Josh Berry, while fiercely competing at the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, encountered a truly odd event on Sunday. During Lap 18, the driver hit a bird at a stunning speed of 190 MPH. The viewers watching Berry’s on-board camera on MAX were the first ones to observe this sensational incident.
“I’ve seen birds hitting cars before, they can cause some damage indeed,” expressed Berry’s crew chief, Miles Stanley, as he spoke about the peculiar incident post-race. Stanley, having been witness to similar occurrences in the past, went on to describe the potential havoc a bird strike can wreak on racing cars.
However, Josh Berry’s unfortunate adventures did not end with the bird collision. He found himself embroiled in a pit road incident later in the race, when he collided with Carson Hocevar‘s tire career, Jarius Morehead. Despite these hindrances, Berry emerged with a P29 finish at Talladega, demonstrating his commitment.
Even after facing such challenges, Berry’s spirits remain unbroken. This resiliency is proven by his qualification for the playoffs, a feat he achieved through a victorious run at the Las Vegas race earlier in the season. That victory marked Berry’s first triumph in his NASCAR Cup Series career.
Berry’s excitement was palpable as he shared his sentiments after winning the Las Vegas Race, “Just awesome, I love this track. Las Vegas has been so good to me. So many great moments here. Struggled in the Next Gen car, but Miles and this whole 21 team, everybody at Wood Brothers Racing, gave me a superb car today.”
Berry also expressed his gratitude towards Wood Brothers Racing, the team he joined this season. “They’ve been so good to me, it’s been an incredible journey. My thanks to Wood Brothers Racing, and Team Penske as well. They welcomed me with open arms and tried to accelerate my learning process as much as possible”, he commented.
The trials and tribulations faced by Josh Berry at Talladega make his journey to the playoffs an even more impressive feat, proving his mettle as a robust and resilient competitor. Expectations are now high to see how Berry performs in the playoffs and how he continues to handle unexpected events like bird collisions. A strong season finish could prove to be a significant step forward in Josh Berry’s racing career.
