Could a reunion between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and one of his most accomplished protégés be on the horizon? Perseverance, not corporate support, was the foundation of Josh Berry’s journey to the NASCAR Cup Series. He started as a racer and worked his way up through JR Motorsports (JRM) under Dale Earnhardt Jr., winning numerous titles and more than 100 late-model races. “Josh was a big part of that, He contributed to the development of that program into what it is now,” Jr. said, praising Berry’s influence.
The Tennessee native appeared to have the perfect opportunity to compete in the 2024 Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing. It was his shot to prove his worth in the premier series. But this dream would come crashing on him as Tony Stewart and Co. decided to shut down SHR at the end of the year. Fortunately, the former JRM driver landed on his feet in the No. 21 car at Wood Brothers Racing, and in just four races in the 2025 season Berry delivered a Cup win for NASCAR’s oldest race team.
Josh Berry against all odds won the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. One of the loudest cheers was from his former team owner Dale Jr. which was evident from his social media activity. Call it coincidence or fate, JR Motorsports also made their Cup debut this year leaving fans demanding a full-time return soon. Many who have watched Dale Jr. and Berry through the short-track circuits to the Xfinity Series couldn’t help but paint a dream scenario. One where Josh Berry would race in one of JRM Cup cars and despite his ties to Ford and Wood Brothers Racing, the driver was open to this idea.
Could Josh Berry drive for JRM in the Cup Series?
Jose Castilo along with Kenny Wallace sat down with Berry at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and talked about his connection with Dale Jr. This is when Castilo threw the curve ball at the driver of the No. 21 car, “If that opportunity ever came back, would you like to be back with Dale Jr. in the Cup car? No pressure.”
Berry didn’t hesitate despite his links with the Penske program at Wood Brothers and his allegiance to the Ford camp. “I mean honestly, I feel like that door is definitely still open in a way. I mean we talk a lot and honestly we’ve gotten closer in the last couple years. I talk to him now more than ever.”
For those of you who don’t know Berry once worked as a mechanic at JRM’s Xfinity program and eventually earned his spot as a full-time racer. You see he came from humble beginnings, without the backing of big sponsors, and no family name behind him. All he had was his hard work and passion for the sport, it started out with a one-off race in the No. 5 JRM car in 2014 and it wasn’t until 2022 that he got a full-time ride in the Xfinity Series. And from here on he finally got to live his NASCAR dream to compete in a Cup car with Stewart Haas Racing.
Even Tony Stewart saw the potential right away and found him a good fit at SHR with their iconic No. 4 car. “Stewart-Haas Racing is not about guys that just come in, spend their time during the day and when the clock gets to the point where it’s time to leave, they all just bail out of there. That’s what this guy (Berry) has done for years. He lives, eats, breathes racing, and that’s all he wants to do aside from his family, so that’s what we want. That’s the DNA we want.”
Although he couldn’t help SHR stay afloat in his rookie season, with the right equipment, resources and environment we saw how good Berry can be with Wood Brothers Racing. But the question remains, will Dale Jr. and JRM make the leap to full-time racing in the Cup Series? This is where Rick Hendrick’s expertise could come in handy if JRM made the ambitious leap.
Can Rick Hendrick aid JRM’s Cup Series aspirations?
The expansion of JR Motorsports has been greatly aided by Rick Hendrick, who oversaw Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s transition to team ownership. His influence is now greater than ever as JRM considers entering the Cup Series. Dale Jr. has frequently credited Hendrick for JRM’s success, once stating, “I’m very thankful for Rick and how he’s taken care of Kelley [Earnhardt Miller] and allowed her to grow her confidence and become the person she is in our industry.”
One of the biggest obstacles to switching from Xfinity to Cup is NSCAR’s expensive charter structure. JRM’s entry is far from straightforward, with a limited number of spaces and exorbitant costs. Dale Jr. himself has acknowledged the complexity of the move. “You’ve got to have the infrastructure, the funding, and the right people in place. It’s not just about wanting to do it—it’s about being ready,” he stated in a past interview.
To participate in the Cup Series, JRM would require a significant financial commitment, even with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports. The veteran team owner was the one who engineered a partnership between Dale Jr. and Chris Stapleton, which allowed JRM to finally field their car at Daytona 500. “Rick presented the opportunity to connect with Chris and his team, they were interested in marketing in our sport, and Rick knew that I was wanting to fulfill this opportunity. It was like two people that wanted the same thing.”
From helping set up JRM after Dale Jr.’s split from DEI to staging the team’s first-ever Cup Series race, Rick Hendrick has been a silent partner calling the shots. And it won’t be a surprise is he has a hand in taking JRM to full-time racing in the Cup Series.
The post Miraculous Cup Winner Openly Hints Driving for Dale Jr.’s JRM as He Eyes Cup Series Return with Rick Hendrick appeared first on EssentiallySports.
