Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s unwavering belief in Josh Berry’s racing potential has led to a remarkable NASCAR journey, culminating in the latter’s first Cup Series win. It all started when Earnhardt took a chance on Berry — a gamble that has paid off in a big way.
In 2008, Berry was working as a bank teller while racing a Legends car at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Hoping to get noticed, Berry sent Earnhardt some of his racing videos. Earnhardt liked what he saw, which led to Berry getting the opportunity to join JR Motorsports (JRM) in 2010 to race Late Models.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Faith in Josh Berry Rewarded
Earnhardt’s belief in Berry, an unknown driver at the time, turned out to be a brilliant move. Berry went on to win more than 75 races with JRM and clinched the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division 1 title. Since then, Berry has come a long way, winning his first NASCAR Cup Series race on March 16, 2025, in Las Vegas with Wood Brothers Racing.
Speaking to Kevin Harvick on the “Happy Hour” podcast, Berry shared how Earnhardt wasn’t just a mentor — he was a true friend who helped him make his NASCAR dreams come true.
“He’s just been a tremendous supporter of mine. Really from the fill-in role at HMS [Hendrick Motorsports] and going through the emotions of that and the emotions of everything at Stewart-Haas. He’s just become a great friend of mine. He’s not against just calling me up and asking me how I’m doing. I feel like we’re closer than ever now than even when I drove for him for years. He was really excited about yesterday.”
Berry also revealed that Earnhardt was the first person he called after his Cup Series win.
“I did FaceTime him in Victory Lane. It was short, but he was so excited. I can’t wait to see him at his Dale Jr. Download.”
Last year, as Berry joined Wood Brothers Racing, Earnhardt posted on X, “I’m happy for Josh. It’s my belief he not only belongs in the field on Sunday, but can be a consistent winner. He’s a hard worker, a true racer, and should be a great fit for the Wood Bros.”
Since Berry first joined JR Motorsports in 2010, Earnhardt has always believed in his talent and work ethic. In 2021, Earnhardt even put JRM’s money on the line to give Berry 12 Xfinity races.
“We sacrificed a lot for Josh, and it was worth it,” Earnhardt shared.