Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Dark Horse had just finished fifth in Stage Two of Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway when a collision with Tyler Reddick ended their race and left them with a 36th-place finish. Berry was driving a throwback-themed Mustang based on the Lotus Ford that Jim Clark, with pit work by the Wood Brothers, drove to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500.
Prior to the green flag, the audience at Darlington and those following on TV got a Wood Brothers history lesson when broadcasters Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer circled the track in the actual Wood Brothers cars that David Pearson and Neil Bonnett drove to victory at Darlington back in the day. And the Woods served as Grand Marshals for the event with the family giving drivers the command to start their engines.
Once the green flag flew, Berry steadily moved forward from his 24th-place starting spot, finishing the first 90-lap Stage in 17th place. In the second Stage, the team decided to run longer than most of their competitors during a round of green-flag pit stops. The strategy paid off as Berry had cycled up to third place when the caution flew at Lap 138 for debris on the track.
Berry made his pit stop under the caution flag and restarted in fifth place. He raced in the top five for the remainder of the Stage, ending that segment in fifth place and earning six bonus points. As the third and final segment of the race got under way, Berry was in the top five when the contact with Reddick sent the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang slamming into the inside wall.
“It always gets tight off of [Turn] Two here at Darlington,” Berry told reporters at the track. “It looked like just me and the 45 got together. It’s hard to say one way or the other if he came up a little or I was a little too low. Obviously you’re trying to keep it out of the fence and clear that bump and everything, so I don’t know. It’s a racing deal, I guess.”
Berry went on to say that he had a fast Mustang.
“I feel like we steadily worked our way forward throughout the whole race and caught a break on that green-flag sequence to get up front,” he said. “But I thought our car held on well, and I think we had a shot at a really solid finish.”
Berry and the Wood Brothers team now turn their focus to next Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.
About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.
