Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR Hall of Famer, recently spoke out regarding the heated incidents involving Josh Berry during the late stages of the Sonoma Raceway event. With Berry’s actions under heavy scrutiny, Earnhardt Jr. used his platform to defend Berry amid growing criticism surrounding the Josh Berry Sonoma Race Incident.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Addresses Josh Berry’s On-Track Actions at Sonoma
Josh Berry faced backlash after making contact with Carson Hocevar in the final laps of the Sonoma race and an earlier bump involving Erik Jones. The moves sparked debate among fans and analysts who questioned whether Berry’s driving was justified or retaliatory. Speaking candidly on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr. dismissed the criticism of his support for Berry, who he has mentored for many years. He declared:
“Everybody who’s sitting here going, ‘F*** Dale Jr. and his Josh Berry fandom, of course he’s going to tap his back.’ You’re right. You’re absolutely right. Josh is the f***ing man.” —Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Jr.’s endorsement reflects a long-standing personal and professional connection with Berry. Josh Berry began driving full-time for JR Motorsports in 2010 within the Late Model Stock Car circuit. Over the next decade, Berry became a dominant figure in JRM’s late model program, winning 95 races and capturing two CARS Tour championships.
Berry’s remarkable achievements include his record-setting 2020 season, where he claimed 24 wins throughout the Southeast region. This impressive performance made him the first driver in JR Motorsports’ history to secure the NASCAR Weekly Series National Championship.
Analyzing the Sonoma Raceway Conflicts Involving Berry, Jones, and Hocevar
On the Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt explored the chain of events leading to the dramatic final laps of the Sonoma race, including Berry’s contact with Erik Jones and Carson Hocevar. Fans were particularly vocal due to NASCAR’s decision not to penalize Berry following the incidents.
Earnhardt Jr. traced the origins of the tension back to their race in Chicago, where Jones spun after making contact with Berry’s No. 21 Ford near Turn 7. Earnhardt interpreted the Sonoma bump as retaliation for the earlier collision, pointing out the strategic aspect of Berry’s driving. As he put it:
“Josh Berry had a pretty eventful last couple of laps of the race… the 43 of Jones spun off the nose of the 21, coming out of turn seven. That looked like possible payback from the week before at Chicago. And you know what? Hey, that’s how you do it… Josh is a friend of mine, so you call it whatever you want to call, I don’t give a sh**. But that is not a passing zone down the hill into turn seven at Chicago.” —Dale Earnhardt Jr.
While Earnhardt considered the Chicago incident unwarranted on Berry’s part, he recognized the hard racing nature of the Sonoma contacts. When Berry’s bump caused Hocevar’s No. 77 to spin at Turn 2, Earnhardt acknowledged that this move appeared more deliberate:
“So Josh is a racer, and he’s like, ‘Hey, perfect f***ing opportunity right here. Turn seven, a couple of laps to go. So, he didn’t give he didn’t give Jones a break. Got into his back bumper, spun him around. Intentionally or not, I don’t got a problem with that one. But then we get to the top of the hill in turn two, and it looked to me like this one was a, ‘you’re f***ing out of here… this looked really intentional to me because you know Josh just drives in and pops the 77,” he added. —Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Despite the physical exchanges on track, Berry managed to finish 13th, overcoming worn tires and early race difficulties through aggressive racing and determination. Earnhardt Jr. mentioned that he texted Berry after the race and received a composed response.
Context on Rivalries and Aggressiveness in the NASCAR Season
The incidents involving Berry and Hocevar reflect a broader season-long trend concerning aggressive driving styles. Hocevar has clashed with multiple competitors, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr., drawing criticism for his confrontational tactics on track. Earnhardt viewed the exchanges as part of the competitive give-and-take typical among assertive drivers like Hocevar and Erik Jones.
In this intense environment, Berry’s assertiveness and willingness to engage in physical racing have earned both admiration and condemnation, highlighting the divisive nature of on-track rivalry at the highest levels of NASCAR.
Implications of the Sonoma Incident for NASCAR and Future Races
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s defense of Josh Berry underscores the complexities of racecraft and driver relationships within NASCAR. The controversy around the Sonoma event reveals tensions between strategic aggression and sportsmanship, issues that NASCAR officials and drivers continue to navigate.
As Nascar’s competitive landscape remains highly charged, incidents like those involving Berry, Jones, and Hocevar will likely continue to provoke debate among fans, media, and participants alike. How NASCAR addresses these conflicts in upcoming races may influence the sport’s tone, driver conduct, and rule enforcement going forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Josh Berry go to school with Taylor Swift?
A. Berry and Swift, both 35 years old, went to Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
