Josh Berry’s attempt to advance in the playoffs ended dramatically at the Bristol Night Race when the Josh Berry car fire at Bristol forced him to exit the No. 21 Ford on Lap 76 during Stage 1, signaling the end of his postseason drive. The incident unfolded Sunday night on pit road, leaving Berry’s crew scrambling as smoke filled the cockpit and officials were slow to respond with a caution.
Berry Forced to Exit After Flames Erupt in No. 21 Ford
As the race progressed, thick smoke began to infiltrate Berry’s car, making visibility nearly impossible as he headed to pit road. His crew reacted quickly when the situation escalated, physically pulling Berry from the smoldering vehicle as smoke poured out, and frustration mounted when NASCAR did not immediately wave the caution flag. Over the radio, Berry’s team made the severity of the situation clear, exclaiming,
“There’s a f*cking fire up here on pit road,”
and adding,
“No caution, NASCAR. We got a driver on fire.”
—Berry’s team, via Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.
Fortunately, Berry was able to leave the car without serious injury and was evaluated and cleared by medical staff at the infield care center. He later spoke to NBC Sports to share his perspective on the harrowing moments.
Berry Reflects on Unfortunate Turn of Events
After being released from medical care, Berry described the events leading up to the fire and his disappointment at the abrupt end to his playoff campaign.
“We started smoking a couple laps before we pitted. We tried to ride it out a couple laps, and when we slowed down, it was getting pretty bad there. Man, just so disappointing,”
Berry said. —Josh Berry
Berry pointed out that the team had been making progress during the early laps, hoping to capitalize on their pace, but fate had other ideas.
“That was going to be a lot of fun; that was right in our wheelhouse. We were moving forward, [and] I think that’s why we were trying to stick it out as long as we could because that could have been our opportunity right there, for sure.”
—Josh Berry
Series of Setbacks End Berry’s Championship Bid
Coming into the Bristol race, Berry was already facing elimination from the playoffs, sitting 45 points beneath the cutline. His first round had been plagued with misfortune, starting with a wreck on Lap 1 at Darlington and another incident where Chase Elliott spun him at Gateway. Both those races saw Berry finish last, setting the stage for Bristol’s heartbreak to make it three straight disappointing results. With little control over the string of incidents, Berry was left reflecting on a tough break that ended his season early.
Looking back on his playoff experiences, Berry expressed the emotional toll of back-to-back setbacks.
“Man, it’s been a tough couple of weeks, but it hasn’t been because of performance. These guys have been doing a good job,”
Berry said. —Josh Berry
Although the outcomes weren’t what the team had aimed for, Berry remained proud of their execution and efforts throughout the season.
“… Definitely not the way we wanted our first round to go. We felt like we executed well and ran well, just haven’t had the finishes. This is going to be a tough one to watch. That was going to be a lot of fun.”
—Josh Berry
What’s Next After Heartbreak at Bristol?
With Josh Berry’s exit from the playoffs now official, his focus will shift toward off-season recovery and preparation for the next chapter of his career. Despite the disappointment, Berry and his team earned recognition for their resilience in the face of misfortune. The Bristol incident will likely remain a pivotal point in the current NASCAR postseason, highlighting the unpredictable nature of racing and the importance of rapid response on pit road for driver safety. As for Berry, the lessons from this intense playoff run will shape his pursuit of future victories and a return to championship contention.
