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Wood Brothers decline Josh Berry option for 2027 season

6/11/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Josh Berry Released

Wood Brothers Racing will not exercise its option on driver Josh Berry for the 2027 season.
Berry announced the decision at a press conference on June 10, after learning of it 24 hours earlier.
The 35-year-old is 30th in the 2026 standings with top-10 finishes, including a ninth at the Daytona 500.
Berry will work with Kevin Harvick Inc. to explore opportunities, and Wood Brothers will name a replacement for the No. 21 Ford.

Summary

Teams Reshuffle

Teams consider age-related sponsorship rules that may require the No. 33 car’s driver to be 25 or older.
Richard Childress Racing must replace Kyle Busch, who died on May 21, for its 2027 driver lineup.
Joe Gibbs Racing is weighing Denny Hamlin’s possible retirement after 2027 and sees Brent Crews as a Cup-ready replacement.
Hendrick Motorsports doubts Alex Bowman’s 2027 seat because of his injuries and lack of a contract.

History

Historical Context

Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash on February 18 2001 sparked a safety overhaul in NASCAR, culminating in the mandatory HANS device on October 17 2001 and the adoption of SAFER barriers. The tragedy also forced teams to rebuild line-ups; Richard Childress promoted Kevin Harvick to replace Earnhardt, and Hendrick Motorsports reshuffled its driver roster, while by end 41 of 43 drivers were already wearing HANS devices.

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Josh Berry Released

Wood Brothers Racing will not exercise its option on driver Josh Berry for the 2027 season.
Berry announced the decision at a press conference on June 10, after learning of it 24 hours earlier.
The 35-year-old is 30th in the 2026 standings with top-10 finishes, including a ninth at the Daytona 500.
Berry will work with Kevin Harvick Inc. to explore opportunities, and Wood Brothers will name a replacement for the No. 21 Ford.

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