Tony Stewart’s Rookie Bows in Gratitude to Rick Hendrick’s Stars After Seamlessly Embracing Next-Gen Car’s Challenge

Josh Berry is on fire! Right now he’s ripping it up in the new NASCAR Next-Gen car, and it seems like nothing can slow him down. While he had a rocky start, this driver isn’t afraid of a challenge, and he’s filling the seat left empty by the legendary Kevin Harvick. But guess what? Berry isn’t forgetting who has helped him get there.

Berry is now setting off to pave the way for his success! He’s definitely got the talent and the sportsmanship to go far! In the midst of it, he did not forget to show his admiration and give major props to the Hendrick Motorsports crew for teaching him the ropes.

Berry’s crash course at Hendrick Motorsports

Josh Berry has spent some time with Rick Hendrick’s crew of expert drivers, which must not have been anything short of winning the lottery for his racing knowledge! To be surrounded by expert NASCAR drivers like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman, would not only be a dream, but for Berry, it was a chance to soak up everything they knew about handling the new car and put it to good use on the tracks! It was basically like a super-secret racing masterclass.

“You really get a crash course on a lot of the mindset and what they are working on.” He said to Bob Packrass. “Honestly I think that that’s part of the transition that we’ve had here.”

He has learned how to think like a champion from watching them closely, incorporating ways to approach the tricky technology of the Next-Gen car, the whole nine yards. This experience and attention-to-detail has become his golden ticket to success over at Stewart-Haas Racing.

He also elaborated on the importance of now gaining an insight into how driver mentality can help you conduct a beast like the Next-Gen car. This is definitely something you can’t necessarily learn from a textbook. All in all, learning how to ‘speak’ the car’s language is a key takeaway from Berry’s experience.

This newfound knowledge is now a secret weapon for the Stewart-Haas Racing team. Partnering with crew chief Rodney Childers, Berry is setting out with the team on a mission to decipher the car’s code. Together, they can unlock its full potential while keeping their driving style at the forefront.

This perfect balance is what has Berry rocketing up the leaderboards at the Cup Series right now. He seems to have found the answer to making the car perform on his terms, a magic formula that will surely be putting him on the fast track to victory lane! While it may be challenging at first, it’s great to see drivers take on such tasks head-on and make the best of what they have.

Embracing the challenges of the new beast

This jump to the Next-Gen car was a monster leap from the late models that Josh Berry has dominated in the past. It could be described as going from a go-kart to a fire-breathing dragon! But Berry doesn’t seem to be afraid of a challenge. He’s taken his time and found some familiar ground on the short tracks with the latest model. This, coincidentally, reminded him of his late model car, where one had to wrestle the car around and finesse it through the corners.

But the big, sweeping tracks? Those were a whole new ball game for Berry and were the crux of his difficulty with the Next-Gen model. But he’s not backing down and charged straight into this unknown territory. What’s his secret weapon? It’s Berry’s willingness to learn and adapt., leading him into a safe zone where he can understand the needs of the car and make judgments on his next move a lot smoother.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of Stewart-Haas Racing, Berry remains grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team. The decision to close operations by SHR and his career in the balance has been a testament to the power of mentorship. But being optimistic, Berry is hopeful and appreciative of his chance after being guided by the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and the Hendrick Motorsports stars.

Josh Berry is not sweating when it comes to the rumors surrounding his future with the Wood Brothers. He knows he can adapt and win with any team, thanks to the incredible foundation he has built over his time in NASCAR. The respect he’s earned from racing legends like Larson, Elliott, and Hamlin is more valuable than any contract. And their belief in him has clearly fueled his confidence!

Now he’s not just driving a race car; he’s driving his way to the top, and with his talent and dedication, the checkered flag seems like a mere pit stop on his journey.