In a startling moment during the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Josh Berry struck a bird while driving his No. 21 Ford at a staggering speed of 190 MPH on Sunday. This peculiar incident unfolded on Lap 18, leaving fans watching Berry on MAX’s driver cam in disbelief as they witnessed the unexpected hit.
After the race, Berry’s crew chief, Miles Stanley, acknowledged that encounters between birds and race cars are not entirely uncommon, sharing his expertise on the topic. “I’ve definitely seen it before, and they do some damage too,” he explained, as reported by Dalton Hopkins of Frontstretch. He continued to highlight the aftermath of such collisions, noting, “They’ll tear stuff up and tear some windshield tear offs apart and stuff like that.”
However, the day didn’t end there for Berry. Later in the race, he faced another challenge when he inadvertently collided with Carson Hocevar’s tire carrier, Jarius Morehead, on pit road, which contributed to a disappointing P29 finish for Berry at Talladega.
Despite the tough outing at Talladega, there’s a silver lining for Berry, as he is playoff-bound, thanks to his exhilarating victory at the Las Vegas race earlier this season. That triumph marked a significant milestone, being his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Reflecting on his success in Las Vegas, Berry expressed a mix of emotions, stating, “I don’t even know what to think. Just awesome. I love this track. Las Vegas has been so good to me. So many great moments here. Just struggled in the Next Gen car here. But Miles and this whole 21 team, everybody at Wood Brothers Racing, they gave me a great car today.” He elaborated on the adrenaline of battling competitors, saying, “Such a battle with Daniel [Suarez] there at the end, beating and banging on a mile-and-a-half, crazy. Whoever was going to get out front was probably going to win. We were able to get in front.”
Berry also emphasized the importance of his win for Wood Brothers Racing, the team he joined this season, expressing gratitude for the support he’s received, stating, “It’s just been incredible. They’ve been so good to me. It’s just been a great relationship. Obviously thank everybody at the Wood Brothers Racing, but Team Penske as well. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and tried to help me and accelerate this learning process as much as I can.”
The incident at Talladega highlights the unpredictable nature of racing, where speed meets unexpected challenges. As the season progresses, fans will be watching closely to see how Josh Berry’s journey unfolds, especially with playoff aspirations on the horizon.
