Even if a driver is running in a fast car, has the lead, and a potential shot at winning the Stage and the race, a tiny mistake can still hurt them badly. Something similar happened to Josh Berry of Wood Brothers Racing in his Texas outing. The No. 21 driver had one of the best cars on the track and was at the forefront just ahead of Stage 2 until fate intervened.
A tiny mishap by the former Dale Earnhardt Jr. driver put him in a position he could not recover until the very end. From the lead to a 32nd finishing spot, Berry met with terrible luck at the Würth 400.
However, the racer was positive when he spoke to the camera and promised to return stronger.
Josh Berry’s Run at the Würth 400
Berry began the race in the seventh position, while Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports held the pole. Berry was mainly among the top 10, while the lead changed hands between Hocevar, Denny Hamlin, and Austin Cindric in the first 42 laps.
Cindric won the first Stage, followed by Tyler Reddick and Berry. On lap 83, the No. 21 driver took the lead and kept his momentum for the next 41 laps.
Then, on lap 124, he met with lap traffic as he drove away from the field. Coming off turn 3, Berry stretched towards the high line and slipped.
This caused his Ford to spin, and his rear bumper hit the outside wall. Although Berry was able to contend again after repairs, he never caught up with the lead and finished the race in 32nd place.
In the end, Joey Logano of Team Penske went on to win his first race of the season after leading seven laps and bagging 42 championship points.
Berry’s Post-Crash Interview and His Comments on the Comeback
While talking to FOX Sports reporter Regan Smith after the crash, Berry revealed that he was caught off guard. He said, “Man, our car was so good. Miles and the whole 21 team did a great job. The car was really, really good.”
Berry then spoke about working lanes three and four and crossing the bumps smoothly until he got caught up in the lap traffic.
“I went around the outside of the 62 [Jesse Love], I think. It felt pretty comfortable. And then I caught up with 51 and just hit the bump and got loose,” he added.
He confessed that while running in these cars at such speeds was disappointing, it was bound to be uncomfortable. About doing things differently, he said, “I’m not sure what I’d do too much differently.”
While Berry spoke to the camera, his car was still being repaired under NASCAR’s new DVP policy. The racer added that his team was trying to get him running again.
Berry said about his run before the crash, “We had a great race going until we didn’t.”
He ended his statement with, “I’m still proud of the guys and the speed we had. We’ll get ’em next time!”