Josh Berry will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sunday. He’ll drive the #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet as a substitute for Justin Haley. Haley has been sidelined for the Dover race weekend by NASCAR’s COVID-19 protocol.
“First off, I hope Justin is doing well, and I can’t wait to compete with him in a few weeks at Charlotte in the Xfinity Series,” Berry said. “I can’t thank Spire Motorsports enough for giving me the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time. This is a great opportunity for me, and I am going to do my best to give the team a solid finish Sunday afternoon.”
Berry is the reigning NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion. He is racing part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season as a driver for JR Motorsports. He claimed his first win in that series last month at Martinsville Speedway. He has contested 15 Xfinity Series races since 2014.
“We’re excited to provide Josh Berry with the opportunity to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Dover International Speedway,” Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson said. “It’s a little bittersweet because Justin Haley has to sit out this weekend, but at the same time, Josh has earned the opportunity to get a shot in the Cup Series. He’s a proven winner and raises the bar every time he gets in a race car. We know he’ll do a good job.”
Haley races full-time in the Xfinity Series, driving the #11 for Kaulig Racing. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Zane Smith will substitute for Haley in Saturday’s Xinity race, also at Dover.
