Josh Berry enjoys a Saturday afternoon win in the Sin City. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
LAS VEGAS – Perhaps Josh Berry’s quiet but genuine confidence should not be so easily dismissed prior to a NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
By all means, Berry believed in his No. 8 Harrison’s USA Chevrolet Camaro team, even if his car did not showcase flashy speed in pre-qualifying practice.
Berry posted the 28th fastest time before qualifying 12th on Friday evening.
The short track sensation was methodical in the early going of Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302, placing ninth in Stage 1 and sixth in Stage 2.
Typically, the mild mannered Hendersonville, Tennessee native races with the long game strategy in mind. After all, that was part of his modus operandi when he won last year’s Playoffs race as a substitute driver for Michael Annett.
This year, the stakes were on the line as far as a championship chance was concerned. Whereas Berry raced his heart out to make a case for a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series ride last year, the 31-year-old was not afraid to take chances for a trip to Phoenix.
“I was a little bit tight off of (Turn) 4 the whole time,” Berry said about his late race duel with AJ Allmendinger. “He left me a lane but nothing extra. I wasn’t letting off. That was for a trip to Phoenix. I was willing to hit the wall and have a flat tire.”
While Berry hit the Turn 4 wall as he battled Allmendinger, he was able to press on without any tire issues.
Perhaps the second iteration of Ricky Rudd or Terry Labonte has arrived in the form of Berry, a driver thriving on consistency versus boisterous ways on the track. Even after two wins this season, Berry wanted a pick me up for his No. 8 team.
Consider it mission accomplished for the JR Motorsports racer as he earned his fifth career Xfinity Series win.
By all means, Berry wanted to get another win for his hardy No. 8 team. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
“These guys have done such a great job all year,” he remarked. “We’ve had a tough couple of weeks, couple of months. But we knew that we could do this if we were at our best.”
Fortune was on Berry’s side as his No. 8 car thrived on short runs. A late race caution set up the scenario that Berry desired for another Las Vegas victory.
“Today was funny, man,” he recalled. “The car took off really well for 20, 30 laps and then we’d get tight. We had a caution with 30 (laps) to go and was able to wrestle the lead away from those guys and build enough gap to keep it. I’m just speechless.”
The humble, mild mannered driver’s long journey to a top division of NASCAR has been chronicled.
Still, it is an experience and adventure that is not lost with the Tennessean, even as he has made his presence known in the second highest series of stock car racing.
“It’s just been incredible,” he said. “I can’t even put it into words. When we sat down at the beginning of this year and knew this was going to be an opportunity for me, my goal was to make the Championship 4.
“I think if you do that, it’s a successful year. I can’t believe we’ve come here, locked ourselves in, breathe a sigh of relief for the next couple of weeks. I’m just so excited.”
Moreover, Berry added to an exciting Saturday for his No. 8 team as he tallied a milestone victory for Chevrolet on top of leading the podium finish sweep for JR Motorsports.
No doubting Berry even if opening practice does not yield a fast lap. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
“I think this is Chevrolet’s 500th win in Xfinity. It’s a lot more races than I’ve won but gosh, just very special right now,” he observed in wonderment. “I know this will give us some time for some of my buddies and family members to get ready to come to Phoenix and watch us race for a championship. ”
Undoubtedly, Berry likes his chances for his first Xfinity Series championship, making a rare bold statement when he was interviewed by NBC NASCAR’s Parker Kligerman.
“It’s a lot better now,” he said with a grin.
For now, Berry and his Xfinity Series peers look forward to next Saturday’s Contender Boats 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (4:30 p.m. ET on USA).
Stage 1 Top 10 Finishers
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Stage 2 Top 10 Finishers
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Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Top 10 Finishers
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