Josh Berry’s day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway carried the highs of a strong run and the frustration of a clash he didn’t fully understand. Fighting for fifth place in the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang, Berry tangled with Shane van Gisbergen in the #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro on Lap 82. The contact spun Berry, leaving him to rebuild his race, but he recovered impressively to finish second behind Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney. Emotions, strategy, and split-second decisions marked the battle.
Key Highlights
Josh Berry spun after contact with Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 82.
Berry recovered to finish second behind Ryan Blaney.
Van Gisbergen scored his first oval stage points but later spun after contact with Brad Keselowski.
Berry emphasized strategic choices on restarts as key to survival.
Both drivers remain focused on upcoming races, including Kansas Speedway.
Berry Reflects on the Clash
Berry’s post-race comments reflected a mix of bemusement and acceptance. He described the incident as part of the split-second decisions that define NASCAR restarts.
“Man, I don’t know. Like I said, I haven’t seen the replay to really know. Those things happen here.” – Josh Berry
Berry noted the challenges drivers face during restarts and the choices involved in aggressive maneuvers.
“It’s a choice. It’s a choice on a restart, whether you’re going to leave your right front in there and wreck ‘em or you’re going to live to fight another day. On all these restarts, there is choice after choice after choice, and sometimes… even if I did come down a little bit, I’ve been cutting him plenty of breaks over the course of the year. Just live to race another lap. There are still 200 or something laps to go.” – Josh Berry
Despite the spin, Berry salvaged a strong finish and praised his team’s performance.
“It was definitely an awesome day. Had a really good car. Hats off to Ryan at the end. All of our cars were really strong, and Ryan did a great job there. I was honestly surprised. I was a little worried when he got around me as quick as he did, but it seemed like it levelled out, and I was able to keep him honest at least at the end.” – Josh Berry
Some contact on @joshberry and he's spun around on the track 😳 #NASCARPlayoffs
📺: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/fvBgSG4Dk2
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 21, 2025
Berry also credited crew chief Miles Stanley and his team for navigating the post-spin challenges.
“All in all, Miles, this whole team done a great job. We were down a set of tyres after the spin. So I think it kind of forced our hand. We didn’t want to take our last rights at least that early with that many laps left. We still made the most of it. Hats off to everybody at Wood Brothers and Team Penske. Yeah, just a shame to finish second, but after the last couple weeks, it feels good. This is definitely what we’re capable of, and hopefully we can keep it going.” – Josh Berry
Berry stressed his commitment to racing clean and respecting fellow competitors, even in tense moments.
“I was going to race him. It’s definitely a tough situation. You’ve got to take care of him. That’s how I try to race, anyway. These restarts and stuff, I try to do the best I can to be smart. It’s tough out there sometimes. I was going to race him hard but clean.” – Josh Berry
Shane Van Gisbergen’s Oval Challenges
Shane van Gisbergen earned his first oval stage points at New Hampshire, marking progress for the Kiwi in NASCAR’s Cup Series. His potential for a top finish was derailed late in the race when Brad Keselowski attempted a tight move in the #6 Ford Mustang, sending van Gisbergen spinning into the wall and colliding with Kyle Busch in the #8 Chevrolet Camaro.
“It’s a real shame how our race ended today. My 88 team brought a really good Jockey Chevy that had a lot of potential. It was fun battling in the top five during the first two stages. We’ll give it another try next weekend in Kansas.” – Shane van Gisbergen
The incident underscored the fine margins on oval tracks, where a single maneuver can undo strong performance and stage points.
Looking Ahead to Kansas
Both drivers are set to regroup at Kansas Speedway on Monday, September 29 (AEST). Berry carries momentum from his rebound finish, while van Gisbergen aims to translate his oval experience into a stronger run. Strategic decisions on restarts and clean racing remain central to both drivers’ approaches as they prepare for the next Cup Series event.
News in Brief: Josh Berry Battles Back from Spin Following Van Gisbergen Contact
Josh Berry spun after contact with Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 82 but recovered to finish second behind Ryan Blaney at New Hampshire. Van Gisbergen scored his first oval stage points but later spun after Brad Keselowski contact, affecting his top-five hopes. Berry praised his team and emphasized strategic choices on restarts, while van Gisbergen reflected on his car’s potential and plans to improve in Kansas.
ALSO READ: Ovals Stand Between Shane Van Gisbergen and a Title Shot
