Josh Berry confirmed on Tuesday that he will not be back with the Wood Brothers Racing lineup when the 2027 season gets underway, a decision that has left the 35‑year‑old driver feeling a mix of disappointment and hope.
The Wood Brothers, a storied organization that first fielded cars in 1950, have been wrestling with a competitive gap against the sport’s larger outfits, relying on a charter that guarantees entry but not necessarily success.
Berry’s résumé includes a breakthrough Cup victory at Las Vegas last year, a stint in the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, and a recent run that yielded four DNFs in fifteen starts, dropping him to 30th in the points standings.
A Shifting Landscape in NASCAR
The ripple effects of Berry’s exit are already evident. Corey Heim is slated to take the wheel of the No. 35 Toyota for 23XI Racing next season, while the recent death of Kyle Busch has left Richard Childress Racing searching for a replacement, underscoring how quickly driver rosters can change.
For a team that once counted Hall of Famers such as David Pearson and Cale Yarborough among its drivers, the Wood Brothers now face a future that will depend on new talent and fresh alliances to keep the historic charter alive.