Josh Berry recently shared his thoughts on how the upcoming 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase format will increase pressure on him and his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team. While many drivers see the return of the Chase system as a challenge for maintaining consistent performance alongside winning, Berry acknowledges that this change brings added expectations compared to the previous elimination style.
How the Chase Format Alters the Path to Playoffs for Drivers
The adjustment to the Chase structure puts drivers who specialize in certain track types at a disadvantage. For example, Shane van Gisbergen’s expertise on road courses was pivotal in securing his spot in last year’s postseason. Berry, whose background lies in the Late Model Series, feels the growing pressure to remain steady over the season, aware that simply achieving a single win won’t be enough to guarantee a playoff berth, especially for teams like Wood Brothers Racing that rarely dominate the weekly standings.
The new format requires drivers to finish inside the top sixteen in points before the end of the 26-race regular season, whether or not they have wins. Speaking about this, Berry explained,
I think that obviously it’s a different format, but first-time winners and first wins in this sport have always been something that are really popular and make for great stories. Now it doesn’t include an automatic berth into the playoffs or the Chase, but it’s still a great story.
?Josh Berry, NASCAR Driver
Berry also added,
There are going to be a lot of storylines that evolve throughout the season, and as that changes, relying on consistency a little bit more is probably going to put the best guys in the Chase at the end of the year. As a team, we feel a little more pressure going into this knowing that we’ve got to execute week in and week out, and, to me, that’s not a bad thing,
reflecting on the adjustments required by the revised system.
Josh Berry’s Performance History and Challenges Ahead
Over four NASCAR Cup Series campaigns, Berry has competed in two full-time seasons. His strongest showing came in 2023 when he raced in 10 events, averaging a 20.7 finishing position. In the last season, Berry ended 16th in the playoff standings, with an average finish of 21.7, recording one win, three top-five finishes, and eight top-ten results.
The elimination format last year benefited Berry because his victory in Las Vegas secured his spot directly in the playoffs. However, during the regular season, he only had five top-ten finishes and two top-five placements. In the ten playoff races that followed, Berry improved with three more top-tens and one additional top-five before exiting the title contention.
The Importance of Consistency and Team Support Under the New Rules
With the Chase format’s requirement for unwavering consistency during the entire regular season, Berry must focus on scoring high enough points to be within the top sixteen and gain playoff entry, regardless of wins. This places a premium on steady performance week after week.
For Wood Brothers Racing, a single-car team, the mounting pressure means they will likely depend more heavily on their collaboration with technical partners at Team Penske to boost their competitiveness in 2026.
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers looking more for execution than speed after winning together in 2025https://t.co/jdMOmvXv6n
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) January 28, 2026
