After months of speculation, Josh Berry has been paired with a new crew chief for the 2025 season. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver will be partnering with Miles Stanley, who will lead the No. 21 car in Wood Brothers Racing’s 75th anniversary year. Having made a name for himself as a race engineer, Stanley’s appointment has raised eyebrows in the NASCAR community, who are citing inexperience as a crucial factor that may derail the pair’s Cup Series season next year.

With Stewart-Haas Racing ceasing operations by the end of 2024, Josh Berry’s signing at Wood Brothers Racing was met with much fanfare and enthusiasm. However, with less than inspiring performance in the second half of the ongoing season, will pairing him with a rookie crew chief be a good decision?

Could lack of experience affect Josh Berry’s 2025 season?

It was a bold move by Wood Brothers Racing. With Josh Berry concluding his rookie Cup Series campaign this year, the team was expected to hire an experienced crew chief to guide the 34-year-old on the racetrack. However, in a surprising turn of events, they chose to appoint Team Penske’s performance engineer manager, with the transition being seamless since the two racing sides have a technical alliance. While Stanley has plenty of experience in NASCAR, having worked as a race engineer for Joey Logano from 2013 to 2019, his experience atop the pit box is limited, to say the least.

Speculating on whether the pairing could be successful next year, NASCAR YouTuber Eric Estepp said, “You’ve got still a very young, inexperienced NASCAR driver. Berry is a seasoned racer, don’t get me wrong but he’s still fairly new to NASCAR. Team him up with a rookie crew chief, been around the sport a long time, first year as a full-time crew chief, and put them on a team that’s run 30th in the past three years. I’m sorry, I’m not going to say I’m pessimistic, I’m just not optimistic anymore.”

Call it a coincidence or simply bad luck, but Josh Berry’s performance has plummeted ever since his departure from Stewart-Haas Racing was confirmed in July. Apart from an 11th-place finish at Homestead-Miami, the Tennessee native hasn’t finished higher than 22nd in the last 10 races and is currently 27th in the driver standings. The former JR Motorsports driver has struggled despite having an experienced crew chief, Rodney Childers, guiding him, which raises the question, will he do better with Miles Stanley next year?

While Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing will devote plenty of resources to help Josh Berry succeed on the racetrack, the lack of experience might come back to haunt them. Stanley has served as crew chief for Team Penske’s part-time entry, the No. 33 car driven by Austin Cindric during the 2021 season. If those results are anything to go by, Cindric didn’t finish higher than ninth in seven Cup Series appearances that year, struggling to impress under the guidance of the race engineer. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the same will apply to Berry and Stanley, who could surprise everybody by becoming a winning partnership in 2025 and beyond.

The Wood Brothers Racing hierarchy seems confident in their decision, with the team’s president, Jon Wood, saying, “His (Miles Stanley’s) commitment and impressive track record make him a perfect fit for the No. 21 team as we enter an exciting new chapter”. The team will undoubtedly rely on his technical knowledge to give Josh Berry an edge over his rivals during the 2025 season. Will their new partnership prove to be a success in NASCAR during the 2025 season? Time will tell.

Miles Stanley cannot wait to get started

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Expectations will be high from Josh Berry at Wood Brothers Racing for the 2024 season. The team recently secured its 100th victory at Daytona International Speedway and will look to build on that result going forward. Jeremy Bullins, who had previously served as crew chief for Harrison Burton and the No. 21 car, has already departed before the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami, while Grant Hutchens will be expected to take over for the remaining two races of the season.

Highlighting his expectations from the upcoming season, Miles Stanley said, “The Wood Brothers name is synonymous with the sport of NASCAR, and to be able to serve as the crew chief for the iconic No. 21 is an incredible opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with Josh Berry, whose skills and enthusiasm are sure to bring great value to the team. It’s an exciting time for the Wood Brothers with the addition of Josh Berry and the celebration of their 75th anniversary in NASCAR in 2025. We’ll be ready to hit the ground running.”

Stanley won’t be expected to take over before the 2025 season begins, with the crew chief’s first race being at the annual preseason event, The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Wood Brothers Racing hierarchy will be keeping a close eye on their performances next year, with the team’s president Jon Wood saying, “Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most talented crew chiefs in NASCAR, and I look forward to seeing what Miles and Josh accomplish on the track next year.” Will knowledge triumph experience during Josh Berry’s 2025 Cup Series campaign? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!