Josh Berry is preparing for a pivotal moment with his first appearance for Wood Brothers Racing at Nashville Superspeedway this Sunday, marking a significant step in his Cup Series career after a breakout year. The highly-anticipated Josh Berry Nashville debut with Wood Brothers Racing follows a season where his momentum and confidence continue to climb.
Berry Sets Sights High for Nashville Race After Early Career Highlights
During a recent media session ahead of the Nashville weekend, Josh Berry candidly shared his ambitions and outlook as he joins his new team for the event. The 34-year-old driver competed previously with Stewart-Haas Racing, which had closed its operations, and 2024 became his first season racing full-time at the top level of NASCAR Cup Series. His lone prior start at Nashville Superspeedway ended with a 26th-place result while piloting the #4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, leaving room for improvement in this new chapter.
Reflecting on his experience at the 1.33-mile oval, Berry expressed optimism about his prospects as he gears up for another try, now with Wood Brothers Racing.
“I feel good about where we’ve been on the intermediates. We’ve shown a lot of speed and been really competitive. The goal is to keep building on that, especially in qualifying and continuing to learn with the playoffs in mind. Nashville and Michigan are two tracks I’m looking forward to. I felt like we ran well there last year, so I see them as great opportunities to put together some solid results and keep improving.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
This weekend, Berry will handle the #21 Ford Mustang as he tackles the concrete-surfaced Nashville circuit, with the race set for June 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Practice sessions for the Cracker Barrel 400 begin on Saturday, May 31, where teams and drivers will fine-tune their setups. Notably, last year saw Team Penske‘s Joey Logano take victory, having led nine laps and securing a total of 40 points in the process.
Memorable Victory in Las Vegas and Berry’s Unorthodox Post-Race Approach
Earlier this season, as part of his second year driving full-time, Berry captured his first Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube. Despite the achievement, Berry chose not to perform the traditional burnout celebration after crossing the finish line.
When asked about bypassing the customary display, Berry cited the influence of racing icon Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s measured celebration after winning the 2014 Daytona 500 as a factor, as well as his desire to protect the car from unnecessary damage.
“There are a couple of reasons. Number one, over the course of the off-season, I found myself watching the 2014 Daytona 500 when Dale won. He went down to one and kind of swung around, took his stuff off, and waved at the fans. I think back to Saturday night short-track racing, we wouldn’t have that type of celebration, right? Because you couldn’t blow the quarter panels up, blow the motor, tear the car to hell after the race,” Josh Berry explained (via Steven Raranto on X).
—Josh Berry, Driver
“That’s just what I wanted to do. It’s just kind of who I am. I did a little bit of one there at the end, just kind of spun around a couple times. That’s just who I am as a person. I’ve spent my whole life working on my own race cars, building race cars, got my *ss chewed a couple times for doing burnouts when I shouldn’t, and tore stuff up. I just want to soak in the moment,” he added.
—Josh Berry, Driver
The driver from Hendersonville now holds 17th place on the current Cup Series points standings, having accumulated 269 points, a victory, three results inside the top ten, and two top-five finishes in thirteen starts this season. Josh Berry’s steady ascent has drawn attention, with his on-track discipline and strategic approach reflecting lessons learned from both his mentors, like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and his grassroots racing roots.
What Berry’s Nashville Bid Means for His Season
Josh Berry’s Nashville debut with Wood Brothers Racing stands as a critical opportunity, not just for his individual progress but also for the team’s ambitions as the season advances. With the playoffs on the horizon, performing well on intermediate tracks like Nashville and Michigan could give Berry essential momentum and confidence. The partnership between Berry and Wood Brothers Racing will be closely watched, as both hope to turn potential into tangible results and solidify their presence in the highly competitive NASCAR Cup Series.
