As the NASCAR Xfinity Series works a two-week summer break, most drivers would be relaxing, or going on vacation, maybe even just enjoying the peach and quiet, before the impending chaos that is the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, but that’s not Josh Berry’s style.
Berry, who has risen to prominence for being one of the best Late Model racers in the country, decided that the two-week break was a perfect time to return to his roots, after going ‘mainstream’ for the 2021 season, participating in a myriad of NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events in the first-half of the season.
Both JR Motorsports and their 30-year-old driver, decided to enter the 13th Annual Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway, with Berry getting behind the wheel of the team’s No. 8 All Things Automotive | iRacing Chevrolet, and continuing to further increase his stock in the racing world, making a pass on Connor Jones for the lead with 37 laps to go, and not looking back.
Connor Hall finished in second-place, with Kaden Honeycutt, Jared Fryar and Matt Waltz rounding out the top-five. Brandon Pierce, Peyton Sellers, Bobby McCarty, Danny Edwards and Terry Carroll rounded out the top-10.
Other notable names to NASCAR fans include; former NCWTS driver Timothy Peters in 11th, father of Xfinity Series driver Brandon Gdovic, Rick Gdovic in 22nd, ARCA competitors Ryan Huff and Justin Carroll in 24th and 29th, as well as Xfinity Series driver Colin Garrett in 28th.
Surprisingly enough, Berry had never competed in the Hampton Heat prior to Saturday Night, but did put his stamp on the 0.395-mile oval last October, en-route to claiming the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship, beating Peyton Sellers, his championship rival, in both events.
Next weekend, the Hendersonville, Tennessee-native will be competing in the CARS Late Model Tour “Throwback 276” at Hickory Motor Speedway, an event that he won just three short years ago.
