Josh Berry showed competitive speed during Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, leading eight laps before ultimately finishing 12th. The Wood Brothers Racing driver started 21st and worked his way toward the front during the opening stage of the 189-lap event.
Berry first took the lead on Lap 8 and remained in front for six consecutive circuits. He returned to the lead for another two laps early in Stage 2, demonstrating the drafting strength of his No. 21 Ford.
However, maintaining track position became increasingly challenging as different groups employed varying fuel strategies. Berry remained competitive throughout the afternoon but was unable to consistently stay at the front as the field continued changing positions.
The final
stage featured several dramatic developments, including a 15-car accident on Lap 183 that involved Berry and forced the race into overtime. Despite the incident, Berry was able to complete all 189 laps and secure 12th place, narrowly missing another top-10 finish.
The result earned Berry 25 points, but he slipped one position in the overall NASCAR Cup Series standings. Berry now ranks 23rd with 609 points, three markers behind Todd Gilliland. With his championship hopes already ended after missing the Chase, Berry will focus on closing the season strongly at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Josh Berry's race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega
