Josh Berry drives down the frontstretch at Daytona International Speedway during DAYTONA 500 front row qualifying. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After qualifying fifth and leading six laps in the first of the two Duels at Daytona, Josh Berry is looking to find future success with his new team at Wood Brothers Racing.
Even though it is their second race altogether, but first points race as a new tandem, a DAYTONA 500 win would be huge to Berry and the Wood Brothers organization.
During the beginning of the 2024 season, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that they would be closing down at season’s end. Losing a team that won multiple NASCAR Cup Series Championships and had won over a hundred races over the top three divisions of NASCAR (Cup, Xfinity, Trucks) was a huge blow to many aspects of the sports, from the fanbase of SHR to the people working on the teams at SHR, especially their drivers.
Josh Berry, the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Champion, the all-time leader in CARS Late Model Stock Tour wins, and a five-time winner in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, was one of those drivers looking for a future job in the sport once the 2024 season concluded.
Even though Berry had ties with JR Motorsports in the past, where he scored all of his XFINITY Series wins, he wanted to stay in the Cup Series.
Berry was signed by SHR to a multi-year deal toward near the end of the 2023 season to take over the duties of the No. 4 car for Kevin Harvick, one of the most successful drivers of the past decade in his time at SHR and the driver who took over the RCR ride in 2001 that remained with the unfortunate passing of Dale Earnhardt Sr.
While Berry only had one season to work with his new team, he had success at certain tracks like Iowa and Darlington.
On July 3, 2024, in the middle of the season, the iconic Wood Brothers Racing announced that Berry would pilot their famed No. 21 Motorcraft/QuickLane Ford Dark Horse Mustang on a multi-year deal.
“When you think of the history and legacy of NASCAR, it’s hard to not think of the Wood Brothers and the incredible impact they’ve made on the sport. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a small part of carrying on that legacy,” Berry said in his press conference with the team after the announcement was made.
Wood Brothers Racing has their fill of NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers like David Pearson, Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett behind the wheel of their iconic No. 21,L ride with Berry being the latest driver to be added to that list. In fact, this could be the perfect time for Berry to punch in that first win and lock up a spot in the playoffs with his new team.
Josh Berry speaks with the media on DAYTONA 500 Media Day. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
At this point in time, Wood Brothers Racing is sitting at 100 NASCAR Cup Series wins. Last year, Harrison Burton, their third year driver, propelled the family owned team to join the likes of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, LEGACY Motor Club, Richard Childress Racing, RFK Racing and Team Penske as organizations with at least 100 wins in their history.
Throughout the first duel in which the Wood Brothers team competed in, Berry kept his No. 21 Dark Horse Mustang near the front of the pack. He held the lead for six laps. Near the end of the duel, he fell all the way back to a finishing position of 14th, earning a 29th place starting position for “The Great American Race”.
Even though the results did not reflect the effort from Berry and his team, he took a positive look for the that actions that took place on the track.
“I was glad to get to race up front for a little bit, and we just need to make our car a little bit better in traffic for Sunday, just to get it driving a little bit better in some different situations” Berry said to the media after the race. “It’s in one piece, and we’ll go race Sunday.”
The main goal for all teams in the Duels at Daytona is to keep the main car intact for Sunday’s race and learning from the event overall to adjust one’s approach for the DAYTONA 500.
Berry’s team accomplished both of these things. Despite the poor starting position for the race, they can still work their way up through the field and compete for their 101st Cup series win on Sunday.
“To be able to add my name to the list of drivers who have piloted the iconic No. 21 is something I don’t take lightly,” said Berry.
The opportunity to bring home a monumental DAYTONA 500 win would mean the world to Berry and the Wood Brothers organization.
In Berry’s case, a win in this crown jewel race will show he is up to the task to be in one of stock car racing’s storied rides.
