Josh Berry faces a critical moment in his NASCAR playoff journey as he attempts to rebound from a tough start at Darlington Raceway. The Wood Brothers Racing driver aims to deliver a strong Josh Berry NASCAR playoff performance at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway this Sunday, where he sits last among the 16 contenders, 19 points below the elimination line.
Berry Remains Calm Despite Playoff Challenge
With summer waning and temperatures cooling, Berry is working to maintain composure under mounting playoff pressure. After his rough 38th-place finish last weekend, confidence and focus may be Berry’s most important assets. The No. 21 team goes into Gateway needing to climb out of the points deficit to survive in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
“I mean, we just got to go out and try to have two good weeks, really. That’s really all there is to it. You can’t worry about too much of everything else. You just need to go out and try to score as many points as you can, get a good finish. If we’re able to do that this weekend, I think it’ll give us a shot going into Bristol (Motor Speedway). And if we don’t run like we want, we’ll probably be must-win.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Berry’s playoff berth was secured with a victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, but his postseason began with disaster after a crash on the first lap at Darlington. Despite returning to the race after extensive repairs at the garage, Berry ended the day 128 laps down, finishing last out of 38 drivers. The result leaves Berry needing to maximize points and avoid another misstep if he hopes to advance past the Round of 16.
Strong Analytics Offer Hope at Gateway
Gateway, known as World Wide Technology Raceway, may offer Berry a chance for redemption. In his previous Cup start at the St. Louis track, Berry finished 36th. However, according to NASCAR Insights, he stands out in several key metrics at tracks similar to Gateway in 2025. Berry is ranked fourth in Passer Rating and seventh in Speed Rating, Long-Run Speed, and Restart Rating at tracks such as Phoenix Raceway, Iowa Speedway, and Richmond Raceway. These analytics suggest Berry has the capability to perform well when given another opportunity.
Team Penske Alliance Brings Added Confidence
Berry can also take encouragement from his team’s relationship with Team Penske, a powerhouse when it comes to racing on flat tracks. Team Penske entries have claimed two of three Cup Series races held in St. Louis, fueling optimism within the Wood Brothers Racing garage. With Cup Series coverage across multiple platforms—including USA Network, HBO Max, and MRN Radio—spotlight and pressure are both mounting heading into the crucial next race.
“Obviously, we have a tight alliance with those guys, and they’ve had a lot of success here, so that gives us a little extra confidence coming here, that we can go run well,”
—Josh Berry, Driver
“Obviously, it’s a little different tire, a little different time of the year compared to what they’ve had the last couple years. But you know, like I said, I still feel pretty good about all we’ve got, and we just gotta go out and execute.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Must-Win Pressure and Historic Hurdles
Berry’s path is not an easy one. According to Racing Insights, no Cup Series driver who has finished worse than 25th multiple times in the Round of 16 has managed to advance to the Round of 12. After the Darlington race, Berry is joined by Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, and Shane van Gisbergen in the group of drivers needing a bounce-back performance. For Berry, a disappointing outing at Gateway would mean Bristol could become a must-win situation next weekend.
“If we don’t finish well this weekend, then yeah, we’re going to be must-win, right?”
—Josh Berry, Driver
“So that’s just how it’s going to be. So, yeah, we just got to try to do our best to score as many points on Sunday as we can, and just give ourselves a shot at Bristol.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Consistency and Speed as the Keys for Progress
Speed and steady performance are pivotal for the No. 21 team heading into Sunday’s showdown. Berry clocked the 21st-fastest lap during Saturday’s practice but showed improvement in qualifying, landing 12th-fastest overall. Following Gateway, the Round of 16 will conclude at Bristol Motor Speedway, another track that may suit Berry’s experience as a short-track racer and offer one final opportunity to advance in the championship battle.
Berry’s Outlook on His First Full-Time Cup Season
This season marks Berry’s first as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series for Wood Brothers Racing. While the first playoff round brought early trouble, Berry remains optimistic about the team’s achievements and their potential in 2025. He believes staying calm and focused could be crucial as he and the crew look to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.
“I’m proud of a lot of things we’ve done,”
—Josh Berry, Driver
“I feel like we’ve shown a lot of potential, a lot of speed at times. [We] just need to clean things up. I mean, obviously, last weekend was super disappointing, but I don’t think, as a driver, there was much different I could have done in that situation. The car was too low, we bottomed out and it wrecked. But it’s been a lot of fun racing with these guys. Learned a lot and excited to continue.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
As the playoff picture unfolds, Berry enters Gateway with determination, mindful that a turnaround would spark not just a playoff comeback, but a deeper sense of achievement for both himself and the entire Wood Brothers Racing organization. The coming weeks will test his poise and skill as he chases a spot in the next round of the NASCAR postseason.
