Josh Berry’s NASCAR journey has taken an exciting turn. After a challenging start to the 2026 season, Berry has secured a spot with Legacy Motor Club for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series. This move comes after a remarkable resurgence in his performance, proving that perseverance pays off in the competitive world of racing.
The path to this new opportunity was not straightforward. Berry first sensed his position at Wood Brothers Racing might be uncertain around the Texas Motor Speedway race in May. With only three finishes better than 25th in the first 11 races, the season had not started as hoped. Adding to the challenges were three did not finish (DNF) results, which further complicated his situation.
Berry’s Struggles and Turnaround
The rumors about Wood Brothers Racing potentially bringing in reigning O’Reilly Series champion Jesse Love proved true. Without the financial backing to secure another ride, Berry faced the reality of life after racing. The situation was further complicated by the fact that returning to JR Motorsports required sponsorship he didn’t have.
“People are like, oh he can go run this O’Reilly Series car or that one and that wasn’t even a remote possibility,” Berry told. “Like, this was not even a thought or an avenue for someone like me to even perform my way into an opportunity, because I didn’t have the funding.”
A low point came at North Wilkesboro, where Berry was forced to start at the back of the field due to a qualifying rainout. A rare mistake by Christopher Bell sent Berry into the wall, ending his race. However, this setback marked a turning point. Since then, Berry has finished no worse than ninth over the past six races.
“I don’t feel like I’ve done anything differently over the past two months from what I was doing earlier in the year,” Berry said. “I don’t feel like I’m preparing any different. I made comments after New Hampshire that I pushed the limits of aggression that day, and I think my peers recognized the situation I was in, and that isn’t sustainable every week before you start getting it back in return.”
Legacy Motor Club’s Vision
Legacy Motor Club, led by team principal Jimmie Johnson, sees Berry as a catalyst to reach their full potential. The decision to part with John Hunter Nemechek and hire Berry was not just about this summer. Berry’s speed and ability to qualify near the front, despite occasional setbacks, played a significant role in the decision.
“For the most part, we weren’t fast enough to get ourselves out of it and were slow enough to be back there,” Berry explained. “I feel like the DNFs are kind of a misleading statistic because it’s not something that is always under your control. It could be a mechanical failure, or a superspeedway incident. DNF doesn’t necessarily mean you caused it.”
Berry’s turnaround coincided with an uptick in performance across the entire Team Penske and Penske-adjacent stable. His streak of top-10 finishes came at the same time that Joey Logano drove from outside of the Chase for the Championship to a top 10 seed by the end of the regular season.
Berry’s Future with Legacy Motor Club
In a video announcement on Legacy Motor Club’s “The Club” platform, Jimmie Johnson introduced Berry as the driver of the No. 42 Toyota for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season. Berry, who has one NASCAR Cup Series victory to his name—a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025—expressed his excitement about the new opportunity.
“Can’t wait to get to work,” Berry said in the video after being introduced by Johnson. “They wanted to have someone that fits into their culture. They’ve had some bright spots over the past couple of years, and this year. There are still areas we will need to work in and improve upon, and I think they wanted to know if I could buy into that vision—working alongside Erik (Jones) and Riley (Herbst) and everyone they have on that side of it.”
Berry will join teammates Erik Jones and Riley Herbst next season at Legacy Motor Club. With his impressive track record and newfound momentum, Berry is poised to make a significant impact in the NASCAR Cup Series.
