Josh Berry signs with the Wood Brothers

Josh Berry, currently a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series, is set to join the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team for a full-time run in 2025.

The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Ford Performance Technical Center in North Carolina, where Berry was introduced as the team’s newest driver under a multi-year contract. The team also confirmed continued support from their longtime partner, Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane.

“It’s a multiyear deal as long as I run good, and I don’t plan on running bad,” Berry remarked humorously during the press event.

Hailing from Hendersonville, Tennessee, Berry will take over from Harrison Burton as the driver of the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse next season, marking his second full-time year in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team hailed Berry’s addition as “a significant milestone.”

“Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working with a multitude of successful drivers, and now having the opportunity to add Josh Berry to that list is a significant milestone for our team,” stated Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing. “Josh brings a wealth of talent and determination, evident through his success in every level of competition, from grassroots NASCAR to present day. He fits the values of our team, and we believe that with Josh behind the wheel, we will achieve great things together on the track.”

Wood Brothers Racing, active in NASCAR since Glen Wood’s first race in 1953, has seen 99 victories in the Cup Series with various distinguished drivers. Berry expressed his honor in joining this historic team, which has been chasing their 100th Cup Series win since their last victory at the Pocono 400 in 2017. Drivers that have been the seat in pursuit of the iconic W have included Ryan Blaney, Paul Menard, Matt DiBenedetto, and most recently, Harrison Burton.

Berry’s current crew chief, Rodney Childers, will not be moving with him to Wood Brothers Racing. The team will reveal Berry’s new crew chief and primary sponsorship partners for the No. 21 Ford Mustang at a later date.

Berry’s journey in NASCAR was significantly influenced by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who promoted him from the Late Model ranks after Berry’s 2020 Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Series Championship win.

Following two full-time seasons in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, where he earned five wins and a fourth-place finish in 2022, Berry was tapped by Kevin Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the No. 4 Ford Mustang in the Cup Series after Harvick’s 2023 retirement announcement.

This season, Berry has participated in 19 Cup Series races, achieving two top-five finishes and four top-10s, placing him 19th in the regular-season standings, albeit more than 100 points outside of playoff contention.

Before his stint with Stewart-Haas Racing, Berry also served as a substitute driver for Hendrick Motorsports, where he achieved a career-best second place at Richmond Raceway in 2023.