Josh Berry is setting his sights on a pivotal opportunity in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series as the regular season nears its climax.
With just four races left before the playoffs, Berry’s focus sharpens on Richmond Raceway, a track that could potentially propel him into the postseason. Richmond’s 0.75-mile layout is a familiar setting for Berry, who has excelled on short tracks throughout his career. This type of track plays to Berry’s strengths, given his extensive background in late-model racing.
Berry’s rookie season has shown promise despite a rocky start. After struggling with four consecutive finishes outside the top 20, he began to find his groove at Bristol Motor Speedway, a high-banked short track. There, Berry earned his best finish of the season at that point—a commendable 12th place—demonstrating his ability to handle the intense competition of the Cup Series.
Richmond’s first race of the season saw Berry lead for two laps and finish 11th, an improvement that suggested his growing comfort with Cup Series competition. The consistency continued with respectable finishes at Dover, Darlington, and Charlotte, where he showed he could compete at a high level even on non-short tracks. His recent performances at Iowa and New Hampshire, where he finished 7th and 3rd respectively, underscore his proficiency on short tracks and hint at his potential to secure a win.
Berry’s success on short tracks like Iowa and New Hampshire highlights his capability to contend at Richmond. With the race scheduled for next Sunday under the lights, Berry can leverage his experience from the earlier race at the track and the confidence gained from his strong showings this season.
For Berry, a win at Richmond is not just a personal milestone but a critical step toward securing a spot in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. His path to the postseason hinges on achieving victory in this race. As he prepares for this crucial event, Berry’s performance at Richmond will be pivotal in determining whether he can seize one of the coveted playoff berths and make a significant impact in the remaining races of the season.
