Cup Series Rookie Reminded Kevin Harvick’s Ex-crew Chief of SHR’s Constant Problems in Richmond

Josh Berry’s performance at Richmond Raceway was impressive, with early charges into the top five. However, the results could have been better if not for the late-race pit-stop miscue. The Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4 driver started from the rear due to a qualifying time of 22.574 and managed to climb to 15th by the competition caution. A collision with Daniel Suarez and a 16-second pit stop relegated him to a P11 finish, narrowly missing out on his well-deserved Top 10. At Richmond, tire management is crucial, and this weekend’s tire management challenges stemmed from the track’s behavior. Nonetheless, Berry has shown proficiency at this track, but unfortunately, the situations did not favor him.

Previously when Kevin Harvick faced similar issues, his crew chief Rodney Childers came to the rescue. So, needless to mention, he played a pivotal part in Harvick’s remarkable success. And recently, ,Childers shared insights about Harvick’s successor at SHR, Josh Berry in a recent interview. He also highlighted how the same Richmond caused similar problems to Berry like it did to Harvick.

Rodney Childers reminisces screaming on the radio to Kevin Harvick during every pit cycle at Richmond

Childers and Harvick’s decade-long collaboration achieved an impressive 37 wins and solidified their place in NASCAR history. This experience led Childers to talk about the difficulties in racing at Richmond Raceway. He described how easy it is to receive a penalty here. Keeping in mind Josh Berry’s stint at that same track, Childers recalled an incident with Kevin Harvick.

He said, “Yeah, Richmond’s too hard as you know Todd. I mean it’s just so hard to get inside that orange box. And it’s so easy to get a penalty. Also, we were leading the race there, a few years back and had everybody destroyed. And Kevin (Harvick) ran over the orange box and had to do a drive-through and lost the race. So every pit cycle we were kind of screaming on the radio about the orange box and he did a good job honestly.”

Further talking about the braking tactic the retired veteran used, Childers added, “He had cranked the brakes to the front that run and he ended up sliding the front tires. And instead of waiting until the last second to go back on the racetrack, he kind of pulled the plug real early in the brake cycle. And when he was sliding the tires, he decided to go around one more time. So, it didn’t kill as bad as it could have. But it was a  ot better than getting the penalty and running over that box.”

Read More: Josh Berry Narrowly Avoids Catastrophe After Wild 360-Spinout at Bristol

When it comes to Harvick’s successor Josh Berry’s run, 17 laps after the race resumed, the No. 4 made its way through the field and collided with the left rear of Daniel Suárez’s car, causing No. 99 to spin out. This incident brought about the evening’s first caution for an on-track event, concluding the initial stage of the race. Fortunately, the collision did not cause major damage to either driver, allowing both to proceed with the competition. While the outcome wasn’t as expected, he nevertheless improved his position in the points standings by five places.

Josh Berry’s takeaways from Richmond outing

Josh Berry, the talented NASCAR Cup Series rookie, has been navigating an adjustment period in his new role. His focus includes fostering chemistry with veteran crew chief Childers and adapting to the changes within Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cup Series roster. Berry expressed that the track at Richmond seemed to suit him well. He acknowledged the busy schedule ahead and emphasized the need for perseverance. There’s also a need for a solid strategy, gaining track position, and expressing confidence. If these elements come together, they should fare well in the competition.

During an availability session at the NASCAR Productions Facility, Berry shared his perspective, “It’s just a little bit of momentum building. We’re working together, figuring each other out. I’m gradually getting more comfortable with the Next Gen car. But most importantly, we’ve had strong cars over the past few weeks, especially on the short tracks.”

Despite the positive trajectory, Berry encountered another hiccup during a pit-road entry for his last green-flag stop. He radioed his crew, acknowledging that he had neglected to adjust his brake bias properly. Additionally, an overtime restart shuffled the field, leaving him on the fringes of the top 10. It will be interesting to observe how he tackles these challenges at Martinsville.

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