Josh Berry, the driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse, is set to enter his second full campaign with Wood Brothers Racing. As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series kicks off at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Berry is optimistic about his performance and the opportunities ahead. His focus keyword, “Josh Berry NASCAR 2026 season,” will be on the minds of many fans and analysts as anticipation for the new year builds.
Adapting to the Updated Championship Format
NASCAR’s revised competition structure has introduced a greater emphasis on consistency across the Cup Series season. Berry, addressing these changes, expressed enthusiasm about the impact the format could have on racing.
“I think it will be interesting to see if things change with how people race and how they think and how it evolves throughout the season. Obviously, consistency is going to be more important, which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing. I’m excited. I think it makes each race mean that much more and that’s what they’re trying to accomplish, so it should be fun.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
With every race now holding more significance, teams like Wood Brothers Racing must maximize each outing to keep up in the standings, underscoring a season-long strategy rather than focusing solely on individual race wins.
Building on Progress With a Stable Team
Berry reflected on the momentum and chemistry gained from a year together with his crew, recognizing the value in continuity and established working relationships.
“I’m excited for it. I agree that there were a lot of positives in our performance last year. There were plenty of races where the finish didn’t indicate the type of day we had, so that’s been our focus is looking through some of that stuff and trying to figure out what we could do better and put ourselves in better positions to get the finishes we deserve. You go back to the points format, that’s gonna be more important, but, overall, I feel good. This is really the first year since I’ve been in Cup or Xfinity that I’ve really had the same group two years in a row. That made the offseason feel different since I’ve already been working with these guys and knowing them, and not establishing that communication, so I think that should be a positive as well and we’re ready to get to the Clash.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
Berry highlighted the benefit of entering the new season without the need to acclimate to unfamiliar teammates. Working with crew chief Miles Stanley and the engineering team for another year is expected to foster improved performance and confidence as they head into 2026.
Navigating the New Digital Dash Technology
NASCAR continues to update technology within the car, with a digital dashboard system implemented for the upcoming season. Berry shared his impressions after initial testing and practice runs.
“I didn’t notice too much of a change. It’s got some LED lights that could be used to shift lights if you wanted to, but, overall, I feel like it’s pretty similar. It seems like it works quicker, faster. It’s better quality, so, overall, I think it’s all good and really I haven’t experienced any issues. We ran pit road a couple times (at the NWS test) just practicing that and felt good about everything. Overall, I feel like it’s ready to go.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
Berry appears comfortable with the updated systems, appreciating the increased responsiveness, and foresees no major hurdles adjusting to the technology as the season opens.
Weather and Schedule Uncertainties Linger Over the Clash at Bowman Gray
With snow in the forecast ahead of the season-opening exhibition, contingency plans may come into play. Berry emphasized the importance of adaptability as teams and NASCAR officials monitor the situation.
“No, I haven’t. I think we’re all kind of in the same scenario, just waiting to see what they’re thinking going forward. I would say that’s probably a possibility in looking at the forecast. I think they’re just probably waiting for it to get a little closer and get a better idea of what the weather is looking like before they make a decision. For us, we’re planning on racing.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
The possibility of a rescheduled event due to adverse weather means teams must remain flexible while preparing to compete as planned. This uncertainty adds an extra layer of challenge at the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Interactions With NASCAR Leadership Remain Limited
When asked about his experience with Steve O’Donnell and NASCAR management, Berry admitted his interactions have been few, not offering much insight into executive influence.
“I haven’t honestly had a lot of dealings with him. I’ve obviously been part of some of those meetings when he’s been around, but I really don’t have an opinion one way or another, honestly.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
While Berry remains focused on racing, his minimal experience with upper management suggests drivers rely mostly on their team environments and immediate crew for guidance and support.
Assessing Performance: Areas for Improvement
Reviewing the previous year, Berry and his team analyzed race-by-race execution, aiming to eliminate mistakes that hurt their chances for better finishes.
