Dale Earnhardt Jr. heartbroken over Josh Berry's Cup future
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he is "heartbroken" over Josh Berry's uncertain NASCAR Cup Series future, calling the Wood Brothers Racing driver's predicament personal because Berry is "family." Speaking on The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt admitted he does not know where Berry's career goes next after a rough 2026 season and no confirmed 2027 seat.
Key Takeaways
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. called Josh Berry "family" and said Berry's Cup Series distress is personally heartbreaking.
- Berry won his first Cup race with Wood Brothers Racing at Las Vegas in 2025 but is without a confirmed 2027 seat.
- A second straight DNF at North Wilkesboro left Berry frustrated after another night of bad luck.
- Earnhardt said the Cup landscape is tough for drivers like Berry and he does not know what opportunities remain.
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Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaking out about Josh Berry?
On The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt explained that Berry's ties to his family run deeper than most fans realize. Berry moved from Nashville, lived with Earnhardt's mother, ate dinner with the family, worked at the shop, and raced with JR Motorsports for about 10 years.
"It's heartbreaking for me because I think of Josh as family," Earnhardt said. He recalled winning hundreds of races together, track titles, a national championship, and Xfinity races while giving Berry every opportunity they could.
That bond makes Berry's current Cup Series predicament hit differently than a typical garage rumor. Earnhardt has watched the climb from short tracks to a Cup win and now cannot make sense of the downturn.
What has gone wrong for Berry in the Cup Series?
After Stewart-Haas Racing shut down, Earnhardt backed Berry for the Wood Brothers seat. Berry won at Las Vegas in 2025 and helped deliver a strong first year. Earnhardt said Penske figures and teammates spoke highly of him.
"Looked like it was going to be positive. And I don't know, I do not know what has happened. I really don't," Earnhardt said. He added that he has not pressed Berry for answers out of respect for the driver and the Wood Brothers.
Berry's difficult 2026 campaign continued at North Wilkesboro on July 19. Per Wood Brothers Racing's race report, he started 28th, climbed as high as 12th, then finished 36th after contact with Christopher Bell on Lap 199 ended his night.
"I've never lived through a season like this when it's just one thing after another," Berry said. "We just can't catch a break, flat out."
Where does Berry's NASCAR future stand now?
Berry is still without a contract for 2027. Earnhardt said the market is especially hard for drivers without personal funding, even when poor results stem more from misfortune than a lack of speed.
"It's unfortunate because I don't know where this goes for Josh," Earnhardt said. "The landscape right now is tough for drivers like him. I don't even know what opportunities are out there."
He remains hopeful Berry and the Wood Brothers can still produce results this season that bolster future chances. Next up is the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, another chance for Berry to remind the garage of the grit that got him to Cup in the first place.