NASCAR Insider “curious” about Wood Brothers Racing's future with former SHR driver

Josh Berry is set to take over the famed #21 Wood Brothers Racing car in 2025 for his second full-time season of NASCAR Cup Series racing. Recently, racing insider Jordan Bianchi weighed in on how he thinks the former Stewart-Haas Racing driver will fare in his first season with the iconic team.

In a recent episode of "The Teardown" featuring Bianchi and fellow writer for The Athletic Jeff Gluck, the two gave their opinions on the 2025 driver-team shakeups and how each will perform next season. When it comes to Berry, who's moving to Wood Brothers Racing after one season at SHR, Bianchi is interested in seeing how the 34-year-old performs.

“I am curious to see how Josh Berry adapts to the Wood Brothers,” Bianchi said. “I think Josh has got talent. That team is just fits and starts. There was a time when Paul Menard made the playoffs for them. Matt Dibenedetto made the playoffs for them. That team should be better than it is, but that was a while ago."

Bianchi went on to say that since Wood Brothers Racing is in a "rebuilding" phase, they wouldn't have high expectations for the Tennessee native heading into 2025. However, Bianchi believes the pressure is on for Berry and Wood Brothers to excel in this "era" of the sport.

“I want to see what they can do now in this era," Bianchi said. "I think there’s some pressure there for everyone involved because you just don’t know. If you go there and you’re Josh and you don’t perform, then what? I think the opportunity is there for them, but the expectations are low because it’s a rebuilding program.”

Berry piloted the #4 Ford for SHR in the 2024 season. The five-time Xfinity Series winner registered four top 10s, two top fives, and finished 27th in the points standings in his rookie campaign.

SHR ceased operations at the end of the 2024 season, forcing Berry and SHR teammates Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Preece to find other rides for 2025.

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Wood Brothers Racing announced Josh Berry's signing in July

Wood Brothers Racing made the news official last July that Josh Berry would take over the iconic #21 Ford in 2025. The team took to social media to share the news with the NASCAR world.

In a post via Instagram, the team penned a caption stating that Berry was "set" for 2025.

"Set for 2025. @joshberry88 to drive the No. 21 Ford Mustang beginning with the 2025 @nascar Cup Series season."

Wood Brothers Racing previously had Harrison Burton behind the wheel of the #21 machine for the last three seasons. In the next-to-last race of the 2024 regular season, Burton passed Kyle Busch on the final lap to secure his first career NASCAR Cup Series win and the 100th win for Wood Brothers Racing.