Josh Berry heads into the Bristol Motor Speedway event knowing that his only chance to continue in the playoffs is to deliver a victory on Saturday night. The Josh Berry Bristol race playoff hopes are on the line, as he sits 45 points below the cut-off for the next playoff round and must secure a win to advance.
Berry’s Playoff Standings and Bristol Outlook
Currently ranked 16th in the standings, Josh Berry, piloting the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Wood Brothers Racing, faces long odds for continuing his postseason journey. Only a win at Bristol can assure his spot in the Round of 12, given the points deficit he faces compared to the transfer spot. Berry’s approach is driven by the understanding that nothing short of first place will be enough to extend his playoff run.
Anticipating Track Conditions and Tire Strategy
Tire wear and track surface represent major variables at Bristol, factors that could significantly impact race dynamics. Berry discussed these unknowns, reflecting on the challenges presented by new tires and evolving track conditions at the venue.
“Yeah, I think it would be fun. Obviously, we hopefully, maybe not as drastic as we had the one time, but a little bit of tire wear would definitely make it interesting. I don’t really know what to expect, honestly. It’s a different tire. We don’t really have a lot of information on it. It’s just hard to tell what we’re gonna have, but, generally, I feel like the tire wear is more connected to the surface in the track. We had kind of a unique situation in the spring with not a lot of rubber on the track, cold. I don’t know if it’ll feel much different this weekend.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Berry expressed caution about fully predicting how the race would play out, noting the unfamiliarity with the current tire compound and the importance of adapting quickly based on what unfolds during the event.
Evaluating Recent Playoff Performances
Berry reflected on the playoff campaign so far, highlighting moments where circumstances hindered his results, despite what he describes as competitive speed and effort from his team. Incidents at both Darlington and the previous race have left his team in a must-win situation heading to Bristol.
“Yeah, it’s been disappointing to not get the results, but I feel like we’ve performed fairly well. We went to Darlington and qualified third and felt like we had a good car there. We bottomed out and wrecked on the first lap and then last week I felt like, again, we qualified 12th and felt like we had a solid car. We got into it with the 9 and I felt like each one of those could have been solid top 10s, which really would have been all we needed to be in a much better spot this weekend, so I’m frustrated with the results but I think the performance has been there. I think we’ve done a good job. There’s always room for improvement, but there are still positives to take out of it.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
He maintained optimism about the team’s abilities, emphasizing positives while recognizing the results have not reflected the group’s capabilities.
Keys to Success and Race Execution
When considering what it will take to win, Berry emphasized fundamental racecraft, from qualifying performance to in-race execution. With Bristol’s unique format, every aspect of the team’s effort—on and off the track—will be crucial.
“I think we’ve just got to qualify well and execute. We’ve got to do all of the basics. It’s hard to win these races. You don’t go into them expecting to win, but I expect to have a good car and hopefully be in contention and if we execute and give ourselves that opportunity, hopefully we can capitalize on it.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
For Berry and his crew, the strategy centers on solid preparation and giving themselves the best possible chance to compete for the win as the laps wind down.
Reflections on Racing in Adverse Conditions
Berry also looked back on demanding race conditions in previous events, such as last year’s rain-affected finish at Loudon, which required quick adaptation and resilience from all drivers involved.
“It was a lot of fun. I hadn’t really raced in the rain other than a couple times in the Xfinity car, but it was a lot of fun. The track raced well and I thought it put on a good show at the end and we were in the thick of the battle the last closing laps. I’m obviously excited to go back and watch that one this week a little bit more and study it, but it was a great opportunity for us last year. It was a lot of fun and I’m excited to go back there and see how we do.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
He described the thrill and challenge of driving in various wet and low-grip scenarios, comparing them to the unpredictability expected at Bristol.
“Obviously, the biggest thing is just figuring out where the grip is out on the track, which we kind of all split between the apron and the top lane. I think where it got difficult was trying to make passes just as the dry line kind of developed towards the end from what I remember, and trying to run as fast as you can without dipping into the damp part of the track too much. It was a blast. I would be fine if it rained again.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Pressure and Team Energy with Everything on the Line
With so much at stake, Berry acknowledged the intensity and emotional weight carried by everyone competing at Bristol, underlining how the playoff format creates varying approaches among the field.
“I don’t know. I think there’s a lot on the line for people. You’ve got people that are just trying to survive and you’ve got people just like us that have to win. It’s still Bristol though, so you never know what could happen. It’s just hard to say. I think it just depends on what we get for the track and how the tires wear, if we get anything like that. It’s hard to say. Ultimately, we need to be able to follow each other closer for it to look like it did a bunch of years ago.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
The unpredictable nature of Bristol races—combined with the urgency for teams outside the points cutoff—adds an extra layer of excitement and stress for all involved.
Inside the Team: Handling Frustration and Staying Resilient
Berry opened up about the team’s mood and how they are coping with frustration from recent setbacks. He pointed out that mistakes at Darlington and race incidents last week have shaped team morale heading into Bristol, but that professionalism and perspective help manage expectations.
