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Charlotte, NC – Josh Berry, the recent victor of the Las Vegas spring race, has been informed by the Wood Brothers that their partnership will conclude at the end of the current NASCAR Cup Series season. This development places the 35-year-old driver, a celebrated figure who transitioned from short-track racing to Cup Series success, into a competitive free-agent market. Berry’s tenure in the Cup Series began in 2024, following a four-year engagement with JR Motorsports in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Prior to taking the wheel of the iconic No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers, Berry served as a substitute driver for Kevin Harvick in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4, a team that also represents him through its affiliated sports agency.
During a Ford Performance conference call on Tuesday, Berry officially confirmed his impending departure. "The Wood Brothers piece, I’ll just go ahead and put it out there that I will not be back in the 21 car next year," Berry stated. "I’m obviously disappointed about that. They’ve been amazing to work with. They’re amazing people and it’s been such a great opportunity. Obviously, going to Victory Lane for the first time and winning your first race with them will always be really special, but I’m not going to be back in the 21 next year."
Despite the disappointment, Berry expressed a forward-looking perspective. "I’m going to hit the ground running and working hard to try to find out what’s out there and I’m certainly open and optimistic about any opportunities that come my way. But, first and foremost, we’re going to do our best to finish this season strong and leave in a good place."
Berry’s 2023 season was marked by a playoff berth, demonstrating considerable speed in the initial round, though ultimately hampered by significant misfortune. He concluded the regular season standings in 21st position prior to the playoff reset. The current 2024 season has presented challenges for many within the Ford camp, particularly impacting the Wood Brothers team, which receives technical support from Team Penske, with the notable exception of Ryan Blaney. Berry currently sits 30th in the championship standings, having secured only two top-10 finishes at Daytona International Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.
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Berry remains confident in his abilities, asserting, "I still feel like I’m the same guy that won Las Vegas. I’m still the same guy that nearly won at New Hampshire in the playoffs. It’s been a tough year, like I said, but we’ll work through it and try to find out what’s out there. The sun came up today regardless of how bad it might have felt yesterday. It might have felt like it might not, but the sun came up this morning and it’s a new day. You land on your feet and go to work and that’s all you can do."
He views this period as an important life lesson for his children, adding, "It’s a great opportunity for me to show my kids how to handle adversity and how to work through things when life doesn’t go your way and, like I said, we’ll pick up the pieces and move on."
Berry is actively engaged in the free agency process, collaborating with Josh Jones, vice president of Kevin Harvick Inc. "You never know what kind of opportunities come about and where it goes from here. It’s tough to have happen, but at the same time I’ve been extremely fortunate to get the opportunities that I’ve had and been extremely fortunate to drive for the Wood Brothers and this team," Berry commented. "Unfortunately, it’s going in a different direction, but you never know what doors might open up and we’re going to work hard to try and land on our feet and find something. I don’t really have any expectations or plans for what that might be. I’m certainly open to really anything."
The news of his departure from the Wood Brothers did not come as a complete surprise to Berry, who acknowledged awareness of persistent rumors linking Jesse Love to the No. 21 car. "From my side of things, I didn’t exactly feel great about it," Berry admitted. "I probably would have said myself I was probably 50-50 on what was going on. It’s like I said, it’s been a tough year. That’s the reality of it. Obviously, I don’t want it to work this way, but it’s been a tough year and when you have some of the things we’ve had happen and the results that we’ve had happen, regardless of the details of it, you start to question that and that’s fair at the end of the day."
He continued, "If we had run better, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation, but we didn’t, so now we’ve got an x-number of races throughout the rest of the year to turn that back around and change the narrative and get back closer to the front. It’s been a struggle for a lot of the Fords and a lot of the guys this year and we’ve just got to turn that around and go to the next race."
Reflecting on the cyclical nature of professional racing, Berry concluded, "At the end of the day, whether you win or you wreck or whatever you go to work on Monday and go to the next race and that’s what we’re going to do from here on out and see how it all shakes out."
The Wood Brothers, one of NASCAR’s most storied franchises, have a rich history dating back to the inception of the sport. Founded by Glen Wood in 1953, the team has achieved over 100 Cup Series victories. Their partnership with Ford has been a cornerstone of their modern-day efforts. Berry’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October 2023 marked the team’s first victory since 2017, a significant achievement that underscored Berry’s potential. This season, however, has seen a general downturn in performance for several Ford teams, a trend that has impacted the No. 21 car’s competitiveness.
The upcoming free agency period for the NASCAR Cup Series is anticipated to be particularly active, with several established drivers and promising talents seeking new opportunities. Berry’s proven track record, highlighted by his significant short-track success and his Cup Series victory, positions him as a valuable commodity. His representation by Kevin Harvick’s agency suggests a strategic approach to navigating the market. Harvick, a 2014 Cup Series champion, retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2023 season, and his agency has been actively involved in securing opportunities for its clients.
The competitive landscape for the 2025 season is still taking shape, with driver-team pairings yet to be finalized across the majority of the Cup Series field. Berry’s openness to "really anything" indicates a willingness to explore diverse avenues, from established teams seeking proven experience to emerging organizations looking to elevate their program. His personal philosophy of resilience and continuous effort, as demonstrated in his remarks, suggests he is well-equipped to tackle the uncertainties of the driver market. The remaining races of the 2024 season will be crucial for Berry to showcase his continued form and build momentum as he transitions to the next chapter of his career.
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