NASCAR racing celebrates and prompts the new wave of drivers and talent who are expected to lead the charge for their generation. While it is hard to break through as the finest stock car racing driver in the first place, the journey only gets tough for the novice driver. But the true signs of a championship-caliber driver can be identified in their first-ever season. Therefore, every year NASCAR hands out the Rookie of the Year award.

Last year, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs clinched the title without any real competition. With six top-10 and three top-5 results, he was named Rookie of the Year. However, the stakes are high in 2024, with multiple drivers battling it out to etch their names in the history books. After 22 races this season, it’s hard to decide which rookie driver is the favorite to win the award.

A three-way battle for the 2024 NASCAR Rookie of the Year

In total, there are four rookies in contention this season. Josh Berry, Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, and Kaz Grala. But with Grala running a partial schedule, it’s hard to see him pipe the other drivers for this honor. So, we’ll take a look at the performances of the remaining three drivers, trying to get an idea of who is leading the charge after 22 races.

Carson Hocevar, after his heroics during the 2023 Truck Series season, secured his promotion to the premier series at Spire Motorsports. Driving the No. 77 Chevy, the 21-year-old is still trying to get a hang of rubbing shoulders with the absolute best drivers in stock car racing. Despite not being able to run up front, he has managed to secure two top 10 finishes, which came at Texas and Gateway. But his ability to finish consistently inside the top 20 has been commendable. This is something he could build on for the rest of the season.

Up next, we have Zane Smith. Once again, a young talent who made his name in the Truck Series. In fact, he won the championship in 2022. Just like his teammate, Spire was quick to elevate him to the Cup level, and so far he’s given a fair account of his racecraft and talent. Although he might not have a consistent run like Hocevar, he’s shown a glimpse of brilliance in one or two races. A P2 finish at Nashville was an example of that, but he surely needs to work on staying out of trouble. Along with 4 DNF finishes, he’s finished 30th or worse in nine races so far.

However, a more mature Josh Berry looks to have found the right balance while driving the famed No. 4 SHR Ford in 2024. Berry is known for his impressive stint in late-model racing, which opened the door for him in the Xfinity Series at JRM. With five career wins and two full-time schedules, he made his way to the Cup Series. At 33, he is the eldest of the rookie drivers this season, but also the most consistent and competitive one so far.

The #4 car is far from running at his blistering pace like it did during its heydays under Kevin Harvick. But, making the most of the resources at his disposal, Berry has led the team to strong finishes. Two P3 finishes at Darlington and New Hampshire, along with two top 10 results. He also made sure that he found consistent speed, even if it resulted in a placement inside the top 20.

Currently placed in the 22nd spot in the points standings, he is the closest rookie driver to have a shot at making the playoffs. So, it’s fair to say that Berry is edging his rivals in the race to win the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award. Apart from aiming to win this title, Berry and his crew chief, Rodney Childers, have set a personal milestone they want to achieve this year.

Josh Berry and Rodney are looking to end their SHR journey on a high

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Stewart Haas Racing is shutting down by the end of the 2024 season. Although both Berry and Rodney have secured their futures at FRM and Spire Motorsports, they want to finish this chapter on a positive note. Now, it’s no secret that the #4 team was one of the most consistent teams of the last decade when Kevin Harvick led the charge.

From the triumph of 2014 to making five Championship 4 appearances, they were one of the top dogs in the last decade. This stint also saw Harvick and Rodney contribute to 37 Cup wins for SHR. But unfortunately, those wins have dried out in recent years. And that is exactly what Berry and his veteran crew chief would be trying to overturn with their remaining time on the team.

According to Rodney, such a result would also shut Berry’s critics, who aren’t sure of his talent. “You know for us we really want to win a race with Josh. We want to show that he can do it. I think we already have it, but you know how it is, you wanna win a race … So we’re working really hard for that, trying to give him the best car we can and trying to make sure that we have his back,” the veteran crew chief said via the Happy Hour podcast.

It will be interesting to see what the driver-chief duo comes up with next after NASCAR Cup Series racing resumes at Richmond Raceway on August 11.