Josh Berry’s NASCAR Cup playoff run ended in stunning fashion, a sharp turn from the momentum he built early in the season. Entering his rookie year with Wood Brothers Racing, Berry looked capable of more, yet the Round of 16 exposed brutal luck and mechanical heartbreak. From early crashes to a fire at Bristol, nothing went his way. Denny Hamlin shared candid thoughts on Berry’s exit, adding perspective to one of the most abrupt playoff exits in recent NASCAR memory.
Key Highlights
Josh Berry opened 2025 with a fourth-place finish at Phoenix and a win at Las Vegas.
Berry finished last in all three Round of 16 playoff races, exiting the postseason early.
Incidents included a Lap 1 wreck at Darlington and a spin by Chase Elliott at Gateway.
At Bristol, Berry’s car caught fire, forcing the pit crew to pull him from the vehicle.
Denny Hamlin said he would prefer Berry’s early exit to a late-race elimination.
A Promising Start Turned Sour
Berry’s first Cup Series season began with signs of promise. Driving the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, he captured attention with a fourth-place run at Phoenix Raceway and a victory the following week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Those results lifted expectations for a potential deep playoff push. But as the postseason arrived, circumstances unraveled. Berry’s Round of 16 efforts quickly collapsed, not from lack of speed, but from events beyond his control.
A Brutal Round of 16
Berry’s playoff campaign faltered immediately. At Darlington Raceway, he wrecked on Lap 1, a crushing blow that left no chance for recovery. Gateway offered no relief when Chase Elliott spun him on Lap 36, compounding the frustration. By the time the series reached Bristol, Berry faced a 45-point deficit below the cutline, a steep climb for even the most experienced drivers. His final race ended when his car caught fire on pit road, forcing his crew to pull him out as flames ended any hopes of advancing.
“Man, Josh Berry — that’s a tough way to go. I don’t know, is it tougher to go that way or is it tougher to be in it and then out?”
“The first one at Darlington, he did screw up, although, I don’t put that on him because it’s hard to control a car that only has three tires on the ground and when he hit that bump, that’s all he had. And then, yeah, he got taken out and then was it just a fire that took him out? I would just rather be out of it at the beginning then have it swept away with 10 laps to go in the elimination race.” – Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s comments on his Actions Detrimental podcast underscored the harsh realities of playoff racing. While some drivers dread a late heartbreak, Berry’s experience proved an early exit can feel just as punishing.
Berry’s Perspective
Despite the disappointment, Berry maintained composure and credited his team’s performance.
“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.”
“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
Berry’s reflection highlighted the cruel nature of the playoffs. Speed and preparation can still be undone by circumstance, a reality every team understands when the stakes rise.
News in Brief: Josh Berry’s Rookie Magic Ends in Painful Playoff Exit
Josh Berry’s first NASCAR Cup playoff run ended with three straight last-place finishes after a promising start to the 2025 season. Early incidents at Darlington and Gateway, followed by a fiery exit at Bristol, left the Wood Brothers Racing rookie 45 points below the cutline. Denny Hamlin praised Berry’s effort, saying he would prefer an early elimination to a last-lap heartbreak. Berry credited his team despite the misfortune.
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