2014–2021
Berry's first NASCAR Xfinity Series race came at Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. He started tenth and finished twelfth, finishing on the lead lap.[8] He returned to the 5 car for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, again logging a lead-lap finish in 25th. He finished his debut season 50th in points. He returned to JR Motorsports for one race in 2015, finishing seventh at Richmond International Raceway. In 2016, his first race of the season was at Iowa, where he finished ninth in the No. 88 for JR Motorsports. He returned to that car in the first race of the Xfinity Series Playoffs, at Kentucky Speedway and ended up finishing 13th.[9] Berry also made one start for Obaika Racing, finishing 27th at Darlington Raceway.[10] Berry also debuted in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series during the 2016 season, driving the No. 71 Contreras Motorsports truck to a 13th-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
In 2017, Berry made his first Xfinity Series start of the season, attempting the Kansas race for newly-formed NextGen Motorsports, driving their No. 55 Toyota.[11] After qualifying 33rd, he finished 34th after suffering an engine failure on lap 182.[12]
In 2018, Berry made his debut in the ARCA Racing Series, driving for Chad Bryant Racing in their No. 22 Ford at Salem Speedway in April of that year, finishing 4th. In 2019, he drove for Visconti Motorsports and finished 3rd in their No. 74 car in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at New Hampshire in September, which was his first start in that series. These were his only starts in NASCAR or ARCA in both of these years.
2021
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 NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway, substituting for Justin Haley in the Spire Motorsports No. 77 car after Haley was sidelined by COVID-19 protocols,[17] marking the second time that Berry was called on to fill in for a driver that had to miss a race because of COVID-19. He also drove in his second ARCA Menards Series East (formerly NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) race that weekend in the No. 41 for Cook-Finley Racing, which meant that he did triple duty that weekend at Dover. On May 26, it was announced that Berry would get to compete in the Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio road course in the No. 31 for Jordan Anderson Racing. Miguel Paludo was driving Berry's normal car, the No. 8 for JR Motorsports, in this race.[18]
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]
Personal life
Berry worked as a bank teller before his racing career provided a steady income.[31] 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.[32]
Motorsports career results
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Cup Series
NASCAR Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | NCSC | Pts | Ref |
2021 | Spire Motorsports | 77 | Chevy | DAY | DRC | HOM | LVS | PHO | ATL | BRD | MAR | RCH | TAL | KAN | DAR | DOV 30 |
COA | CLT | SON | NSH | POC | POC | ROA | ATL | NHA | GLN | IRC | 60th | 01 | [33] | ||||||||||||
7 | MCH 26 |
DAY | DAR | RCH | BRI | LVS | TAL | ROV | TEX | KAN | MAR | PHO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | Hendrick Motorsports | 9 | Chevy | DAY | CAL | LVS 29 |
PHO 10 |
ATL 18 |
COA | RCH 2 |
BRD 27 |
MAR | TAL | -* | -* | [34] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 | DOV 10 |
KAN 25 |
DAR 30 |
CLT | GTW | SON | NSH | CSC | ATL | NHA | POC | RCH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Motor Club | 42 | Chevy | MCH 34 |
IRC | GLN | DAY 22 |
DAR | KAN | BRI | TEX | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | Stewart-Haas Racing | 4 | Ford | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | BRI | COA | RCH | MAR | TEX | TAL | DOV | KAN | DAR | CLT | GTW | SON | IOW | NHA | NSH | CSC | POC | IND | RCH | MCH | DAY | DAR | ATL | GLN | BRI | KAN | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO |
Xfinity Series
Camping World Truck Series
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NCWTC | Pts | Ref |
2016 | Contreras Motorsports | 71 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | MAR | KAN | DOV | CLT | TEX | IOW | GTW | KEN | ELD | POC | BRI | MCH | MSP | CHI 13 |
NHA | LVS | TAL | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM | 92nd | 01 | [42] |
2021 | Young's Motorsports | 02 | Chevy | DAY | DRC | LVS | ATL 22 |
BRD | RCH | KAN | DAR | COA | CLT | 102nd | 01 | [43] | |||||||||||||
Rackley WAR | 25 | Chevy | TEX 10 |
NSH 19 |
POC 11 |
KNX 28 |
GLN 11 |
GTW 15 |
DAR 17 |
BRI 11 |
LVS | TAL | MAR 28 |
PHO |
* 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 Racing Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ARSC | Pts | Ref |
2018 | Chad Bryant Racing | 22 | Ford | DAY | NSH | SLM 4 |
TAL | TOL | CLT | POC | MCH | MAD | GTW | CHI | IOW | ELK | POC | ISF | BLN | DSF | SLM | IRP | KAN | 74th | 215 | [44] |
2022 | McGowan Motorsports | 17w | Chevy | DAY | PHO 8 |
TAL | KAN | CLT | IOW | BLN | ELK | MOH | POC | IRP | MCH | GLN | ISF | MLW | DSF | KAN | BRI | SLM | TOL | 80th | 36 | [45] |
ARCA Menards Series East
ARCA Menards Series East results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | AMSEC | Pts | Ref |
2014 | Darin Odle | 45 | Ford | NSM | DAY | BRI | GRE 24 |
RCH 17 |
IOW | BGS | FIF | LGY | NHA | COL | IOW | GLN | VIR | GRE | DOV | 47th | 47 | [46] |
2019 | Visconti Motorsports | 74 | Chevy | NSM | BRI | SBO | SBO | MEM | NHA | IOW | GLN | BRI | GTW | NHA 3 |
