The final 2025 playoff competitor to receive a 2026 Season Preview is Wood Brothers Racing. Back to back seasons, this single-car organization wins their way into the playoffs. Both times, the playoff run is a bit of a disaster the team finishes last among the playoff drivers. However, last year’s run certainly felt more competitive than 2024. Bad luck struck this team more than poor driving. While the overall season still does not feel Team Penske-esque, the current setup with Josh Berry has made the Wood Brothers feel relevant again. Can this continue into 2026?
#21 – Josh Berry
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Crew Chief: Miles Stanley
2025 Points Finish: 16
2026 Announced Sponsors: Motorcraft/Quick Lane, PPG, Freightliner, DEX Imaging, Wurth
Boom or bust: the epitome of Josh Berry’s 2025 season. As mentioned in the introduction, Berry’s arrival to the Wood Brothers marked the first season since Ryan Blaney where this team felt competitive. The jump in performance was noticeable from the word go. Berry clearly was the ideal choice for this seat and he delivered in strides. Seeing the 21 car near the front again was a great sight to behold. For as many good races the 21 had, there were plenty of awful results on the other side. If Berry was not running inside the Top-10, that meant he was either caught in a wreck or a back marker.
2026 Expectations
Similar to the Wood Brothers affiliate team, consistency will be the big question for this team. Josh Berry can drive this car to competitiveness. He won Las Vegas with pace (and strategy) to give the Wood Brothers their first non-superspeedway win since 2017. It should be an expectation to see Berry compete for wins again, especially at short and flat tracks. If the team can avoid the massive valleys in their performance, then Berry has a good shout at making The Chase. It would not be expected, but it cannot be ruled out.
The Chase Factor
While win-and-in did benefit Josh Berry last year, this team has enough speed to be able to point their way into the Top-16. At the very least, it would be sensible to rank the 21 where you would put the 2. Berry demonstrated his ability to compete with the top teams last year at certain tracks. The key for him will be to keep the lows at a manageable clip. 16 times last year Josh Berry finished off the lead lap. 9 of those were due to a DNF. Cleaning up those bad days into mediocre ones could be the difference between making and missing The Chase.
Catch up on the previous 2026 Season Previews
Hendrick Motorsports; Joe Gibbs Racing; Team Penske; Trackhouse Racing; 23XI Racing; RFK Racing; Spire Motorsports; Legacy Motor Club; Front Row Motorsports; Richard Childress Racing