Josh Berry is heading into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with optimism, even as the sport’s championship format has changed dramatically. He said that the shift will not erase what that kind of moment means.
NASCAR’s return to ‘The Chase’ and away from the elimination-style playoffs, which had been in place for the past decade, reinstates a field of 16 drivers for the final 10-race championship stretch. The change removes the automatic playoff entry that came with a race win under the previous system.
During an interview with NASCAR reporter Peter Stratta, Berry was asked about his feelings on the format change following his ‘life-changing’ win of last season. The Wood Brothers Racing driver, who is preparing for the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium this Sunday, talked about how it will not replace the impact of a first-time win.
“First time winners and and first wins in this sport have always been something that’s really popular and make for great stories. And there’s no reason really that the the playoff format changing should change the feeling that you get from when you have a first time winner or underdog story type deal, kind of like, I guess, we were last year,” Josh Berry said.
Berry scored his first career Cup Series victory at Las Vegas last season. That win earned him entry into the postseason. But with the return of ‘The Chase,’ drivers
“It’s a great story and there’s still going to be a lot of story lines to follow throughout the season um as it evolves and and as that that changes. I think that, relying on consistency a little bit more is probably going to put the best guys in the chase at the end of the year. And we as a team obviously we feel a little more pressure going into this … And to me that’s not a bad thing,” he added.
Berry wrapped up the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season in 16th place in the final points standings. He also led 27 laps at Talladega, the most laps for the No. 21 team since 2017, but mechanical trouble dropped him to 33rd in that race.
Josh Berry to Return to Cook Out Clash After a Rough Start in 2025
Last year, Josh Berry started 13th in the Last Chance race for the Clash exhibition after a spin in qualifying and heat races. He ended in second place behind Kyle Larson and started the main 200-lap feature of the non-points exhibition in 22nd place. He ended the race in 13th place
But this year, the schedule for the Cook Out Clash changed. The 2026 season opener at Bowman Gray Stadium was postponed to a single Sunday program. All Saturday activities were postponed, with practice, qualifying, the last-chance race, and the main 200-lap clash will take place on Sunday.
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