Tony Stewart Drops a 2-Word Revelation on Why He Hired Josh Berry to Replace Kevin Harvick

Out with the old, in with the new? Actually, No. Stewart-Hass Racing co-owner Tony Stewart believes it’s the other way around. While the influx of young drivers is at its peak, Tony Stewart’s decision to sign the 32-year-old Josh Berry is the polar opposite of the current NASCAR trend. To Berry’s credit, he is a full-time Xfinity Series driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr owned JR Motorsports and has also been the relief driver for HMS’s Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. Awards and accolades aside, Josh Berry brings a ton of on-track experience, unlike the younger rookies. 

Filling in Kevin Harvick’s shoes may be daunting, but Tony Stewart feels Josh Berry is the perfect fit. In an interview with Steve Post on the ‘NASCAR Live’ podcast, the SHR co-owner revealed why he believes signing Josh Berry was the right decision.

Tony Stewart Revealed Why Josh Berry Is the Perfect Fit

As a three-time Cup Series champion himself, Tony Stewart feels the mature Josh Berry is capable of winning a championship title. Having watched Berry’s performance closely in the Xfinity Series, Smoke shortlisted the JR Motorsports #8 driver to be Kevin Harvick’s replacement for the wheel of the #4 Ford. Rumors of Josh Berry’s possible SHR signing were doing the rounds for months, and last week it turned official. As Berry hitched a full-time ride with SHR for the 2024 season, team co-owner Tony Stewart was questioned by Steve Post. During a chat with Stewart, Steve Post asked what Smoke saw in Berry that led to his signing.

Answering Steve’s question, Tony Stewart said, “First and foremost, his merit. I mean his records and watching his path through motorsports. It’s easy to make decisions whether he is the right guy. I feel like young guys right now, they are young and it’s hard to predict whether they are gonna make it or not.”

Dropping a two-word revelation on why he hired Josh Berry, Stewart added, “Josh, I feel like, this was a very logical, I’m gonna say for a lack of better terms, a safe decision. You are not sitting there questioning what you are gonna get. You know you have somebody that’s mentally prepared for a challenge like this, but has earned the opportunity at the same time. So I feel like, Rodney’s (Childers, crew chief of Kevin Harvick)  belief in Josh and what we’ve been able to do, last year watching him as well, in Xfinity Series, he has proven to us why he deserves this opportunity.”

Watch This Story: Can Josh Berry Be The Next Big Thing In NASCAR World?

With big shoes to fill in the 2024 season, Josh Berry wasn’t hesitant about the daunting task that lies ahead. Post his signing with Tony Stewart’s team, the #8 JR Motorsports driver sat down for a chat with his current team owner Dale Jr.

Josh Berry Can Bank on Three NASCAR Legends

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On an episode of The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Berry sat down for a chat with Dale Jr post his signing with SHR. Revealing the reason behind his confidence for the 2024 season, Berry said he can lean on three NASCAR Hall of Famers for guidance on his upcoming venture. 

“I have three Hall of Famers that I am gonna be able to lean on. I’mma have you [Dale Jr], I’mma have Kevin Harvick, and I’mma have Tony Stewart that I can lean on whenever I have questions about anything,” Berry said.

While his future team owner believes that Josh Berry has the perfect makings of a champion, Josh Berry’s racing prowess does make him a ‘Rookie of the Year’ award favorite for the upcoming NASCAR season.

Read More: Despite Five Years of Loyalty, Tony Stewart Could Deliver Heartbreak to His Driver With Josh Berry Joining the Team