Before Josh Berry was officially named the next driver of the venerable No. 21 Ford, he beamed when asked about the Wood Brothers.
The 33-year-old racer, who grew up on short tracks, as did the team’s patriarch Glenn Wood, joins an extensive list of NASCAR luminaries who have driven the car over the years.
The responsibility to carry on the tradition is not lost on Berry.
“They have been around for a long time,” Berry said with a smile. “Next year will be year 75. They have had some iconic drivers and some really good memories there. Definitely a pillar of our sport and they have produced a lot of great drivers. And they’re looking for that 100th win.”
With Berry’s trajectory over the past four months, he was the perfect choice to try to accomplish the feat.
The Hendersonville, Tennessee, native has excelled at every step of his progression. Certainly, his success with JR Motorsports’ Late Model program is well documented. But when Dale Earnhardt Jr. provided the driver an opportunity to race part-time in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, Berry won in his 13th start.
Berry’s performance while sharing a ride with Sam Mayer not only produced two wins, six top fives and 12 top 10s in 22 starts, but earned the racer a full-time seat for 2022. He didn’t disappoint. Berry showed his proficiency on short and intermediate tracks with victories at Dover, Charlotte and Las Vegas.
The additional track time enabled Berry to elevate his average qualifying effort from 19.4 in 2021 to 9.4 when he ran the full schedule. His percentage of top fives and top 10s improved from 27.3 and 54.5, respectively, to 33.3 and 60.6. Berry completed 98.1 percent of possible laps run in 2022 and cut his DNFs (Did Not Finish) in half.
His consistency was not lost on Hendrick Motorsports. When Chase Elliott was injured in a snowboarding accident before the third week of the 2023 season, Berry was recruited to fill in for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. In his second start in the No. 9 Chevrolet, his fourth Cup race overall, Berry scored his first top 10 at Phoenix Raceway. His career-best second-place result came two races later at Richmond Raceway.
After Alex Bowman was sidelined in a sprint car accident, Hendrick Motorsports called on Berry again. He picked up another top-10 finish driving the No. 48 Chevy at Dover.
Berry’s potential was not lost on Kevin Harvick and his crew chief, Rodney Childers. When the 2014 Cup champ announced he would retire at the end of last year, Berry topped the list of candidates to drive the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. He has quickly adapted in his new role.
Over the last two months, Berry has scored two podium finishes and four top 10s under the direction of Childers. Although his tenure with SHR will be short-lived because of the impending shut-down at season’s end, Berry just might find his niche with the Wood Brothers.
At 33, his experience and maturity, along with the Wood Brothers’ alliance with Team Penske, should allow Berry to flourish.
“They’ve been a staple in the sport,” Berry said. “They’re the longest-tenured team. That’s really special. It shows a lot about their longevity in the sport, their commitment to the sport, and as a driver, that’s really cool to see.”
Berry replaces Harrison Burton, who is currently 33rd in the NASCAR Cup point standings after three seasons with the team. Burton has one top five and five top 10s in 92 starts.
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].