Josh Berry repeatedly used various phrases to discuss his upcoming move to Wood Brothers Racing. He expressed his belief in the team and their efforts to put the No. 21 Ford Mustang on the track every weekend. Berry sees this opportunity as a perfect fit for him and is confident that he will have everything he needs to perform well.
The deal with Berry came together quickly, with the official contract being signed just last week. The announcement that Stewart-Haas Racing would be closing its NASCAR program at the end of the season set things in motion. After failing to reach an agreement with Chase Briscoe, Wood Brothers Racing approached Berry as the next candidate.
Jon Wood, the president of Wood Brothers Racing, stated that Berry was an obvious choice for the team. He will be their fifth driver since 2016 when the company returned to full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing. Berry quickly committed to the team, feeling that it was the right fit for him. He is excited to work alongside teammates Joey, Ryan, and Austin, and is grateful for Ford’s support.
Wood Brothers Racing will continue its technical alliance with Team Penske and receive manufacturer support from Ford. The Penske drivers are looking forward to having Berry in their meetings, as his input will be valuable in this driver-dependent era of racing.
Wood Brothers Racing has been struggling to achieve results and decided it was time for a change. The organization has not won a race since 2016, and their current driver, Burton, has only managed one top-10 finish in two-and-a-half seasons. Wood acknowledges that the blame may not solely lie with Burton but also with the organization itself. Regardless, the lack of performance has been frustrating for everyone involved.
The decision to make a driver change was influenced by the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing. Wood Brothers Racing had been aware of the discussions surrounding their closure for some time, and once the formal announcement was made, they saw it as an opportunity to make their own moves. They respected the process and waited until the right time to approach drivers, including Chase. Unfortunately, by the time they reached out to him, it was too late. Berry, however, was available and became their choice.
Berry’s deal with Wood Brothers Racing is a multiyear agreement, contingent on his performance. He is determined to run well and has no plans of running poorly.
