Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team secured a 12th-place finish in the challenging Wood Brothers Racing race report from the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, a race rescheduled due to winter weather and filled with unpredictable moments. Berry advanced to the 200-lap main event by winning the Last Chance Qualifier, then navigated changing conditions and repeated caution periods to achieve a solid result on Wednesday night.
Berry Secures Main Event Start with Dominant Qualifier Performance
For the second consecutive year, Josh Berry fought his way into the starting field of the Cook Out Clash through strong driving in the Last Chance Qualifier. After earning a top-two finish last year, Berry began this year’s 75-lap qualifier from the pole position. He briefly surrendered the lead to AJ Allmendinger but reclaimed the front spot, leading the last 59 laps and ultimately finishing 7.4 seconds ahead of Austin Cindric. By the conclusion of the qualifier, Berry had put every driver from ninth place on back a lap down, demonstrating the team’s speed.
“We just struggled a little bit on the restarts,”
Berry said between races.
“With the cold temperatures, I was locking the left front and got it locked up a little bit under AJ and washed him out. But once we were able to settle in and get some heat in the tires, I felt good about our car.”
– Josh Berry, Driver
Securing entry into the main event brought a measure of relief to Berry, who reflected on the high-stakes nature of the preliminary race.
“It’s a long night when you don’t make this race.”
– Josh Berry, Driver
A Marathon Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
Although Berry achieved his goal of making the main event, the night’s challenges were far from over. Starting 21st on the grid, Berry methodically moved through the field during the early stages and held 13th place at the midway break. As teams prepared for the second half of the race, sleet began falling at Bowman Gray Stadium, forcing a switch to treaded tires better suited for wet conditions. The tire change worked in his favor initially, helping him climb into the top 10 by lap 115.
Four laps later, Berry became involved in an incident during one of the race’s 17 caution periods, a new record for the Clash. He briefly dropped to 22nd and went a lap down, but managed to rejoin the lead lap at the three-quarter point of the event. Extended caution laps that were not counted in official distance stretched the event’s run time to three and a half hours, adding more uncertainty and fatigue for drivers and crews alike.
Berry Rallies in Closing Laps for a Strong Finish
With 35 laps to go, Berry ran in 19th position but began to fight his way forward once again. In the final 25 circuits, he progressed into the top 15 and reached 12th place by lap 185, holding firm there until the checkered flag. Despite the string of setbacks, Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team demonstrated resilience and adaptability—key traits in an unpredictable exhibition race.
Attention Turns to Daytona and the Season Ahead
With the Cook Out Clash in the rearview mirror, Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing group now shift their attention to the upcoming Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 11, followed by the anticipated running of the Great American Race on February 15. As the team prepares for the new season, their performance at Bowman Gray provides both valuable experience and momentum heading into the year’s first points event.
