Josh Berry on the Brink: Wood Brothers Racing in Advanced Talks with Driver Amidst NASCAR Shakeup”.

Wood Brothers Racing is currently in advanced talks with driver Josh Berry to join the team for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This move comes after Stewart-Haas Racing announced that it would shut down after 2024, leaving four current Cup drivers in need of finding new teams for the following year.

Berry, who is managed by Harvick’s KHI Management agency, is likely to replace Harvick in SHR’s No. 4 Ford this season. However, SHR has announced that it will effectively shut down after 2024, and Gene Haas has decided to keep one of SHR’s four charters to field a single-car team next year without Tony Stewart’s involvement. The seat is expected to be filled by Cole Custer, leaving SHR’s four current Cup drivers in need of finding new teams for the following year.

Berry was brought into the racing scene by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2021 and achieved five wins in the Xfinity Series. This year, he made the jump to compete in the premier series with SHR, replacing Harvick. Berry also made several appearances for Hendrick Motorsports last season as a substitute for Chase Elliott. The 33-year-old Tennessee native has shown promise on the track, with notable performances including qualifying second for the recent Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

The move to Wood Brothers Racing would keep Berry in the Ford camp, as the team has an alliance with Team Penske. This shift comes amidst a period of significant change in the NASCAR landscape, with multiple drivers and teams repositioning for the upcoming seasons.

Wood Brothers Racing currently runs the No. 21 Ford, driven by Harrison Burton whose future with the team after this year remains uncertain.

The details of Berry’s deal with Wood Brothers Racing are not yet clear but negotiations have been ongoing for several weeks.