“It’s frustrating. I mean, everybody is disappointed for sure, but what can you do, really? I look at Darlington and that was a mistake on our part. That was kind of self-inflicted with how hard we hit the racetrack starting the race, but last week I feel like we did a solid job and just was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t know. All of us, a lot of us in this industry have been doing this stuff a long time. There’s highs and lows and you just have to be able to stay in-between and manage it the best you can. I try to do a pretty good job of that and at the end of the day, no matter where you run the week before, you go to work on Monday and get ready for the next race. Now, if we want to advance to the next round we need to win, but we could lead 400 laps Saturday night and blow an engine or have a flat tire and I don’t think any of us on Monday would be disappointed, but we wouldn’t be disappointed in how we ran. The biggest thing is we just need to run well and be in contention on Saturday night and see what happens from there.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
This outlook reflects the veteran mindset of the team, balancing hope with a belief in their processes despite the stakes.
Gaining from Experienced Teammates
Berry credited the structure at Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske, highlighting the positive influence of collaborating with accomplished drivers such as Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric. Their collective experience has played a crucial role in Berry’s learning process throughout the season.
“It’s all those things. I think just the structure of the organization and how strong that is and I just feel like we’ve gotten into a great routine as a race team with our week-to-week preparation, and obviously being able to lean on Ryan and Joey and Austin is really helpful because these are experienced guys that are very talented and champions of our sport, and being able to lean on them and learn from them and gel with all of those guys has been important to me. I feel like we all get along really well and work together well, so it’s been a lot of fun and I’m excited for these last handful of races. They’re going to be races that I’m going to for the second time with them and hopefully we can see that next step of progression because that’s the difference in where we’re at. These guys have been to these tracks numerous times with the NextGen car with the same crew chief, same team for the most part and for us, myself and Miles we’re still working through that. This is gonna be another one, probably Darlington would have been the only other one that’s an intermediate short track that we’ve been to before, so coming back for a second time we use our notes from the spring and hopefully that will help us continue to grow.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
The synergy with the team’s seasoned members is framed as a key asset as they approach critical races together.
Adjusting to Evolving Tire Compounds
Berry also spoke about managing the ever-changing tire technology, which poses fresh challenges each time teams return to familiar tracks.
“It’s definitely different. The hardest thing is, like I said, just adapting to a new tire when you go back and knowing what you need from your car and balance. You get a race under your belt and then it’s different when you go back. You’re kind of starting over from scratch, but generally from the race car and how it drives and how it feels, directionally I feel like the way they’re going is improving things and making it feel more normal. I’m all for it and that’s another step in hopefully we’re in the right direction this weekend with the tire they brought and hopefully it races well.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
He emphasized adaptability, seeing potential improvements in car feel and overall race quality as the tire evolution continues.
Family Moments Away from the Track
Alongside the competitive drive, Berry shared a family milestone tied to this weekend’s event, with his daughter preparing to participate in the pre-race national anthem ceremony.
“She’ll be out there. She’s jacked up for it. I guess I’m gonna go watch it and then run and get in my car. I guess that’s the plan. It’s as simple as that, but she’s jacked up. She’s been practicing a little bit, so we’re trying to make sure she gets the words down. She’s excited for it and obviously she loves coming to the racetrack and being a part of MRO. They do a lot for us and she loves it, so she’s excited.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
This moment brings a personal touch to a weekend dominated by high-pressure competition, highlighting the importance of family and community at major racing events.
Preparing for the Most Critical Race of the Season
Looking ahead to the race, Berry reinforced the team’s commitment to a focused, consistent approach as they prepare for the unpredictable chaos of a Bristol night race with everything at stake.
“I think it goes back to what I said earlier. I don’t know that you can change that much of what you do. You just go out and try to prepare the best we can, which I feel like we’ve done, and try to execute today and make the right adjustments to our cars and get in the race tomorrow and race and see what happens. We go every week to go win, really. That’s what all work towards week in and week out is to be competitive and to win races, so just because of the situation that we’re in it’s not like we can try extra hard or do something different that we normally wouldn’t do. Maybe there’s a play strategy-wise that we could throw if we felt like we had to, but outside of that it’s about just doing all the little things right and executing a solid night and just giving ourselves the opportunity. That’s all it really amounts to.”
—Josh Berry, Driver
Berry and his team intend to rely on solid fundamentals, ready to seize any opportunity that may arise through the course of Saturday night’s high-stakes contest.
What’s at Stake and What Comes Next
The Bristol race represents a defining moment for Josh Berry, with his playoff campaign and season momentum hanging in the balance. If Berry claims victory, he will achieve a remarkable comeback, ensuring advancement to the next round and revitalizing Wood Brothers Racing’s postseason aspirations. If not, the focus shifts immediately to regrouping and using lessons learned for the future. The intensity, energy, and passion surrounding Berry’s effort underscore the drama that unfolds when playoff hopes are tied to a single must-win race on the Bristol high banks.
