Josh Berry got a whopper of a birthday gift Thursday.
During an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, Berry, the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series championship was informed by team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. that he will drive the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for 12 races during the first half of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
“I’m excited to tell you that we’re committing to put you in the No. 8 Chevrolet for a dozen races in the first half of 2021,” Earnhardt Jr. advised Berry. You worked hard for this opportunity. We’ll have more details in the coming months, but I wanted to let you know we’re going to go Xfinity racing next year.”
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Berry, 29, claimed the Late Model Series championship-winning 24 races in 37 starts this season. Now, he’ll have the chance to continue his winning ways on a national platform next season.
“I’m honestly speechless,” a stunned Berry replied. “That’s the last thing I would have expected. Gosh, that’s amazing. I can’t wait to prepare for that and get going. (It’s) truly unbelievable. I just can’t thank everybody enough for believing in me and giving me these opportunities.
“For a short-track guy, it’s just amazing to see these opportunities come about.”
2021 will not be Berry’s first foray in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. From 2014 to 2017, he participated in seven Xfinity events posting two top-10 finishes, including a career-best seventh at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in 2015.
Berry will keep the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro seat warm for Sam Mayer who has already been announced as a driver at JR Motorsports next season.
Mayer, the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championship will take over the car during the second half of the 2021 season when he turns 18. Mayer, a native of Franklin, Wisc. will transition to a full-time role in 2022.
During a media availability Thursday afternoon and before the announcement on SiriusXM Speedway with Dave Moody, Earnhardt praised Berry for his achievements and said his team is always actively looking for partners to back him for more Xfinity starts.
“At JR Motorsports, we’re always actively looking at opportunities to get Josh into the next level and race in our Xfinity cars more often,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We’ve had some opportunities to get him in our Xfinity cars and those have really proven successful, so much so that I was really shocked we didn’t any more outside interest from corporate America to run more races, but we’re always looking at opportunities to get Josh in our cars.
“He’s a prime sort of up-and-comer that has put in a lot of work in the short track ranks to develop himself as a driver.”
Additional details on Berry’s program, including a race schedule and sponsorship, is forthcoming.
What a day. I can’t believe it. I am so excited and so thankful. You never know what’s ahead every day when you get up. Never give up! https://t.co/mQpgsqTcCb
— Josh Berry (@joshberry) October 22, 2020
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
