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Wood Brothers Racing president Jon Wood said it is “hard to think it was on purpose” when Josh Berry wrecked Ryan Blaney at Martinsville Speedway, but said Berry should own up to ruining Blaney’s day.
Wood spoke on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio before NASCAR docked Berry 25 points and fined him $50,000 on Tuesday for brake-checking Blaney, as Pit This Time reported.
Wood: ‘It’s uncharacteristic of Josh’
“I’m not going to ask Josh if he did it on purpose,” Wood said. “It doesn’t matter. You know, the intent at this point was one race to go, and then he’s on to the next opportunity, and we’re on to our next opportunity. That doesn’t really matter. It’s uncharacteristic of Josh to do something like that.”
“So, you know, you try to weigh the totality of evidence, and it’s just not, not like him. And then for it to be a teammate of sorts in Ryan Blaney, a guy that, you know, you really wish no ill will toward. It’s hard to think it was on purpose.”
‘It does take a man to own up’
Wood said Berry and Blaney have talked since the race.
“I know Josh and Blaney have spoken, and I’m sure it hasn’t changed Ryan’s perspective of being upset about it,” Wood said. “But it does take a man to own up and say, look, I ruined your day; whether it, again, was on purpose or not, it happened. And I have the utmost respect for both of those guys and, again, it’s just not typical of what Josh Berry does.”
What happened
The contact came on Lap 253. Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford was heavily damaged and he spun in Turn 1. He spent more than 50 laps in the garage and finished 35th, 59 laps down.
Blaney said after the race that Berry “just lost his mind” after a light bump. Berry said Blaney “got into me pretty good” and denied brake-checking him, as Pit This Time reported. Berry went on to finish fourth.
A sensitive relationship
The single-car Wood Brothers team has a technical alliance with Team Penske, which makes the incident awkward for both sides. Penske has not commented publicly.
Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway is Berry’s last race in the No. 21 Ford before he moves to Legacy Motor Club in 2027.
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