Josh Berry, driving the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, entered the NASCAR Cup Playoffs at Darlington under pressure, already sitting just one point below the cutoff line in the drop zone. Despite a strong third-place qualifying effort, Berry’s race ended abruptly due to a crash on the very first lap, raising concerns about his chances in the playoff battle.
First-Lap Collision Causes Major Damage
As the race began, Berry’s car bottomed out entering the first corner, causing his vehicle to spin sideways and collide with fellow playoff contender Tyler Reddick. Berry’s car then slammed into the outside wall, narrowly avoiding a collision with Ross Chastain, who was also competing in the playoffs. After bouncing off the wall, the damaged No. 21 slid down the track, forcing Berry to limp back to the pits where his team quickly assessed the extent of the damage.
Berry radioed his team expressing confusion and frustration, saying,
“What the hell, it’s not driveable.”
With a bent toe and other critical damage, the car had to be taken behind the wall for extensive repairs by the team members.
Impact on Other Drivers and Race Progress
Tyler Reddick nearly spun out after the contact but managed to recover and continue despite handling issues. He reported over the radio,
“Something doesn’t feel right in the left rear,”
which made his car difficult to control, especially since the roof flap did not close properly after the half-spin. However, Reddick appeared to regain pace after his first pit stop later in the stage.
Meanwhile, Alex Bowman, who started the race in 29th position—farther back than any other playoff driver—opted to pit early to check for any damage on his No. 48 car. Additionally, Kyle Busch spun while trying to slow down to navigate around Berry’s stalled car during the initial incident, contributing to the early chaos at Darlington.
Significance of the Incident for Berry’s Playoff Hopes
Berry’s early crash at Darlington puts him in a precarious position in the NASCAR Cup Playoffs, where every point is critical to advance. Given that he was already on the brink of elimination, this setback likely complicates his path forward and intensifies pressure on the Wood Brothers team as the season progresses. The incident underscores how unpredictable racing at Darlington can be and increases tension as the playoffs move deeper into their stages.
