At New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the Round of 12 opener, Team Penske showed overwhelming speed and control. Josh Berry, driving for Wood Brothers Racing with a technical alliance to Penske, delivered a standout performance, finishing second behind Ryan Blaney. Denny Hamlin praised Berry’s effort, calling it one of the fastest displays on the track after Berry’s earlier struggles in the Round of 16.
Penske’s Dominance in Practice, Qualifying, and the Race
Team Penske appeared unstoppable throughout the race weekend, leading most of the laps and setting a rapid pace in practice and qualifying sessions. Blaney claimed victory, while Berry and teammate Joey Logano secured top-five finishes. Denny Hamlin, speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, noted that aside from Blaney, Berry was the only driver who matched the Penske leader’s speed.
“We had Ryan Blaney win in a dominant fashion — maybe not dominant from a laps led perspective, but from a raw speed, hey, that’s the fastest car on the track, he won from that standpoint. It really started on Saturday in practice,”
Hamlin said.
“The closest vehicle I saw closest to Ryan was Josh Berry. He had an exceptional good long run car. He drove the wheels off of it, came from the back of the pack. That didn’t take him long to make his way back to the front and challenge Ryan for that late-race win.”
Strategy Battles and Competitive Edge Among Penske Drivers
While Logano led the most laps during the race, Team Penske’s pit strategies varied between drivers. Hamlin observed that Blaney’s team was confident in their ability to move through the field quickly, opting for more tire changes, whereas Logano prioritized maintaining track position, sometimes sacrificing fresh tires to stay near the front.
Hamlin described Logano’s run as one of his strongest in recent years, despite his usual lower number of laps led or poles earned. The differing team approaches created a compelling contest within Penske’s ranks.
“Where Blaney’s team says we’re fast enough, we’re gonna be able to come through the pack. So, they took four tires more than the other Penske teammates. While it took a little longer to show, obviously the 12 and the 21 were the two fastest, and then I thought Logano was right there behind them.”
Implications of Berry’s New Hampshire Performance
Josh Berry’s strong showing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway signals his ascending presence in the NASCAR Cup Series, especially noteworthy after overcoming a disappointing Round of 16. His ability to challenge top contenders like Blaney underscores his growing competitiveness and the strength of Wood Brothers Racing’s alliance with Team Penske.
This performance could boost Berry’s standing and confidence in the championship fight, while also reflecting the depth of talent within the Penske organization as the playoffs progress.
