NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Josh Berry in 2023

Josh Berry has quickly become a staple in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and he has shown interest in moving to the Cup Series, making him a popular name to watch for 2023.

Josh Berry has quickly made his name known throughout NASCAR, specifically in the Xfinity Series. Driving the #8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, Berry has already picked up two wins in his first season as a full-time driver.

In addition to his success in the Xfinity Series, Berry made his Cup Series debut last season at Dover Motor Speedway, driving the #77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.

At 31 years of age, Berry isn’t exactly the youngest driver to land his first full-time Xfinity Series ride. But the Hendersonville, Tennessee native has constantly improved from his late model days, and he has become a threat to win the Xfinity Series championship in 2022.

He is well aware of both his status and age, resulting in an interest to move to the Cup Series sooner rather than later.

Given the impressive start to his full-time NASCAR career, and his interest in moving up the ladder in stock car racing, here are three possible landing spots for Josh Berry in 2023.

Possible Josh Berry landing spots: No. 3 – Full-time Cup Series ride

Since Berry has shown his interest in competing in the Cup Series and does have two starts under his belt, he could elect to see what’s out there in terms of a full-time ride.

If Berry elects to pursue a Cup Series ride, Spire Motorsports ranks as the most logical option for him. In addition to his debut with Spire Motorsports in the #77 Chevrolet as the replacement for Justin Haley at Dover Motor Speedway, he later drove the team’s other car, the #7 Chevrolet, as the replacement for Corey LaJoie at Michigan International Speedway.

The Spire Motorsports connections run deep throughout NASCAR’s Chevrolet teams. They have worked with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman, William Bryon, and Chase Elliott as well as Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill for their Truck Series program this season.

To sign a JR Motorsports driver to pilot one their Cup cars full-time in 2023 would only further help develop these relationships.

However, the move remains doubtful, as Spire Motorsports have generally split the driving duties of the #77 Chevrolet. The team could elect to keep going down this route for 2023, leaving Berry with limited options for a full-time Cup Series ride.

Possible Josh Berry landing spots: No. 2 – JR Motorsports (Xfinity)

A return to JR Motorsports would make sense for Josh Berry and the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team for a multitude of reasons. Berry was able to give the #8 Chevrolet its first win in the Xfinity Series since 2006 last year at Martinsville Speedway.

He went on to win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and he has since picked up victories this season at Dover Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is a threat for victory each week.

With sponsorship from Tire Pros, Berry adds both driver and financial stability to the #8 team, and with black and red paint schemes that resemble the days of team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the #8 car, Berry serves as a fan-favorite on the track — and a great ambassador off of it.

JR Motorsports will have some decisions to make heading into the 2023 season to keep all four of their drivers under contract, with Noah Gragson’s contract set to expire at the end of this season. Losing both Berry and Gragson would be detrimental for the team, so it’s safe to say that Earnhardt and Berry will look for a way to build on this success.

Berry’s relationship with JR Motorsports goes back to 2010 when he drove for the team’s late model program. He has even run select Xfinity Series races for the team dating back to the 2014 season, when he debuted at Iowa Speedway. Needless to say, severing those ties seems unlikely.

But Berry could also look to help the team outside of the Xfinity Series, which leads us to the best possible landing spot for him in 2023.

Possible Josh Berry landing spots: No. 1 – JR Motorsports (Cup and Xfinity)

The best way JR Motorsports and Josh Berry can grow their relationship would be with a combination of the two aforementioned series. Berry and JR Motorsports could run a part-time Cup Series schedule, in addition to another full-time Xfinity Series season.

JR Motorsports have been speculated to join the Cup Series for quite some time, and Berry would serve as the most viable option to drive for the team in their debut season. While it’s unclear when or how the team will debut in the Cup Series, 2023 could be an option (just not on a full-time basis).

JR Motorsports co-owner and vice president Kelley Earnhardt Miller told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio that the team wants to enter the Cup Series, but a full-time entry in 2023 is doubtful. However, the intention to expand the organization is there.

With Earnhardt Miller citing the charter system as the obstacle preventing the team from entering a full-time Cup car for 2023, the team could elect to field a part-time ride instead.

The number 88 remains available in the Cup Series after leaving Hendrick Motorsports, and if JR Motorsports want to test the waters with a non-chartered ride on a part-time schedule, Berry driving the #88 Chevrolet in the Cup Series, while still piloting the #8 Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series, seems like a win-win scenario.

The move would give JR Motorsports a test year with the Gen 7 car while working behind the scenes to obtain a charter for 2024. For Berry, it would serve as continued experience against Cup Series drivers, and it would also serve as an audition for a full-time ride in the Cup Series. In the meantime, Berry and JR Motorsports could continue together full-time in the Xfinity Series.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this would be the most effective move and best landing spot for Josh Berry in 2023.