Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spoken out in defense of Josh Berry following a series of late-race clashes at Sonoma Raceway, which triggered criticism from fans and the NASCAR community. His backing comes as discussions intensify about the on-track incidents involving Josh Berry on-track incidents Sonoma Raceway, raising questions about intent and fairness in race-day decisions.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Addresses Controversial Race Moments
Reflecting on the dramatic closing laps at Sonoma, Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not shy away from the controversy surrounding Josh Berry’s late-race contact with Carson Hocevar and an earlier bump with Erik Jones. Both incidents placed Berry in the spotlight, with many spectators and analysts debating whether his maneuvers were deliberate or reactive. Earnhardt, who has a longstanding mentorship with Berry at Wood Brothers Racing, made his allegiance clear during his remarks on the Dale Jr. Download podcast:
“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., NASCAR Hall of Famer
This statement highlighted Earnhardt’s loyalty but also exposed him to criticisms about possible bias. Still, Earnhardt remained unapologetic, having guided Berry’s career for over a decade, beginning with Berry’s arrival at JR Motorsports as a full-time Late Model Stock Car driver in 2010. Under Earnhardt’s mentorship, Berry won an impressive 95 races and captured two CARS Tour titles, becoming a central figure at JR Motorsports.
Berry’s career hit new heights in 2020, when he won 24 races across the Southeast, earning the distinction of being the first in JR Motorsports history to claim the NASCAR Weekly Series National Championship.
Breakdown of On-Track Incidents Sparks Debate
On his podcast, Earnhardt gave further insight into the events that unfolded between Josh Berry, Erik Jones, and Carson Hocevar at Sonoma, especially in the intense final moments. These cases drew significant attention after Berry was not penalized in NASCAR’s weekly report, intensifying scrutiny from fans and industry insiders.
The tension appeared to stem from a prior incident in Chicago, where Erik Jones spun after making contact with the front of Berry’s No. 21 ford/”>Ford in Turn 7. According to Earnhardt, what happened at Sonoma may have been retribution for that clash. He explained:
“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., NASCAR Hall of Famer
Earnhardt’s comments suggest that, in his view, the earlier clash at Chicago was unwarranted, while the Sonoma retaliation seemed justified. He went on to analyze the pivotal turn-two incident at Sonoma with Carson Hocevar, where Berry’s aggressive move sent Hocevar’s No. 77 car spinning. Earnhardt acknowledged that this altercation appeared to carry a personal edge:
“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., NASCAR Hall of Famer
After the race, Earnhardt shared that he texted Berry to discuss the incidents, receiving a measured response from the driver. Despite struggling with tire wear earlier, Berry’s willingness to race assertively enabled him to finish 13th at Sonoma.
Drivers’ Reputations and the Culture of Retaliation
Throughout the current NASCAR season, Carson Hocevar has faced disciplinary issues and criticism from several drivers, among them Ricky Stenhouse Jr., for his aggressive tactics on track. Earnhardt contextualized the showdown at Sonoma as part of the ongoing “give-and-take” dynamic within NASCAR, particularly among drivers with reputations for assertiveness—including both Erik Jones and Carson Hocevar.
These recent altercations involving Josh Berry have deepened debates about how far competitive driving should go and the nature of justice on the racetrack. With Earnhardt’s defense and NASCAR’s decision not to penalize Berry, attention now turns to how officials and competitors will address similar disputes moving forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Josh Berry go to school with Taylor Swift?
A. Both Berry and Swift, who are 35 years old, went to Hendersonville High School located in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
