LOUDON, N.H. — Josh Berry’s NASCAR comeback almost culminated in a victory at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he finished a close second on Sunday. After enduring three consecutive last-place finishes this season, Berry’s strong performance in the Cup Series playoff race marked a dramatic turnaround. Despite an early spin and tough competition, Berry showcased resilience and skill that kept his comeback hopes alive.
Early Race Challenges and Recovery
Berry’s day began with promising momentum as he started third, following up on a strong 10th-place start and third-place finish at New Hampshire in 2024. He ran second behind Joey Logano for much of the initial 52 laps, with Ryan Blaney ultimately winning the first stage ahead of Logano, William Byron, and Berry. This marked a milestone for Berry as he successfully advanced past the first stage of a playoff race without incident, something he and his team had not yet achieved in 2025.
However, trouble struck early in the second stage when Shane van Gisbergen made contact with Berry’s No. 21 car, spinning him out in turn two on lap 82. Though the spin could have been far more damaging, Berry was able to continue racing and finished the second stage in tenth place, also earning a bonus point on lap 185.
Closing Stages and Near Victory
In the final stage, Berry methodically climbed through the field, reaching third place before his last pit stop on lap 241. After the stop, Berry maintained his position and soon took the lead when crew chief Miles Stanley made the strategic decision to keep him on track alongside Chase Elliott, while the majority of the field, including Blaney, pitted for fresh tires.
On the subsequent restart, Blaney quickly overtook Berry and built a substantial lead. Berry aggressively pursued Blaney, closing the gap to nearly touch his bumper. Unfortunately, Berry lost about a second after sliding in turn three in the final ten laps, allowing Blaney to hold on for the win. Berry finished a close second, an outcome that felt like a victory for a driver recovering from a tough string of finishes that had previously ended his playoff chances.
Berry Reflects on the Race and Team Effort
Berry acknowledged some struggles during the race but remained optimistic about the overall performance.
“We lacked a little bit of fire off, but, honestly, ever since the start of the race we were just mired in so much traffic,”
he said.
“Our long run seemed really strong, so I think it could have gone a couple different ways.”
He expressed satisfaction with the effort put forth by his team, stating,
“Still, it’s just a great day. We had a great car. Everybody did a great job. The pit stops were awesome and we have a lot to look forward to.”
Berry continued,
“It was a grind for sure but we had a really good car and we just chipped away at it. We just kept putting four on it and kept moving forward and did it the old fashioned way. It was a lot of fun.”
Impact on Playoff Standings and Upcoming Schedule
Berry collected 43 points in New Hampshire, surpassing the total points earned in the previous four weeks combined. This surge moved him up to 16th place in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings, behind Alex Bowman (13th, 2081 points), Austin Dillon (14th, 2076), and Shane van Gisbergen (15th, 2059), with Berry at 2053 points.
Looking ahead, Berry will compete next at Kansas Speedway on September 28, where he has momentum from a sixth-place finish earlier this year in his first start there with Wood Brothers Racing. The race will be broadcast on USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 at 3 p.m. ET.
The No. 21 spins!@joshberry goes for a ride after contact with the No. 88. pic.twitter.com/HmnPv1fUB9
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 21, 2025
