On an electrifying Sunday at the Phoenix Raceway, Josh Berry alongside Wood Brothers Racing made history, leaving an indelible mark on the track. Driving the No. 21 Ford, Berry notched a commendable fourth-place finish in the Shriners Children’s 500, having commenced the race from the same position. A feat worth noting, this is the first time in nearly four years the team has both qualified and finished in the top five. The last such occurrence was back in May of 2021 at Kansas Speedway with Matt DiBenedetto in the driving seat.
However, the team’s achievement did not end there. It was also the first time in the illustrious history of Wood Brothers Racing that they managed a top-five finish at Phoenix Raceway, setting a new precedent for the team’s future endeavors.
Reflecting on his performance, Berry stated, “I felt like myself again,” attributing his success to the optimal handling of the car. He added, “It is amazing what you can do when the car is handling like that. It was really solid and staying underneath me. I am super proud of these guys.”
In the brief span of four weeks, Berry and the team, under the astute guidance of crew chief Miles Stanley, have shown remarkable progress, with Phoenix Raceway witnessing their best performance to date. This is a significant improvement after finishing 25th or worse in the trio of races that preceded this one.
A day before the race, Berry displayed an impressive leap in performance, moving from being the 34th fastest in practice to qualifying in the top half of the leaderboard. During the race, he finished sixth in the first stage and 10th in the second, achieving an average running position of 9.1 across the grueling 312-lap race.
However, the journey was not without its hurdles. During the race, the team encountered a problem on pit road with the left rear, causing them to lose their track position. They found themselves outside the top 10 when a crash involving seven cars occurred off Turn 2 on lap 99. Fortunately, Berry was not part of this incident and was able to continue the race.
Despite the setback, Berry and the team managed to regain momentum, securing a much-needed finish that saw them move up 12 positions in the point standings from 33rd to 21st. A jubilant Berry expressed, “This racetrack was pretty tough for me last year, and these guys have great cars, without a doubt here. That was proven again today, and we executed pretty solidly and was able to get a good finish, which is really good.”
This historic event at Phoenix Raceway not only marks a milestone for Berry and Wood Brothers Racing but also sets a promising tone for their future performances. It serves as a testament to the team’s resilience and dedication, further solidifying their standing in the world of racing.