Josh Berry, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, experienced a dramatic twist while leading Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway on May 4, 2025, abruptly ending what looked to be one of his strongest performances of the season. Berry, who had claimed the lead for 41 laps, found his day unraveling as he attempted to navigate around lapped traffic late in the race, resulting in a crash that significantly damaged his car and dashed hopes for a top finish.
The race seemed to be unfolding perfectly for Josh Berry and his team, with the pace of the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse confirming their impressive progress on mile-and-a-half tracks in 2025. Berry—hailing from Hendersonville, Tennessee—demonstrated aggressive speed and control, especially following an early pit stop that allowed for effective adjustments. With momentum on his side, Berry confidently moved through the field, taking control of the race from rivals such as Austin Cindric.
The turning point occurred as Berry, focused and determined, tried to pass Cody Ware’s lapped car by moving to the outside in Turn 3. This decision forced him above the optimal racing groove, unsettling his car and causing a spin. Despite his efforts to recover, Berry could not regain control and slid into the outside wall in Turn 4, resulting in substantial damage to the left rear of his car. The impact led him to steer the damaged Ford Mustang into the garage, leaving his race in jeopardy and likely placing him outside the top-30 finishers, barring unexpected attrition.
Reflecting on the incident, Josh Berry shared,
The car was really good. I could tell early on that our car was really strong, especially after the first pit stop when we made an adjustment, it was really good and we got out front and felt really good about it. Just started to approach the lap traffic. You have no choice but to run the opposite lane. Your car is never going to turn if you follow them. I went around the 62 on the outside and felt pretty decent about it. Then caught the 51 and was working on the 51 and hit that bump and got loose.
The crash not only ended Berry’s promising run but also highlighted the unpredictable challenges drivers face, especially when leading at high speeds and encountering slower traffic. As Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing assess the aftermath of this setback, attention will shift to how they respond in upcoming races, with fans and competitors alike eager to see if Berry’s resilience and speed can translate into future success on the Cup Series circuit.
