Where Do Josh Berry and Ryan Preece Go Without Stewart-Haas?

(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

Stewart-Haas Racing’s future is as cloudy as any race team in all of motorsports right now. Josh Berry and Ryan Preece are currently in the eye of the storm. Where could either of these drivers go if their rides are no longer available at the end of the season?

  • Josh Berry and Ryan Preece both have similar stories. Both had to spend a lot of time paying their dues in the lower series before getting their chance in Cup. Tony Stewart took a chance on both drivers.
  • However, SHR is rumored to be selling its four charters. This would leave both Berry and Preece without a ride. Would they find another spot in the Cup Series?
  • Fans are closely watching to see where SHR’s drivers and charters land for the 2025 season. This is the biggest story of Silly Season so far.

Front Row Motorsports

Front Row Motorsports is both looking to fill the void Michael McDowell will leave after the 2024 season, and potentially buying charters. As a result, the SHR drivers are a popular choice for this seat. Both Berry and Preece are absolutely candidates, but, are they equal candidates?

Berry has performed significantly better this season, so, he’d be a much easier candidate for this ride. Preece would be a tougher sell given that he’s never won a race despite making 164 Cup Series starts. FRM is looking for someone who can win races now.

The Wood Brothers

According to recent rumors and reports, the Wood Brothers are likely to let go of Harrison Burton for 2024, which is not a shock. Being a Ford team, SHR drivers could also look to this seat. Even if the team hasn’t won a race since 2017.

However, this is a crowded seat for both Preece and Berry. It’s possible someone like Chase Briscoe or Noah Gragson could take this seat. Could either of these drivers end up here?

Rick Ware Racing

Rick Ware Racing is getting better and better as 2024 rolls on. However, they only have one full-time driver, Justin Haley. If they want a second full-time driver, the No. 15 car could be open next season.

However, this seat would take a lot of funding, which neither Berry nor Preece has much of. Both drivers came to SHR despite a lack of funding in some respects. It would also be a big risk with RWR still being 33rd and 34th in owners points as of right now.

AM Racing (Xfinity Series)

AM Racing has regressed significantly this year with Hailie Deegan. The Ford team was also considering opening a second car for the 2024 season before signing Deegan full-time. Could this be a place for Berry or Preece if no Cup opportunity opens up?

It’s possible, and it could allow both drivers to compete for wins. Both are winners in the Xfinity Series, and they could have success in a ride like this. However, with recent performance, the Xfinity Series is more of a Preece option than a Berry option.

RSS Racing (Xfinity Series)

RSS Racing came oh so close to winning at Texas earlier this year with Ryan Sieg, and they won last year. at Sonoma with Aric Almirola. If they get Cup Series talent in the car, they could compete for wins. Berry and Preece could be open.

Like AM Racing, the Xfinity Series might be more of a Preece option than a Berry option due to recent performance, but, it would be an interesting slot for either. This could be a sneaky, race-win-contending car.

Josh Berry and Ryan Preece are both awaiting Stewart-Haas Racing’s future plans. Next year, they could both be wearing different-colored firesuits.

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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