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Josh Berry’s Upsetting Race at Daytona Ends in Chaos
Josh Berry, driving the No. 4 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, was in a strong position during Saturday’s race at Daytona International Speedway when disaster struck. While leading, Berry found himself caught in a collision triggered by Austin Cindric, who lost control after receiving a poor push from another racer. This incident resulted in Cindric making contact with the right-rear of Berry’s car, causing both vehicles to spin out onto the backstretch apron.
Despite modifications made to the car’s aerodynamics, specifically the introduction of a new air deflector, Berry’s vehicle became airborne. The 3,400-pound Mustang flipped over, skidding roof-first before crashing nose-first into the inside wall. The car continued to rotate on its lid like a top before settling upside down.
Afterward, Berry was evaluated and released from the infield care center. However, his primary focus was on the lost opportunity rather than the crash itself.
“It probably wasn’t as bad as it looked,” Berry shared in an interview with NBC Sports. “Man, I’m bummed because we had a hell of a night going. Just such a great job by [crew chief] Rodney [Childers] and the whole No. 4 team. The car was so strong. We were in position. I’m really proud of what I accomplished tonight and of the entire team’s effort. We were contenders. That could have been our day, but it didn’t work out.”
In the race, Berry not only won the first stage but also led for a total of nine laps before his untimely exit. The quest for his inaugural NASCAR Cup Series win continues, a feat that was recently achieved by fellow Ford driver Harrison Burton during an overtime finish. Berry is slated to take over the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford in the 2025 season, replacing Burton.
Although the crash was severe, it paled in comparison to a similar incident involving Berry’s teammate Ryan Preece, who experienced a harrowing wreck at the same spot on the track the previous year. Preece’s tumble left him with significant injuries, including bruised eyes. Berry expressed relief that the previously grassy backstretch had been fully paved in time for this year’s event.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing a lot of these blow-overs lately,” Berry noted. “The paving of that section helped prevent a more dangerous barrel roll for me. As bad as it looked, the modifications were an improvement over what Ryan [Preece] faced last year. I can’t believe we’ve had two of our Stewart-Haas cars flip consecutively like this, but it was just a great effort from Rodney and the entire No. 4 team. We were in contention all night, with a terrific race car and a real chance at victory.”
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