Josh Berry Unravels How His Chase Elliott Replacement Role ‘Paid Off’ Hours After Reuniting With Former Spotter

Stewart-Haas Racing just added another Hendrick Motorsports faithful to its team. Following the ongoing speculations, SHR has confirmed the addition of Chase Elliott’s spotter for the No.9 Camaro, Eddie D’Hondt, to its 2024 Cup Series roster. As the team announced a rejuvenated spotter lineup for 2024, newcomer and the successor to Kevin Harvick‘s No.4, Josh Berry, has revealed the events that led to his acquaintance with D’Hondt.

Eddie D’Hondt has spent the last 12 NASCAR seasons with Rick Hendrick and Co. He also boasts the experience of spotting races for four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon until a future NASCAR champion, Chase Elliott, came calling in 2016. As D’Hondt and Berry spoke about their partnership that predates their alliance in 2024, the former JR Motorsports recalled getting closer to the championship-winning spotter during his time as a substitute in the #9 car earlier in 2023.

Josh Berry’s bond with Eddie D’Hondt during his time at HMS has paid off

2023 has been a tough year for the #9 team. Following a tibia injury for Chase Elliott, Josh Berry was summoned by HMS to replace him. Berry drove the #9 in five races and spent much time with Elliott’s spotter, Eddie D’Hondt. One of the notable results for the new pairing was a second-place finish at Richmond Raceway, which remains Berry’s career-best finish in the Cup Series.

“Eddie and I first crossed paths at JR Motorsports but mainly worked together during my substitute role in the #9 this year,” recalled Josh Berry. “I remember very distinctively us going to lunch. That was early on in the stint there, and that meant a lot to me personally for us to get on the same page and get to know each other.”

D’ Hondt’s addition to the No.4 team could be a boon for SHR. He has won 26 races with HMS. With the legendary Rodney Childers calling the shots on the team radio, Eddie’s expert eyes could be a game-changer for the team. Berry understood that in his first stint with the spotter.

“In the grand scheme of things, that was a big opportunity for me, and I had a lot on my plate at the time. It meant a lot that he reached out to try to build the relationship and make me feel more comfortable, and I think it paid off,” claimed the former JR Motorsports driver.

With D’Hondt’s arrival, Kevin Harvick’s former spotter, Tim Fedewa, has also switched to Ryan Blaney’s championship-winning No.12 team. Seems like Harvick’s departure from NASCAR has triggered a big spotter shuffle in the Cup Series.

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A lot of movements have happened within the organization. Andy Houston, the former spotter for Ryan Preece and the No.41 team, has been handed the spotter duties for the #10, that will be driven by Noah Gragson. Aric Almirola’s former car will have a new driver in 2024 as Gragson returns to Cup Series racing. The driver, who was tangled in controversy over his social media activity, has signed a multi-year contract with SHR and is searching for a passage to redemption. Following a lackluster season from Preece, Houston will also hope for a change in the winds.

Another arrival in the spotting department is Tony Raines. Raines was seen spotting for Brett Moffitt and Zane Smith last season. While he was primarily the spotter for Moffitt in the Xfinity Series, he also was watching over Zane Smith as the 2022 Truck Series champion raced in the Cup Series. Raines will replace Houston and take over the duties of the No.41 team.

Chase Briscoe and the No.14 team’s spotter, Joe Campbell, has retained his spot. The driver-spotter duo aims to bring some wins to the team this season. With Chase Briscoe seeking to gain more ground and take on the role of a leader as the longest tenured Cup driver at SHR, his dynamic with Campbell will be important to his plans.

As for the state of SHR, the team has struggled recently. The team failed to win a race in 2023, and bar Kevin Harvick, none of its drivers made it to the playoffs. With an injection of young blood and fresh faces, the team will hope for a significant turnaround. However, what the future holds for them remains to be seen.

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