Wood Brothers Racing managed an impressive comeback at the Daytona 500, with Josh Berry securing a ninth-place finish after being a lap down early in the race. Competing at Daytona International Speedway, the team overcame early setbacks and avoided late-race incidents, demonstrating the resilience that the Wood Brothers Racing Daytona 500 effort is known for.
Early Setbacks Challenge Berry and No. 21 Team
Josh Berry, piloting the Ford Mustang Dark Horse designed with a throwback to David Pearson’s iconic Daytona victory, started from 14th position and quickly moved into the top 10 by the third lap. Within the opening 15 laps, Berry was running among the top five. However, after a green-flag pit stop on Lap 50, he fell to 36th place and completed Stage 1 in 37th, losing a lap. A timely caution on Lap 85 gave him the opportunity to regain the lead lap, keeping Wood Brothers Racing Daytona 500 hopes alive.
Surviving Stage 2 Incidents and Making Up Ground
With seven laps left in Stage 2, Berry successfully avoided a multi-car crash involving 20 vehicles, finishing that segment in 15th place. Following the stage, the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew equipped the car with fresh tires and added fuel. This strategy, along with several competitors pitting late, allowed Berry to restart the final stage in sixth place.
Final Stage: A Push for the Front Amidst Chaos
Throughout the last stage, Berry remained inside the top 10 and made his last scheduled pit stop from second position with 15 laps to go. He then led a contingent of Mustangs in a push toward the front, remaining in fourth place with just 10 laps remaining. Even after another incident on the track set up a four-lap dash to the finish, Berry managed to stay competitive, falling back to 16th after the restart but reclaiming positions through another late crash, achieving the 16th top-10 result of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
Teamwork and Strategy in the Closing Laps
Reflecting on the final laps and the drafting efforts with his Ford teammates, Berry explained the team’s approach:
“We really just tried to stay with Chris [Buescher] and Brad [Keselowski] the best I could, but it seemed like I could stay pretty close to them but whoever was behind me would lose me and we couldn’t get it going like we wanted,”
Berry said.
The strong recovery after an early-stage setback was a highlight of the day, as Berry added,
“All in all, it was a solid final Stage. We had a complete disaster in the first Stage and rebounded really well and gave ourselves a chance at it at the end.”
Pride in Performance and Looking Ahead
Berry commended the Wood Brothers crew for their tenacity and performance throughout the event:
“I’m really proud of the guys.”
– Josh Berry, No. 21 Driver
With the Daytona 500 in the rearview, Wood Brothers Racing and Berry now focus on preparing for the upcoming Autotrader 400 at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway next weekend. The team’s ability to recover and compete at the front at Daytona provides momentum as they continue the NASCAR Cup Series season.
