On Thanksgiving weekend at Southern National Motorsports Park, Josh Berry made a determined return to Late Model Stock Car competition, aiming to claim a third Thanksgiving Classic title. While NASCAR peers enjoyed their offseason downtime, Berry, now with Wood Brothers Racing, jumped into Tom Usry Racing’s car for the $50,000 race, which ultimately saw him finish second to Doug Barnes Jr.—a result he called “embarrassing” after a series of restarts proved decisive.
Critical Restarts and Uncharacteristic Errors Impact Berry’s Race
Berry’s performance was energized at the outset, but momentum faltered following a pair of pivotal incidents. He experienced a late-race spin after contact with Lee Pulliam on a restart and admitted post-race that he felt the lane was open at the time, though a replay would be needed to confirm precisely what unfolded. Equally, Berry conceded to a mental error in an earlier restart, attributing it to his back-and-forth schedule transitioning between Cup, Xfinity, and Late Model cars. The prominent mistake involved missing the clutch shift from second to third gear, a rare misstep for such a seasoned driver.
“The first one, honestly, I think I didn’t use the clutch. I’ve had trouble from going to Cup cars, Xfinity cars, to coming back here, and I think I just spaced out, made a mental mistake there.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
“Just didn’t use the clutch, didn’t get it in fourth, I tore up some cars there. That was pretty embarrassing, but after that, it was fine. The restart with Lee, honestly, I don’t really know. I haven’t seen obviously, but felt like clear down.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
Recovering From Adversity to Grab Second Place
The spin with Lee Pulliam left Berry deep in the field, presenting a significant challenge as the race entered its closing stages. Nevertheless, his team, including support from JR Motorsports, quickly regrouped, helping Berry surge back through the pack to the front. Although regaining second place behind Doug Barnes Jr. reflected determination, Berry openly acknowledged feeling maxed out and unable to mount a further challenge for the lead, as Barnes pulled away late to secure the win.
Team Effort Keeps Berry Competitive Despite Setbacks
Despite the disappointment surrounding the crucial errors, Berry highlighted the collective resilience of his crew for salvaging a strong finish from what could have been a disastrous night. Their combined effort ensured his car remained competitive, and the recovery to runner-up reemphasized JR Motorsports’ ongoing competitiveness across Late Model events, even as Berry looks ahead to the Cup Series season.
Looking Forward: From Short Tracks Back to the Cup Series
The Thanksgiving Classic provided Berry with a spirited return to grassroots short-track racing, an environment where he made his name prior to moving into NASCAR’s upper ranks. With this latest Late Model outing behind him, Berry confirmed that he will not be competing in any more races over the offseason. Fans and teams can expect to see him next at the unofficial NASCAR season opener—the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium—where he’ll return to Cup Series competition and attempt to turn lessons and momentum from his Thanksgiving Classic performance into early-season success for Wood Brothers Racing.
Josh Berry on the difference to Doug Barnes Jr. at the end, spacing out on one restart from second to third gear, and then the incident with Lee Pulliam pic.twitter.com/dVi4L8G6cq
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 30, 2025
