On a dramatic Sunday at the Talladega Superspeedway, Josh Berry faced an unexpected and overwhelming crash while racing at speeds exceeding 190 miles per hour. The incident occurred on lap 18 when a bird struck his windshield, leaving a gruesome mess in its wake. Fortunately, Berry managed to maintain control of his car and continued to the pit road to clean up the aftermath of the collision.
His crew chief, Miles Stanley, provided further insights into the bizarre incident, stating that it is not uncommon for birds to fly around the racetrack during practice sessions or qualifying. In an interview with Frontstretch, Stanley remarked, “A lot of times when we come here for like first practice or qualifying and stuff, we’ll see birds flying out around the racetrack. So, it’s not a huge surprise that we ended up getting one on the windshield.” Despite the shock of the crash, the crew had to regroup and evaluate the damage.
Video footage from the in-car camera confirmed that something had struck Berry’s car. Stanley commented, “We had seen that there was some damage from the bird strike. I mean, nothing we could really do about it. It was damaged by it. Just from hitting it. Nothing too big performance-wise. It probably tore some tear-offs and stuff like that.” While the full extent of the damage remained unclear, Berry’s strong performance throughout the race suggested it had not severely impacted his vehicle’s aerodynamics.
Starting from eighth place, Josh Berry quickly made his move, reaching the top three and seizing the lead on lap 4. He led a total of 12 laps, showcasing his skill and determination. A significant moment came on lap 44 when Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski collided behind him during their pit stop, allowing Berry to avoid the chaos and maintain his position. Lady Luck seemed to be on his side when his fuel tank held up long enough for him to make a necessary pit stop as officials cleared the pit road, although he finished Stage 1 in 29th place due to the time lost in repairs.
After starting Stage 2 from 13th, Berry fought his way back to join the leaders, finishing the stage in 10th place and earning a single stage point. As the race progressed and the final stage approached, every driver prepared for critical pit stops. Berry briefly retook the lead on lap 168 but faced another setback just before his pit stop for refueling. He received a speeding penalty, which proved disastrous with only 16 laps remaining in the race, ultimately leaving him with a disappointing 26th-place finish.
This incident raises questions about the unpredictable nature of racing and the unforeseen challenges drivers face, such as bird strikes at high speeds. The impact of the crash may be minor, but the consequences of Berry’s speeding penalty and the bird collision overshadowed what could have been a remarkable race for him. As Berry prepares for his next competition at Texas Motor Speedway, the events at Talladega serve as a stark reminder of the risks involved in professional racing, where the unexpected can change the outcome in an instant.
