From a super sub to a full-time driver in one of NASCAR’s most promising teams. Josh Berry’s life certainly has come around a full circle after 7 years in NASCAR’s second-tier division. The Xfinity sensation for quite some time was rumored to be Kevin Harvick‘s replacement in Stewart-Haas Racing as the veteran earlier this year announced this would be his last season.

With Tony Stewart announcing Berry’s arrival to the team on Wednesday in Charlotte, Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s prodigy revealed his pleasure in joining Tony Stewart’s team. However, the dream opportunity had already come to him a couple of months back as he recalled the moment he got to drive Chase Elliott’s #9 HMS Chevy.

Following his entry into SHR, Berry came to Dale Earnhardt Jr’s popular, Dale Jr Download podcast where he expressed his thoughts while his former boss, Dale Jr, and co-host, Mike Davis, joined him at the studio.

Josh Berry Recalls His Dream Opportunity at HMS, Which Cemented His Cup Series Hopes With SHR

With the NASCAR nation headed to Nashville for this week’s highly anticipated Superspeedway race, Stewart-Haas Racing has finally announced their replacement for the outgoing Kevin Harvick. Proving the rumors right, Tony Stewart has announced that HMS super sub Josh Berry will pilot the #4 Mustang from next season.

Landing his dream role as a driver in one of the most successful teams, the 32-year-old driver expressed his pleasure about the golden opportunity at hand. Amid all this, Berry also recalled how Chase Elliott‘s injury paved the way for him to enter his first Cup Series race for Hendrick Motorsports at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

With the opportunity, Berry found out what it took to compete in NASCAR’s top-tier division. While Elliott’s absence took the ratings down, Berry made the most out of his time at the helm of the HMS car, even finishing 2nd at Richmond Raceway, his 4th race in the car.

Speaking on the podcast, Berry detailed how he got to know about Elliott’s injury and the chance to pilot the #9 car. Mentioning his former JR Motorsports crew chief, Mike Bumgarner, Berry vividly recalled, “I’ll never forget that day of Mike Bumgarner coming to grab me, you know he was my crew chief last year, he’s competition director, he comes and grabs me, pulls me out of the hauler.”

Furthermore, he mentions how one man’s absence got him his sought-after ‘audition’. He added, “‘Hey come over here’ and I’m like, what are we doing? He’s like, ‘something’s going on, Chase has the injury, I dont know what it is but they want you to drive the #9 car’ and you know really from that moment on I’m like this is a full-blown audition.“

The proud Ford team, on the other hand, welcomed its new driver with an emotional video, narrated by none other than Kevin Harvick.

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Josh Berry Moves “4ward” With SHR as the Team Proudly Welcomes Its New Driver

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This indeed is an emotional chapter for SHR as the world bids farewell to the veteran, Kevin Harvick, leaving behind his legacy in the #4 car. Harvick himself in the video suggests to Berry that, “the #4 requires more than simply filling a seat, it requires someone to take the wheel and carry on a legacy.” 

The almost 3-minute long clip is certainly an emotional ride for ardent fans as it pays tribute to its 2014 Cup Series champ and at the same time welcomes his replacement, Josh Berry.

With one of the most successful crew chiefs, Rodney Childers, Berry also got a great piece of advice from Harvick. “Do things your way but realize your team is your foundation. Perfection is in the details, set expectations, grind every lap, make this seat your own, and don’t apologize for it.” 

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