Stewart-Haas Racing will close at the end of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, leaving Josh Berry with an uncertain future. Yet this does not change how he feels about his decision to take over the No. 4 Ford Mustang for his rookie season.
"Without a doubt, I would do it all over again," Berry said during a sitdown with media members Tuesday. "Even if I knew the outcome.
"The opportunity to race for Stewart-Haas and the job they've done and meet the people that I've had and work with Rodney (Childers) and this (No.) 4 team. I would 100% do that all over again."
Stewart-Haas Racing named Berry the driver of the No. 4 Ford Mustang on June 21, 2023. He would be the driver who replaced Kevin Harvick, and he would join forces with crew chief Rodney Childers.
Team owner Tony Stewart said during the announcement that Berry was the right driver at the right time for the organization because he brought maturity, experience, and a winning record. Berry scored five Xfinity wins between 2021-22, and he had won several prestigious Late Model races.
Along with the success in other series, Berry had delivered strong performances in limited Cup opportunities.
He had made select starts for Hendrick Motorsports while replacing an injured Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, and he had delivered three top-10 finishes despite having no experience in the Next Gen car. One of these finishes was a career-best runner-up at Richmond Raceway.
Berry knew that he would have some growing pains during his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing, but he also knew that he would work with a team and crew chief that had won dozens of races and a Cup Series championship.
1 championship, 37 wins, 25 poles, 151 top 5s, 235 top 10s since the 4 team came together at SHR. And we are just getting rolling with @joshberry .. But most of all, we have been a family. A family that truly cares and loves every person.. WE aren’t done! pic.twitter.com/VPRF9zGZUM
— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) May 28, 2024
Berry was correct. He struggled at tracks such as Circuit of the Americas and Phoenix. He also led laps at Bristol, Richmond, and Charlotte. He posted a third-place finish at Darlington Raceway and a top-10 finish at Charlotte.
"I think being a rookie in the series is really hard," Berry said. "And I think that I've answered the call on that. I'm proud of the job that I've done. I'm proud of the job that I did at HMS and I feel like I'm deserving of being here."
Berry does not know what his future holds. He knows that he wants to continue racing in Cup, and he believes that he's earned a spot.
Berry also wants to continue working with Childers, the crew chief who has guided this No. 4 team to extensive success since the 2014 season.
Berry doesn't know if it's possible to make the group a "package deal" while searching for a spot next season, but he would certainly prefer to do so after getting an in-depth look behind the scenes.
"The 4 team and Rodney, the culture that they've created is second to none," Berry said. "It's top level out of all the teams, right? I think you see the teams that have that culture, they run well week in and week out."
Whether Berry gets the opportunity to work with Childers on another team remains unknown. If it works out, Berry will continue to gain experience in NASCAR while working with one of the sport's all-time great crew chiefs.
If not, Berry can still move forward knowing that this group did everything in its power in the pursuit of success.
"Without a doubt, would do it over again," Berry said. "Even if I knew this was all coming, I wouldn't second-guess that move one bit. Just for the opportunity to work with those guys and experience what that's like."