At the NASCAR Cup Series race held at Gateway, Chase Elliott’s contact with Josh Berry resulted in a wreck that severely damaged Berry’s playoff prospects. The incident drew immediate reactions from NASCAR insiders on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, including reporter Jordan Bianchi, driver Austin Cindric, and Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft, all analyzing the events that unfolded on the track.
Inside Perspectives on the Elliott-Berry Incident
Freddie Kraft expressed sympathy for Josh Berry, highlighting the difficult circumstances the driver has faced this season.
“Josh Berry, poor guy, can’t get a break,”
Kraft remarked. He described the wreck as a racing situation where multiple drivers were competing fiercely, noting,
“It looked to me like a racing deal. I know Chase got in there hot, got a little loose. They were three-wide getting in there. It’s just kind of everybody going for one spot at the same time.”
Jordan Bianchi weighed in, insisting the crash was unintentional and part of the unpredictable nature of racing.
“It wasn’t intentional. It was an accident, and Chase went in there hot, slid up the track, and got in the 21 (Berry),”
Bianchi explained. He also pointed out the difficulties Berry has endured this year, saying,
“It sucks for the 21, start your playoff back-to-back wrecks, and you’re effectively in a must-win position now. Six DNFs this year on accident, so it’s kind of a microcosm of their year and where it is.”
How Drivers Cope After a Wreck on Race Day
Freddie Kraft then asked Austin Cindric about the mindset necessary for a driver to recover from a crash and continue competing. Cindric advised focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the incident, stating,
“You kind of just have to look forward.”
He reflected on the nature of that particular track, adding,
“With what happened there, I think you see that happened once a year at that track, and just guys diving off in the inside of somebody and getting loose. Even in this car, it’s possible. I don’t see there’s any negative intent there. It’s just if you’re Josh, how do you accept that?”
The Impact of the Crash on Berry’s Playoff Chances
The wreck occurred on the 35th lap as Berry was running in 15th place. Chase Elliott’s bump forced Berry into the outside wall at Turn 1, causing severe damage to Berry’s No. 21 car and ending his race prematurely. This crash compounded the struggles Berry has faced recently after previously finishing 38th at Darlington.
Since Berry secured a playoff berth with his win at Las Vegas in March, the recent results now put immense pressure on him. Following his 36th-place finish at Gateway, Berry finds himself in a position where a victory at the upcoming Bristol race is essentially mandatory to advance to the next playoff round.
