JACKSONVILLE, NC – Two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner Josh Berry will be making his Goodyear All American Speedway debut on Sunday afternoon in the Solid Rock Carriers Battle of the Stars.
Berry, 31, from Hendersonville, Tennessee, is one of the most accomplished drivers in Late Model Stock Car racing history with a list of accolades that includes marquee wins and multiple different championships. Now, the JR Motorsports driver, who will compete for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2022, is looking forward to the challenge of racing at a new track.
“I’m excited to go somewhere new,” Berry said. “I think that’s what’s a little bit enticing for me. I’ve raced basically everywhere and this is somewhere I haven’t been. They’re trying to rebrand and rebuild. It’s exciting to go somewhere new and try to help them grow. It’s going to be really fun and we’re excited to get there.”
Berry is a former NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion, Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour champion, and has won titles at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina and Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia. Berry has also won the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, the same track he scored his first of two NASCAR Xfinity Series win at earlier this year.
“It’s been crazy,” Berry remarked. “Just, it’s unbelievable how much my life’s changed in the last year. I’m excited for the next year, but I really feel like racing Late Model Stocks prepared me for those moments. It’s been really special. Martinsville was really cool, Vegas was just as cool being a mile-and-a-half, totally different scenario and team. Each one of those wins was really special.”
While he has had a limited schedule in Late Model Stocks this year, he has made the most of it, picking up victories in the Old North State Nationals at Orange County Speedway, the Hampton Heat 200 at Langley Speedway in Virginia, and the Throwback 276 at Hickory.
“Yeah, we’ve had really good runs,” Berry stated. “Obviously Orange County that race, the Throwback race, the Hampton Heat was a fun one. I guess I haven’t raced that much but if you look at those accomplishments, that’s still a pretty good year.”
Over the past decade, he has been one of the most dominant forces in Late Model Stock Car racing, being a threat for the win every time he shows up to the track – and Sunday is expected to be no different.
“I think we’ll definitely be good and be in contention,” Berry commented. “I haven’t raced Late Model a lot this year, so I’ll have to do some readjusting there. I think we’ll have a shot at it and that’s all you can ask for.”
Moving full-time into the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Berry’s unsure how much more he will get to race in a Late Model Stock Car.
“This year, I’d like to race with these guys a couple more times. It’s hard to say for next year. I think we have intentions of me running Late Model a few times next year, but it’s going to be hard to say if we’re going to make that happen. It will be nice to get a couple in here before the end of the year.”
Berry is one of 30 drivers who have signed up to compete in the $10,000-to-win Solid Rock Carriers Battle of the Stars, which has quickly become the most anticipated race of the year in Coastal North Carolina.
Practice will take place on Saturday, November 13, while qualifying and the feature race will take place on Sunday, November 14. The green flag will fly at 3pm on the Battle Prelims and then the 150-lap Solid Rock Carriers Battle of the Stars will commence as the nightcap.
Tickets are available at the gate on race day for $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and kids five (5) and under free. Discounts are available for active and retired military, seniors and students (with ID). For those unable to attend, the Solid Rock Carriers Battle of the Stars will be broadcast live on Speed51.TV’s subscription streaming service.
Goodyear All American Speedway is Jacksonville’s Action Attraction featuring racing and other events. For more information about Goodyear All American Speedway, check out the speedway’s website, like/follow “Goodyear All American Speedway” on Facebook, or follow the track on Instagram.
