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Josh Berry, a notable competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series, has been informed by the Wood Brothers that his tenure with the iconic No. 21 team will conclude at the end of the current season. This development places the 35-year-old driver, who achieved a significant victory in last season’s spring race at Las Vegas, among a growing contingent of drivers facing free agency.
Berry’s journey in the Cup Series began in 2024, marking a significant ascent for the driver who has built a reputation as a successful short-track racer over the past decade. Prior to his current role with the Wood Brothers, he spent four seasons competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with JR Motorsports. His path to the Cup Series also saw him temporarily step into the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4, succeeding the retiring Kevin Harvick. Notably, Berry is represented by the same sports agency that manages Kevin Harvick’s affairs.
Speaking on a Ford Performance conference call on Tuesday, Berry officially confirmed the news. "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," he 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 immediate 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."
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Last year, Berry demonstrated his capability by qualifying for the Cup Series playoffs, showcasing promising speed in the initial rounds before being hampered by significant misfortune. He concluded the regular season ranked 21st in the championship standings prior to the playoff reset.
The current season has presented considerable challenges for many within the NASCAR Cup Series, particularly for the teams supplied with equipment by Team Penske, which includes the Wood Brothers. With the exception of Ryan Blaney, the season has been a struggle for consistency. Berry currently sits 30th in the championship standings, with only two top-10 finishes to his name at Daytona and Martinsville.
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 also views this period as a valuable life lesson for his family. "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 confirmed that he has begun the process of exploring his options with the assistance of 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."
Berry indicated that while the team’s decision was not entirely unexpected, he had perceived the growing sentiment and 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 acknowledged the correlation between performance and job security. "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."
Berry concluded by emphasizing his focus on the present and immediate future. "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, a storied organization in NASCAR history, have been a consistent presence in the Cup Series since their debut in 1953. Their partnership with Berry began in 2024, with the team aiming to build upon previous successes. The decision to move in a different direction reflects the competitive landscape of the Cup Series and the ongoing pursuit of optimal performance by racing teams. As Berry navigates this transition, the focus remains on completing the current season with the Wood Brothers while simultaneously exploring opportunities for his future in the sport. The coming months will likely see significant activity in the driver market as teams finalize their rosters for the 2025 season.
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