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NASCAR Cup Series rookie Josh Berry will be looking for a new ride in 2025 after it was announced that Stewart-Haas Racing was shutting down at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
The best way to do that may be to make his way into the 2024 NASCAR playoffs.
Berry, a Hendersonville native and rookie driver for Stewart-Haas, entered Sunday’s race at Gateway in 19th place. He’s 229 points out of first place, but only 71 points out of 16th place and final playoff spot.
“To be in that (playoff) conversation now and just a couple spots out is a big deal for us being a rookie in the series,” Berry said during an interview on FS1 prior to Sunday’s race. “It’s a tall challenge to make the playoffs. We just feel like if we keep doing what we’re doing, we can start snagging some stage points here and there and get some solid finishes. I think we can creep up there and be in the conversation.
“Other than that, we’re going to have to win a race. You never know what can happen.”
More:NASCAR Cup Series at Gateway: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Sunday’s race
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Berry replaced Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford during the offseason when Harvick retired. He’d previously driven for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series.
“It’s definitely been an emotional week for sure,” Berry said. “Not only for us drivers, but all the men and women at Stewart-Haas Racing. You’ve got hundreds of employees there that have worked there for a decade-plus.
“We’re just going to keep racing. That’s what we do. We’ve built a lot of momentum over the last month and we’re going to keep that going.”
Reach out to Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on the X platform @Kreager.
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