Josh Berry, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse, described a close and intense racing incident during the recent event at Atlanta. The confrontation occurred when Berry shifted slightly to provide space for car No. 20, which led to a collision as Ty attempted to make a move. Berry characterized the incident as a typical racing situation at Atlanta’s challenging track.
Challenges of Losing Points Early in the Season
Berry expressed the disappointment of missing out on crucial points this early in the season but acknowledged the nature of this style of racing, where finishing with a solid result is often the primary goal. Reflecting on previous events, he noted success in securing decent finishes in both the prior race and a Duel event, but admitted this time luck was not on his side.
Berry’s View on the Racing Incident
Emphasizing the tight conditions at Atlanta, Berry highlighted how competitive the driving is, with many close returns and aggressive moves. He recounted having to advance his position slightly to give room to car No. 20, while Ty tried to push past the No. 48. Unfortunately, their cars made minimal contact, ending Berry’s run prematurely, despite feeling close to avoiding the collision.
Performance and Prospects for Improvement
Berry said his car showed strength at the start, though later in the first run it became “pretty tight.” Attempts to improve the setup at the beginning of the next run didn’t go as planned, impacting track position and handling. He explained how cars in mid-pack tend to perform poorly, which drives aggressive racing at the front to maintain better vehicle control. He praised his team’s efforts and pointed out that their car had been competitive the prior year, signaling a need to refine the setup ahead of the upcoming summer race at Atlanta. Berry remained hopeful that another driver from the team would secure a win.
“It looked like I faded up a little bit to give the 20 room and Ty went to make a move it looked like and we just got together. It’s just a racing deal at Atlanta.” – Josh Berry, Driver
“Yeah, in this style of racing I think all of us just want to make it out with a decent finish. We were able to do that last week and we were able to do that in the Duel, but not so lucky this time.” – Josh Berry, Driver
“It’s just tight racing there. It’s Atlanta. It’s always gonna be close with a lot of tight moves. I had to move up a little bit to give the 20 room and Ty went to make a move off the 48 and we just barely got together. It felt like we were pretty close to making it through, but unfortunately we didn’t quite make it.” – Josh Berry, Driver
“Yeah, I felt like I was really strong at the beginning. We got pretty tight at the end of the first run and tried to make it better. We probably made it worse at the start of that run. which you lose a little bit of track position and your car handles so much worse that it’s hard to tell. That’s why we all race so hard to stay up front is just because the cars drive so bad in midpack, but yet you have no choice. Overall, the guys did a good job. We had a really good car here last year. I think we got a little bit of work to do coming back here in the summer, but, overall, the guys did a really good job here. Hopefully, one of the other guys gets the win.” – Josh Berry, Driver
What This Means for the Season Ahead
The tight racing and minor collision at Atlanta underscore the high stakes and intense competition Berry and his team face in the early stage of the season. His reflections reveal the fine margins that separate success from setbacks on challenging tracks like Atlanta. As the team evaluates their performance and car setup, the upcoming summer race at Atlanta offers an opportunity to capitalize on improvements and aim for stronger finishes. Berry’s focus on consistency and vehicle handling will be critical for maintaining momentum in the highly competitive Cup field.
