RIDGEWAY, VA :: JR Motorsports Late Model driver Josh Berry has had a career-defining season, making his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and scoring another track championship at Hickory Motor Speedway. But a victory at Martinsville Speedway in the MDCU 300 would top everything that he has accomplished thus far.

“It’s hard for me to put into words just how amazing this year has been on both the NASCAR and Late Model front,” Berry said of his season on Wednesday night. “It’s just been awesome. Things have been working out and I have gotten to work with a lot of amazing people.”

Berry started 10th and finished 12th in his Nationwide debut at Iowa Speedway in May and will make his follow-up appearance in November during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Berry, who has never competed on a track larger than a mile, says his performance will ultimately dictate how many starts he makes for the team next season.

“If that goes well, we’re going to have the opportunity to do up to a part-time season next year, assuming that we can finalize all the partners that we’re talking to,” Berry said. “Obviously, it will have to make sense for everyone involved but a strong run at Homestead will go a long way to putting everything together and I’m excited for it.”

First things first, Berry is hoping to make the field for the MDCU 300 on Sunday after missing out last year following engines woes. A strong test last week has him feeling confident that he can run up front with traditional powers Lee Pulliam, Philip Morris and Tommy Lemons, Jr.

“We’re going to be better than last year,” Berry said. “I think we can run in the top-10 and if you get there, with everything that happens late in the race, you’ve got a good shot.”

Given the attrition that dictates Martinsville in the closing stages of the race, Berry is hoping to run inside the top-five or completely in the back of the field as he believes those are the safe zones once drivers start crashing in the middle stages of the 200-lap feature.

“You want to crack the top-five and if you can’t, it’s probably best that you steer clear from eighth through about 13th because that’s where some of the most aggressive driving takes place. You’ve seen a lot of smart drivers ride in the back in the first half of the race lately and have success.

“I’m not opposed to doing that if we find ourselves in that position.”