Josh Berry was the second choice for Wood Brothers Racing to replace Harrison Burton, his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate was the first: Reports

Josh Berry was reportedly not the first choice for Wood Brothers Racing as a replacement for Harrison Burton. Rather, it was Berry's current Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Chase Briscoe whom the WBR management wished to sign.

NASCAR Cup Series rookie Berry has finally sealed his fate for the 2025 campaign. The 33-year-old driver, who made his way into NASCAR's premier division via his stints in Late Model Stock Car racing and the Xfinity Series, found his career in a turmoil mere six months into 2024.

Berry, who had signed for Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of last season, entered 2024 as a replacement for a retired Kevin Harvick. With shoes such big to fill, the Tennessee native has so far failed to live up to the initial expectations that surrounded him.

Adding to his woes, Josh Berry's Cup future hung up in the air after it was revealed that Stewart-Haas Racing has decided to sell three of its four Cup charters at the end of the season. Consequently, Berry, without a ride for 2025, faced uncertainty surrounding his future in the sport.

However, despite the uncertainty, Berry is set to join Wood Brothers Racing (WBR) for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season on a multiyear deal. He will take over the iconic No. 21 Ford from Harrison Burton, marking a significant shift on the Cup grid.

According to latest reports from veteran NASCAR writer Kelly Crandall, however, Josh Berry was not Wood Brothers Racing's primary choice to replace Harrison Burton. Instead, the iconic NASCAR outfit had their sights set on Chase Briscoe, another SHR racer who faced similar uncertainty like Berry.

However, Briscoe turned out to be the first of the four SHR drivers to seal his 2025 ride. The 29-year-old driver will replace a retiring Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing.

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Josh Berry pumped up following Wood Brothers Racing announcement

The move to Wood Brothers Racing marks a new chapter for Berry. In a press release via NBC, he expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, saying:

"I feel like (the Wood Brothers) are getting somebody that is not going to quit. I’ve worked way too hard at this and I’ve done it for so long that you can’t beat somebody that gets up, and I’ve had to grind it out for years to get to this point. I feel like I’ve proven myself over and over again. I feel like I’m ready for this challenge."

Josh Berry's recent performances have shown promise, with four top-10 finishes in the last seven races and only three finishes outside the top 20 in the last 10 points races. He is currently ranked 19th in the Cup Series standings with 368 points.