“I think we sat down early in the offseason and kind of broke it down and looked at each race. It’s a number of things. It’s issues on pit road. There were a couple of speeding penalties over the course of the year. Obviously, that stuff you have to clean up. Issues on pit road with penalties. Mechanical problems. We had a couple of those along the way. I think the biggest thing is just looking at the decision-making towards getting to these races maybe is the biggest thing. I think you’re better off to take a top 10 than maybe put yourself in a bad spot that could result in it, but, honestly, the key to that is not something that I don’t think any of us really know. Obviously, you’ve got to go out and race hard and fight for every spot, and just kind of learning with experience and trying to make sure we get the finishes we deserve. But the biggest thing, I think, is just limiting your mistakes. Like I said, we had a handful of those over the course of the year and hopefully we can clean those up and get the finishes we should.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
This methodical approach should help Berry and Wood Brothers Racing address pit road penalties, mechanical issues, and race strategy, vital elements as NASCAR places more weight on season-long results in 2026.
Stability in Team Dynamics Boosts Confidence
Berry shared how the continuity of having the same crew has improved morale and optimism heading into the new season. Consistency breeds familiarity, allowing team members to build on their shared experiences rather than establishing new relationships from scratch.
“Yeah, I think so. I think it helps put us in a better spot. Obviously, the last couple of years in the Cup Series have been with two different organizations, and now going back to this and having the same group, the same crew chief, the same engineers, really the same everybody, so it just kind of builds more fluidity. It doesn’t feel like you’re starting over and learning each other as much. It’s made the offseason maybe go a little bit longer, maybe a little bit more refreshing because you’re not doing as much random things that you have to check off in the offseason. I’m excited for it. I feel like me and Miles (Stanley) have had a really good relationship and now Miles is going into his second year as a crew chief as well, so I know he’s only gonna keep getting better, so I feel like we’re poised to have a really strong year.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
This established rapport, especially with crew chief Miles Stanley, is anticipated to be a cornerstone for success, helping the team improve on past performances and adapt quickly throughout the season.
Opportunities on Short Tracks With the New Horsepower Package
The NASCAR Cup Series is introducing a fresh horsepower package for short tracks this year, which could play to Berry’s strengths based on his previous results.
“Yeah. Obviously, the short tracks I feel like we had good performance. That was probably our strongest last year. I think that it will be interesting to see how the horsepower package changes things, but, ultimately, yeah, we feel strong on the short tracks. We’re on board with the power change. I think it will be a good thing for racing, and I feel like we can go out and win at short tracks every time we go there.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
This strategic adjustment opens the possibility for more victories, especially on tracks like Martinsville and Richmond where Berry has previously demonstrated impressive speed and skill.
Coping With Cold Temperatures at Bowman Gray
With low temperatures expected for the Clash, Berry described the necessary adjustments to car setup and race preparation that such weather demands.
“The weather is gonna be interesting to follow, obviously, from just the schedule side of things and how much track time we get or don’t get and if that becomes a factor. I think the biggest thing is prioritizing getting heat in your tires early in runs, early in practice and obviously qualifying. That’s the biggest thing that stands out when it’s cold like this is just making more of an effort to do that, but, really, inside the car it doesn’t change too much outside of that.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
The challenge of keeping tire temperatures optimal could affect qualifying and early race runs, requiring drivers and teams to adapt quickly under potentially tricky conditions.
Tackling the Pressure of the Daytona 500 With Wood Brothers Racing
Berry will also take on his second Daytona 500 as a WBR driver, a race prestigious for both its history and the high expectations that come with it. The Wood Brothers, in partnership with Team Penske, have enjoyed significant success at this iconic event, and Berry is eager to add to that legacy.
