Sometimes, even a fourth-place finish means a little more than the number beside a driver’s name, especially if you’re Josh Berry, who’s racing for his NASCAR Cup career at the moment.
Sunday’s race at Iowa Speedway was certainly one of those days for the 35-year-old.
In the middle of a season that has become increasingly uncomfortable for the short track veteran, Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing finally gave fans something to cheer about. The No. 21 Ford went like the wind and delivered the driver’s best 2026 finish.
Just two weeks ago, Berry finished seventh at Indianapolis before putting together an even stronger performance at Iowa. Starting from 13th, he methodically worked his way forward, eventually crossing the finish line fourth.
It was Berry’s first top five of the season and the seventh of his Cup career. More importantly, it gave the Wood Brothers something they had not seen on a short track in more than two decades.
As NASCAR Insights shared after the race, this finish was the first time the team recorded a top-five finish on a short track since Hall of Famer Ricky Rudd did so at Bristol in 2005, over 20 years ago.
WBR is one of NASCAR’s oldest and most recognizable organizations, and its history stretches back generations, with drivers such as David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett, and Rudd piloting the ever-iconic No. 21 car.
While Berry is still adding his results to that list of drivers behind the wheel, that time is coming to an end, as the team has already announced his replacement for 2027.
Just weeks ago, the conversation surrounding the No. 21 team was largely about what was going wrong. The CARS Tour’s all-time winningest driver had been informed that he would not return to WBR in 2027, with current NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts champion Jesse Love expected to take over his seat.
Entering the 0.875-mile Iowa short track, Berry sat 30th in the championship standings, struggling to find the rhythm that made his first two Cup seasons so promising. After winning his first Cup race at Las Vegas last year, Berry had found himself fighting for relevance.
Still, as of press time, Berry’s future at the top level of NASCAR is unknown.
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