Josh Berry Knows Singles, Not Grand Slams, Can Keep His Playoff Hopes Alive

gettyimages-2232854117 — DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 30: Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, and Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, drive during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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In baseball parlance, Josh Berry isn’t looking to hit a grand slam. Three solid singles should do nicely.

That’s Berry’s approach to the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, where Berry believes three well-executed races should be enough to put him in the Round of 12.

“We don’t have to go hit a home run,” Berry said on Saturday morning at Darlington Raceway, site of Sunday’s Playoff-opening Cook Out Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “We just need to go be solid. I think we feel like three top 10s will be enough points probably to make it to the Round of 12.

“That’s where our head is at, so as long as we keep doing that, there’s not too much to think on until something changes.”

The Playoffs mark a reset of goals for Berry and the No.21 Wood Brothers Racing team. At the start of their first season together, the primary goal was simply to make the Playoffs.

“It’s a big deal,” said Berry, who qualified for the Playoffs by winning the fifth race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “It’s our biggest goal setting out this year. Obviously, to win my first race and if you do that, more than likely, you make the Playoffs, and here we are.

“It’s really cool. It’s been a fun year working with these guys. Everybody at the Wood Brothers has done a really good job. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’m proud of the gains we’ve made with the 21 car compared to the last couple of years, and I feel like we’re set up to keep on doing that.

“Making the playoffs is fun, but, obviously, we want to be competitive and have a good start to this deal.”

A Wood Brothers driver hasn’t advanced past the first round since Ryan Blaney made the Round of 8 in 2017. Matt DiBenedetto was eliminated in the first round in 2020, and Harrison Burton suffered the same fate last year.