“Obvoiusly, they’ve had a great history there and it’s a race that we all as drivers put pressure on ourselves to go out and perform well and hopefully compete for the win. It’s the biggest race of the year and obviously being a part of the Wood Brothers and Team Penske, their cars have always been really strong at those races and being able to capitalize on that is something that’s obviously really important to us, so hopefully we can go do that and avoid all the trouble to be there at the end and give ourselves a shot at it.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
Berry recognizes that strong results at marquee events like the Daytona 500 can define a season, and preparation for such moments is a key aspect of his approach for 2026.
Adapting to the End of the “Win and In” Playoff System
NASCAR has phased out its automatic post-season berth for race winners, altering the stakes for every competitor. Berry addressed how this adjustment affects team strategy and the pursuit of milestone victories.
“I think that obviously it’s a different format, but first time winners and first wins in this sport have always been something that are really popular and make for great stories. There’s no reason that the playoff format changing should change the feeling that you get from when you have a first-time winner or an underdog story type of deal – kind of like we were last year. Now it doesn’t include an automatic berth into the playoffs or the Chase, but it’s still a great story. There are gonna be a lot of storylines evolve throughout the season and as that changes, relying on consistency a little bit more is probably gonna put the best guys in the Chase at the end of the year. As a team, we feel a little more pressure going into this knowing that we’ve got to execute week in and week out and, to me, that’s not a bad thing.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
The focus now shifts to regular, strong performances across all events instead of relying on a single race triumph to secure a playoff position. Berry is determined to rise to this challenge, believing that persistence and consistency will ultimately reward deserving teams.
Grassroots Track Support and Rotating Exhibition Events
Berry emphasized the importance of continued investment in grassroots venues such as Bowman Gray Stadium and North Wilkesboro Speedway. He expressed hope for NASCAR to rotate the exhibition Clash event to additional short tracks in the future.
“Yeah, definitely. I think they’re off to a great start with the investment they made into Bowman Gray and SMI with North Wilkesboro as well. That’s a great starting point, and I think there is definitely room with this exhibition Clash that we can go around to some different places like the ones you mentioned and make an investment in there and improve their facilities and bring a really big event there, so I think that’s the biggest thing to continue to do is support these tracks. I think it would be really cool to kind of see this race evolve into traveling to a few different short tracks every couple of years. That would make for some good stories.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
Supporting local tracks not only preserves NASCAR’s heritage but also introduces new audiences to the sport, creating memorable moments and stories for both drivers and communities.
Looking Ahead: Tracks and Weekends That Hold Promise
Berry revealed his eagerness to return to circuits where he has previously excelled, especially the short tracks that align with his driving style and skills. Beyond Las Vegas, which brought him a breakthrough win last year, he highlighted several venues that could prove pivotal in the 2026 campaign.
“Yeah, I think there are a lot of them. I think there are a lot of places where we were really strong last year. I obviously love going to Martinsville, a lot of the short tracks – Phoenix, Richmond we were really good at. It was a little bit different on a few of the intermediates. We had some really good speed at a couple of them, but missed it at a couple of them, too. I think generally that all of the short tracks are gonna be a really good opportunity for us to run really well and hopefully get a win.”
— Josh Berry, Driver
Appealing races at Martinsville, Phoenix, and Richmond stand out as chances for Berry and his team to reinforce their competitive credentials, while also targeting further improvements at intermediate tracks.
Berry Aims High With Renewed Enthusiasm for 2026
As Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing approach the new NASCAR Cup Series season, they are equipped with lessons from the previous year, a stable and close-knit team, and heightened drive to capitalize on both short track opportunities and high-profile events like the Daytona 500. Consistency, technological adaptation, and team chemistry are focal points as they tackle a more demanding playoff qualification process. Berry’s intent to build on his upward momentum signals that the 2026 season could mark a significant leap forward, potentially establishing him as a regular contender in the Josh Berry NASCAR 2026 season and bringing renewed attention to storied names like the Wood Brothers and venues such as Bowman Gray Stadium.