DOV | 31st | 41 | [47] | ||||
2021 | Cook-Finley Racing | 41 | Chevy | NSM | FIF | NSV | DOV 2 |
SNM | IOW | MLW | BRI | 33rd | 42 | [48] |
References
- "255 - Amy Earnhardt: Maximum Security". Player FM. Dirty Mo Media. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- Organ, Mike (May 13, 2021). "How Josh Berry went from Hendersonville bank teller to driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to making NASCAR Cup debut". The Tennessean. USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- Long, Dustin (April 23, 2015). "Timothy Peters wins Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown after last-lap fireworks". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Weaver, Matt (June 9, 2020). "CARS Tour suspends Josh Berry for intentionally crashing Bobby McCarty". Short Track Scene. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Marquis, Andy (October 18, 2020). "Josh Berry Lays Claim to National Championship with SNMP Sweep". Short Track Scene. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- Stretch, Front (August 31, 2022). "Josh Berry on Being Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Crew Chief". YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- Earnhardt Jr., Dale (May 15, 2023). "Dale Jr. tweets about Josh Berry being crew chief". Twitter. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- "2014 U.S. Cellular 250 - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- "Berry ready to make most of opportunity at Iowa". Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- "2016 VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- "NextGen & March Networks Support Disaster Relief". Speed Sport. October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- "2017 Kansas Lottery 300". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- Rutherford, Kevin (October 22, 2020). "Josh Berry Running Part Time for JR Motorsports in Xfinity in 2021". Frontstretch. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- Estrada, Chris (March 20, 2021). "Josh Berry aims to keep emotions in check, focus on winning". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- "Josh Berry wins at Martinsville for 1st career Xfinity victory". ESPN.com. ESPN. AP. April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- Estrada, Chris (March 19, 2021). "Truck Series driver Kris Wright tests positive for COVID-19". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- "Justin Haley out at Dover due to COVID-19 protocols; Josh Berry, Zane Smith to sub". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 14, 2021.
- "Josh Berry Running for Jordan Anderson Racing at Mid-Ohio". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- Walls, Dave (June 4, 2021). "Timothy Peters leaves Rackley WAR NASCAR Trucks team; Josh Berry steps in". WSET-TV. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- Utter, Jim (July 12, 2021). "Michael Annett to have surgery, could miss Xfinity playoffs". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- Estrada, Chris (August 16, 2021). "Josh Berry lands full-time 2022 Xfinity ride with JR Motorsports". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- "Corey LaJoie out at Michigan due to COVID-19 protocols; Josh Berry to sub". NASCAR. August 19, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "Josh Berry beats teammate Allgaier in JRM sweep at Las Vegas". USA Today. AP. September 25, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "Josh Berry wins at Las Vegas, punches ticket to Championship 4". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- Spencer, Reid (October 7, 2023). "Sam Mayer converts must-win at Charlotte Roval, advances in Xfinity Series Playoffs". NASCAR. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- "Chase Elliott to miss Las Vegas race; Josh Berry to sub". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- Long, Dustin (March 10, 2023). "Friday 5: Dale Jr. 'thrilled' Josh Berry back in Chase Elliott's car". NASCAR Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Albert, Zack (April 2, 2023). "Josh Berry celebrates career day as Richmond runner-up". NASCAR. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- "Alex Bowman to miss 3-4 weeks due to back injury; Josh Berry to fill in". NASCAR. April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- Sturniolo, Zach (June 21, 2023). "Belief carries Josh Berry to inaugural Cup ride at Stewart-Haas Racing". NASCAR. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- "320 - Chase Briscoe & Josh Berry: Defying the Odds". Radio.com. Dirty Mo Media. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "The Dale Jr. Download". Dirty Mo Media. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- "Josh Berry – 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- "Josh Berry – 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- "Josh Berry – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- "Josh Berry – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- "Josh Berry – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- "Josh Berry – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- "Josh Berry – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- "Josh Berry – 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- "Josh Berry – 2021 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- "Josh Berry – 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Official profile at JR Motorsports
- Josh Berry driver statistics at Racing-Reference