Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Brickyard 400 Media Availability | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Friday, July 19, 2024
Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 Panini Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing met with media members Friday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
RACING ON THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, KIND OF WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS PLACE, HEADING HERE?
“I’m obviously really excited to be here and be in the Cup Series, get to compete on Sunday in what is one of the most prestigious races that NASCAR’s always done, that we’ve missed the last couple years. So it definitely feels different coming here to run the oval than it did the road course. I think just getting to take in the oval and just the history behind it is something that’s going to be really fun. So yeah, this is my first time up here, so I was checking things out a little bit, but it’s definitely exciting to be back on the oval and hopefully we can put on a good race Sunday.”
YOU’RE ONE OF 10 FULL-TIME CUP DRIVERS WHO HAVE NEVER RACED THE OVAL IN THE CUP SERIES, BUT YOU IN PARTICULAR HAVE NEVER RACED IT, PERIOD. SO WHAT’S THAT GONNA BE LIKE?
“It’s definitely a unique scenario. It’s probably one of the only ovals that I haven’t been to yet that we go to. So, thankfully, I have an opportunity to race in the Xfinity race. I think that will be useful to get on track and practice in that and then obviously have that race under my belt by the time Sunday comes around so that hopefully I can get some needed experience in that race. Other than that, I feel like we’ve prepared the best we can, and having a 50 minute practice will help too. So, put all those things together, it should be alright. I think that this place will race similarly to maybe Pocono or Michigan where we’ve had some pretty good cars. So hopefully everything goes to plan.”
THE FACT THAT IT’S THE FIRST TIME THAT THE NEXTGEN RACES ON THE OVAL HERE TOO, DOES THAT EVEN IT OUT AT ALL DO YOU THINK?
“Yeah, I think even the guys that haven’t been here or raced the old style car here probably still have some of the same feelings that I have approaching this again with the NextGen. So it’ll be a learning experience for all of us. But like I said, with a little bit of extended practice, that should help. And we’ll go out there and do it and see what happens.”
YOU HAVE A PRETTY ICONIC PERSON ON YOUR CAR. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CAR WHERE YOU’VE HAD SOMEBODY OF THE CALIBER OF CAITLIN CLARK, OR EVEN JUST A PHOTO OF A PERSON ON YOUR PAINT SCHEME?
“No, I don’t think so. It’s been a fun week for sure. Obviously starting our partnership with Panini has been really cool. They have a huge presence in NASCAR and in sports in general. For them to use the hood of our race car to draw attention to the Caitlin Clark collection that’s out now is really cool. I think it’s been a popular week on social media for our 4 car, which is the point of all this and it’s been pretty fun.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU INITIALLY SAW THE SCHEME, THE DESIGN?
“I think over the last couple of weeks we knew this was kind of coming together and was ironing out all the details. So it’s just, it’s cool, right? I think that’s the biggest thing about it. It’s a great way to bring everything together and start this partnership with Panini and having her on the car is a great way to start. She has had a tremendous trajectory the last couple of years. So to be able to be a part of that is pretty cool.”
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT AT ALL?
“I have not, no.”
SHE’S OBVIOUSLY A WORLDWIDE FIGURE, BUT IS CENTERED HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS. HOW COOL IS IT TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT REPRESENTED WHEN WE GET BACK ON THE OVAL HERE AT SUCH AN ICONIC RACETRACK?
“It’s a great opportunity for us to have to have Panini and then Caitlin on the car as well. Just the amount of attention that the car has gotten this week through social media and everything’s been really cool and I’m sure it’ll continue to build through the weekend. Hopefully we can have a good race and make them all proud.”
THIS IS PROBABLY A STUPID QUESTION, BUT IS IT DISTRACTING AT ALL TO HAVE A FACE LIKE RIGHT THERE WHEN YOU’RE DRIVING?
“No, you really can’t see it too much.”
IS THERE A TURN OR CORNER THAT YOU’RE MOST FOCUSED ON WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE FOR THE CUP CAR?
“It seemed like in our normal prep that turn one is the hardest corner to get through. I don’t really know why that is. I talked to Rodney (Childers) a little bit about that and he felt that that was a similar experience when they raced here with the old car. So I don’t know if it’s just the angle or the visuals or whatever that that seems like turn one and two kind of expose you know your car a little bit more in the simulator just how it turns and everything so I don’t know, we’ll find out if that’s real or not I guess here soon.”
YOU JUST MENTIONED RODNEY, HAVE YOU LEANED ON HIM A LOT IN PREPPING FOR THIS OR ARE YOU EXPECTING TO LEAN ON HIM A LOT THIS WEEKEND?
“I think obviously he’s really excited to get back here, being that they won the last two Brickyard 400s. I feel like we’re leaning on each other and communicating like we always do. Even still, it’s a totally different car as well, so we’re all going to be learning this together. The team’s got a little extra confidence this week for sure.
YOU HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER. YOU HAVE ANOTHER GIRL ON THE WAY, SO I’M CURIOUS, HAVING CAITLIN CLARK ON THE CAR, IS THAT ANY MORE SPECIAL OR MEANINGFUL JUST AS FAR AS A ROLE MODEL AND, YOU KNOW, FEMALES CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING KIND OF THING TO PREACH TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?
“For sure. It really is a great opportunity to have her on the hood of our race car, and the amount of reach and popularity she’s gained over the last couple of years has been really amazing to watch and just how it’s transcended women’s basketball. Being a girl dad, I guess, you don’t necessarily put the two together right now but as she grows older, I’m sure that it’ll definitely be a pretty cool thing to look back on as she continues her career.”
YOU’VE GOT PANINI FOR THIS RACE HERE. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE DOWN FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT DOES 2025 LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
“The Panini partnership, they’re going to be an associate for us the rest of the year and hopefully on the car again. I think we’re working through all that. For 2025, I’m headed to the Wood Brothers to drive the 21 car, so I’m excited about that, but we still have a lot of racing to do with the 4 team.”
