Austin Berry Racing: Playing the Long Game and Preparing for a New Chapter

As the summer swing approaches, Austin Berry Racing (ABR) is taking a strategic pause. While the allure of the high-intensity Appalachian Mountain Late Model Speedweek was strong, the team has opted to sit out the seven-race, nine-day stretch. 

For this family-owned operation, the decision comes down to staying true to the “long game” that has defined their growth in recent years.

THE MATH BEHIND THE DECISION

The series requires competitors to run American Racer tires, whereas ABR runs exclusively on Hoosiers— a tire choice that aligns best with their current program. The logistics of a one-week switch would have cost the team roughly $3,000, creating a ripple effect on the budget for the remainder of the year.

“When you consider the Speedweek entry fee, fuel for the racecar and the team’s rig, and pit passes, it becomes difficult to see a way for our family-owned team to make money that week,” Berry explained.

“We would need to run top-ten at least four times to really come out ahead. We are certainly capable of that, but we can’t guarantee it. We have great partners but we are still largely self-funded.”

“I want to run every week. Heck, I would race twice every week if I could, but we can’t do that right now with the resources we have available.”

“We have been patiently, steadily building this team by playing the long game. When you’re a racer, that patience can be tough sometimes because you just want to go racing.”

BUILDING MOMENTUM

Despite missing the Speedweek, the team’s outlook remains positive. A significant leap in performance and consistency has marked the 2026 season. After a deep dive into data at the end of 2025, the team has learned more about their Rocket XR1 chassis in a few months than in the prior two years combined.

The result is a more balanced racecar. The team’s “plus/minus” in feature competition—a key metric for ABR—has swung from nearly -4.0 spots in 2025 to a solid +3.8 spots on average in 2026.

NEXT STEPS: NEW HORIZONS

The current break is anything but idle. The primary focus during this time is the assembly of a new Rocket XR2 chassis. Berry is targeting a debut for the new machine on June 19th at Selinsgrove Speedway.

“We needed to prioritize an investment in a new chassis from Rocket because our XR1 is about ten years old now,” Berry explained.  

ABR is also currently awaiting the return of their engine, which is being repaired from an issue the team encountered several weeks ago. 

Berry and the entire ABR team would like to extend a huge thank you to Jason and the Zook Racing team for lending a motor to help keep them on track while they wait.

The team is also constantly monitoring the laps they put on their engine. There is a window in which the motor must be refreshed to avoid the risk of severe damage or degraded performance. 

Berry said, “If we race too little after we get our motor back, we will end up needing a refresh midseason 2027, which would sideline us for weeks. If we race a lot the remainder of the year, our motor will still be 300 laps short of needing a freshening this winter, so we have to decide how we want to manage it.”

The timeline for the return of our motor will likely determine how much the team races the rest of this season. Until ABR can afford to acquire a second motor, these are the choices they have to make. 

“We’re managing our assets to ensure that when we do hit the track, we’re positioned to be a threat,” Berry commented.

ABR is proud to be supported by a dedicated group of partners, led by primary partner Juniata Veterinary Clinic. The team also extends its gratitude to key partners Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, SRI Performance / Stock Car Steel & Aluminum, VP Racing Fuels, Carquest of State College, and Starr Beef.

Fans can keep up with Austin Berry Racing’s news, schedule, and more at the team’s website, AustinBerryRacing.com, built by the great folks at My Race Pass in partnership with Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management.