Event: Freeway Insurance 500
Location: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Start: 9th
Finish: 11th
For much of Sunday’s Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team appeared poised to contend for a top-five finish, showcasing competitive speed throughout the opening two stages of the 312-lap event.
However, handling challenges in the final stage, coupled with a series of aggressive late-race moves in the field, ultimately left Berry with an 11th-place finish in the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Berry started Sunday’s race from the ninth position and wasted little time moving forward, breaking into the top five within the opening nine laps. He maintained a presence among the top 10 throughout the 80-lap opening stage before finishing 10th to collect one stage point.
The second stage saw Berry and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team continue to demonstrate their strength, as he quickly worked his way back into the top five and remained there for the duration of the segment. Berry crossed the line fourth at the conclusion of Stage 2, adding seven valuable stage points to his afternoon.
As the race progressed into its final stage, the handling of the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse became more challenging, making it difficult for Berry to maintain the pace he had demonstrated earlier in the afternoon. Despite the changing conditions, he continued to battle inside the top 10 as the race winded down.
A pair of restarts in the final segment brought intensified competition throughout the field, with Berry getting shuffled back in the running order amid the aggressive racing. After slipping as low as 16th with 13 laps remaining, Berry rallied in the closing laps to regain five positions and secure an 11th-place finish.
Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team now shift their focus to next Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season enters its final three races.
