Berry to Make Nationwide Debut at Iowa
Josh Berry of Hendersonville, TN will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Iowa Speedway Saturday night. He will drive the #5 Tackle Grab Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. Berry tested a Nationwide car on July 14 at Motor Mile.
The #5 team has a 6.8 average finish in 13 starts, including three wins, nine top fives and 10 top 10s. Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick have scored wins at Richmond, Kentucky and Daytona. Rookie Austin Theriault has made two of his three scheduled starts, with a best finish of fifteenth at Iowa in May.
A Late Model driver for JR Motorsports since 2010, Berry’s became eligible for Nationwide competition after two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts. Berry drove the Speedco #45 at Greenville Pickens and Richmond for Darin Odle Motorsports.
“I’ve been very fortunate the past few years to have them supporting my career and wanting me to move up.”
“For our first showing, I felt like it went pretty well,” Berry said of his March 22 debut. “We were pretty quick, qualified fifth, and had a solid run going until getting caught up in some trouble at the end.”
Berry has made 16 starts at Hickory, Southern National and South Boston and is ranked 26th nationally for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. He has five wins at Hickory and one at Southern National.
The JR Motorsports Late Model program is leading the field at Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, NC. Berry (#88 Speedco) and rookie teammate William Byron (#9 Liberty University) are first and second in the standings at the historic .363 oval.
Berry would like to claim a championship at Hickory to go with his Motor Mile title. Berry’s 2012 championship was the first for the JR Motorsports Late Model team.
Reflecting on last season, Berry said, “We had a solid season. We raced the toughest competition every week. We were able to get two wins, and I felt like we could’ve had several more if not for some bad luck.”
Berry began his career after receiving a Go Kart for his eighth birthday. He wanted to be like his dad, who drove karts. Berry raced locally before moving up to WKA national competition. He went Legends Car racing in 2006, earning track championships at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville and Huntsville.
The U.S. Cellular 250 presented by New Holland airs on ESPN Saturday at 8PM ET.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com