Josh Berry is set to launch his debut run in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs during Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. After clinching his spot with a dramatic early-season win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Berry is eager to start the ten-race championship on a strong note, making the
“Josh Berry NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs”
a storyline to watch as the postseason begins.
Though Darlington has not always been favorable to Berry—he’s had three finishes of 30th or worse in four starts—the veteran driver, in his first year with the storied Wood Brothers Racing, is optimistic. In May 2024, Berry posted an impressive third-place showing at this challenging 1.366-mile oval, hinting at his potential to surprise.
Growing Confidence and Recent Success at Darlington
Historically, Berry has faced obstacles at Darlington, but entering this Playoff opener, he is riding a wave of confidence. The 34-year-old reflects on the groundwork laid last season and credits his experience with the No. 4 car and Crew Chief Rodney Childers for fostering his comfort at the track. He also studied data from Kevin Harvick, which he believes contributed to his progress and top finishes in both the Southern 500 last year and the spring race.
“I definitely feel pretty comfortable here,”
Berry said at a media session on Saturday morning.
“I think that really started in the [No.] 4 car last spring, working with [Crew Chief] Rodney [Childers] and studying a lot of Kevin [Harvick]’s data here. And we had a really good car, and that kind of translated and built some confidence in it, and I think it was able to translate to the Southern 500 last year, and then in the [No.] 21 car in the Spring. So yeah, I feel good. I think we ran well in both races last year, we ran well in the Spring, I don’t feel like there’s any reason we can’t do that again this weekend.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Berry’s performance in the May race backs up his confidence. Starting from 24th, he spent a significant 74 laps inside the top 15 and climbed as high as fifth before a crash on lap 194 ended his promising day early.
Lessons from Past Challenges and Season Trends
Reviewing his finishes at intermediate ovals, Berry insists his results haven’t always reflected the car’s speed or his team’s performance. Factors such as pit road errors and getting involved in accidents have played a significant part in their results, even when running near the front.
“I don’t really feel like, especially when it comes to the oval tracks and the intermediates, it wasn’t a performance thing,”
Berry said regarding his subpar statistics on 1.5-mile venues.
“Whether it was mistakes on pit road, or getting caught up in accidents. There are a number of races that I think back on that we were — you know, here in the Spring, Martinsville we were in the lead and break. There are a lot of things that happened, I feel like some in our control, some outside our control.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Despite these hurdles, Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team are hopeful that circumstances will turn in their favor during this crucial part of the season. For Berry, a strong performance at Darlington could enhance his status as a competitive force in this year’s Playoffs.
The Prestige of the Southern 500 and Approach to Playoff Preparation
The Southern 500 is renowned as one of the sport’s crown jewel events, a race that every driver aspires to win at least once. Berry recognizes the prestige attached to Darlington and approaches the weekend with both respect and determination.
“It’s just such a fun track for one, but just a historic race. Just a tough race, a grind. I think we all want to survive that, and be in victory lane at the end of the day.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
As the stakes rise, Berry and his crew chief Miles Stanley are adamant that sticking to their yearlong routine is the best way to succeed. They purposely avoid altering their method because of playoff nerves.
“It’s kind of more business as usual. I feel like it’s easy to overthink these situations and overdo it,”
Berry explained.
“I think, a lot of times when you get to this point, people overthink it and over-prepare, and I feel like that can change your process and change your thinking going into this race that you have to do more than what you’ve done all year. I just don’t feel like that’s the case. I think that just comes from my background racing short tracks, and stuff, and working on my race car. If you go to a big race, I never worked harder on my car than I did every other week. You just get in your routine and you do the things you need to do to prepare, and you just go out and try to execute it.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Comfort at Key Tracks in the Playoff’s Opening Round
The first three races of the Playoffs—at Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol—give Berry reason for optimism. All three circuits suit his driving style and could provide a springboard for a deep postseason run. The No. 21 team’s ability to avoid mistakes and maintain steady finishes will be crucial in advancing beyond the initial round.
The collective mindset on the team is to remain focused, make the most of every opportunity, and keep their hopes alive for further rounds. The Wood Brothers, an iconic name in NASCAR, could benefit significantly if Berry sustains momentum at tracks where he feels at home.
Planning for Potential Challenges, Especially the ROVAL
Looking further ahead, Berry identifies the ROVAL as a particularly challenging event in the Playoff schedule. While he’s seen progress on road courses, he acknowledges the need to improve even more, though he’s keeping his attention on the present.
“I think the biggest Achilles’ Heel in this whole thing, I think, is going to be the ROVAL,”
Berry stated.
“I feel like we’ve made gains on the road course program, and when it comes to the ROVAL, I think I finished about 20th there last year, and I feel like I’ve gotten better since then. But we’ve got to make it to that point before we worry about it, honestly.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Berry’s approach is not to concern himself with challenges too far ahead, instead staying focused on making the opening rounds count. If he can lessen mistakes, the team could make a significant impact as the Playoffs progress.
Team Readiness and Outlook for Playoff Debut
Heading into Sunday, the Wood Brothers Racing squad, led by Berry and his crew chief, express high levels of preparation and self-belief. They see the coming races as fitting their strengths and aren’t seeking to change their methods for the sake of the Playoffs.
“These guys, we’re prepared. We’re confident going into this deal,”
Berry emphasized.
“We feel like these tracks line up good. We don’t need to do anything spectacular, like I said, we just need to limit our mistakes and be consistent, and see how far we can go. But honestly, I feel like I’m in a good place, I feel like the team is in a good place, I think we’re ready to go.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
The Stakes Ahead for Berry and Wood Brothers Racing
Josh Berry’s entry into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs marks a pivotal point for both his career and the Wood Brothers Racing organization. With proven speed at tracks like Darlington and a team that believes in his ability, Berry stands poised to make a notable impact if he can avoid the pitfalls that have previously hampered his campaigns.
Success in these opening circuits could set the stage for a breakout postseason, and as the Playoffs unfold, Berry and the No. 21 team are prepared to seize every chance. If they can combine clean races with consistent finishes, this season could yield the kind of results that solidify Berry’s status as a bona fide Cup Series contender.
