Kevin Harvick: Josh Berry, Wood Brothers making Penske even better

If NASCAR handed out a Most Improved Driver Award through 12 races, Josh Berry would be a worthy selection. Berry has made a big jump in just his second full-time season in the Cup Series and first driving the historic No. 21 car for Wood Brothers Racing.

While some of the finishes haven’t been there, Berry is 16th in the points standings. He took the checkered flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his first Cup victory, earning him automatic qualification into the playoffs. It’s been impressive to watch, Kevin Harvick said on his “Happy Hour” podcast.

“It really has [been impressive]. I’m happy for all of them [at Wood Brothers],” Harvick said. “I think when you see the speed Josh had — he was leading the race last week before the spin at Texas — and now this week, had a penalty on pit road that put them to the back of the pack and drove all the way to the front. I think once they get all those little details ironed out because racing at the front, those penalties stick out a lot more than when you’re running in the middle of the pack. So, I’m sure some of that stuff has happened in the past, but we didn’t notice it much. Now we notice. When you’re leading races, we’re gonna talk about you spinning while leading the race, talk about your pit road penalties.

“But speed rules. Those guys are in contention and they’re right in front of our eyes learning how to be consistent winners. … Every week we talk about knowing that they’re fast and they know that they’re fast and when that confidence starts to grow, then you can overcome the penalties on pit road and overcome the spin outs. Instead of focusing on finishing races and hoping for everyone’s bad luck, you’re changing the complexion of race weekends because now you’re a part of the conversation.”

Josh Berry competitive in first season with Wood Brothers

Berry, 34, was in a tough spot last season. Just a few months into his racing tenure with Stewart-Haas Racing, the race team announced it would be closing its doors after the end of the campaign. Berry, who worked hard to obtain a Cup ride, needed a new home.

Enter Wood Brothers, which decided to part ways with 24-year-old driver Harrison Burton. While Burton pulled off a miracle victory at Daytona International Speedway to reach the 2024 postseason, the overall results across three seasons were uninspiring.

Burton is still young and has plenty of time. But Berry is experienced, and that has helped Team Penske as a whole, said Harvick’s co-host Mamba Smith. Wood Brothers shares a technical alliance with Penske.

“The thing Josh Berry is bringing to Penske is just his awareness of his car. He’s been racing for a long time,” Smith said. “They liked Harrison Burton. Everyone likes Harrison, he’s a good racecar driver, he just needs more time. Josh has had more time and he’s able to bring something different to the table that is really clicking with the rest of that group. Now, you have four guys that you can rely on the information you’re getting from him.

“They’re getting it done on-track because Austin Cindric is coming along, too. You got three-time champ Joey Logano. And the guy you gotta run through every year it seems like in Ryan Blaney. So, now, they’re getting better information. All the weight isn’t just spread on the 12 and 22. It’s getting spread across and everyone’s getting better.”