Berry Inks Multi-Year Deal With Wood Brothers Racing

Josh Berry (second from left) will drive the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing next year in the NASCAR Cup Series.

CONCORD, N.C. – Josh Berry’s recent surge in performance in the NASCAR Cup Series has landed him a new home for the upcoming season.

Announced late Wednesday morning, Berry will move to the iconic No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse starting in 2025, becoming the latest in a lengthy list of drivers to compete for Wood Brothers Racing.

The 33-year-old native of Hendersonville, Tenn., is a five-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner and current Sunoco rookie-of-the-year contender at the Cup Series level.

Berry joins the Wood Brothers on a multi-year agreement and will remain with the Ford Performance family, moving over from Stewart-Haas Racing as that team closes its doors at the end of the year.

“When you think of the history and legacy of NASCAR, it’s hard to not think of the Wood Brothers and the incredible impact they’ve made on the sport. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a small part of carrying on that legacy,” said Berry. “To be able to add my name to the list of drivers who have piloted the iconic No. 21 is something I don’t take lightly.”

Berry received his first go-kart at the age of eight and cut his teeth in Legend car racing during his teenage years before moving to eSports via the NR2003 and iRacing simulation platforms. It was in the virtual space that his talents caught the eye of NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.

With Earnhardt’s guidance and support, Berry put together a highly successful late model stock car tenure with JR Motorsports, the organization co-owned by Earnhardt and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller.

Included in that span were the 2017 CARS Late Model Stock Tour championship, a win in the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national title, as well as numerous late model stock car wins across the country.

Berry has gone on an early summer run in the Cup Series that features four top-10 finishes in the last seven races, including third-place finishes at both Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He’s been working with champion crew chief Rodney Childers during his rookie campaign.

Wood Brothers Racing is NASCAR’s oldest active team and boasts the eighth-most Cup Series victories in history, with 99 checkered flags dating back to its inception in 1953. This year marks the team’s 71st season racing in some capacity at NASCAR’s premier level.

Drivers to have won for the historic organization include NASCAR Hall of Famers David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Buddy Baker, as well as notables like Neil Bonnett, Dan Gurney, Marvin Panch, Tiny Lund, Donnie Allison, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett, Morgan Shepherd, Elliott Sadler, Trevor Bayne, and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, who now drives for Team Penske.

Blaney is the most recent Cup Series winner for the Wood Brothers, visiting victory lane on June 11, 2017, at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway.

The team’s technical alliance with Team Penske and its support from Ford Performance will both continue next season as Berry looks to guide the team forward, in search of additional victories and a Cup Series playoff berth.

“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,” said Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing. “Josh brings a wealth of talent and determination, evident thorough 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 will continue to carry sponsorship from Ford Motorcraft and Quick Lane Auto Centers next year.

More details about the team’s 2025 plans and additional sponsorship will be announced at a later date.