On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team competed in the Cook Out Clash main event. Despite challenging winter weather delays and starting 21st, Berry finished the 200-lap race in 12th place, having earned his spot by winning the Last Chance Qualifier earlier in the evening.
Dominating the Last Chance Qualifier Amid Cold Conditions
For the second year running, Berry secured his place in the Clash’s starting lineup through a top-two finish in the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier. This year, he began on the pole position, briefly ceded the lead to AJ Allmendinger, but soon took command again, leading the final 59 laps to finish 7.4 seconds ahead of runner-up Austin Cindric. Berry’s dominance was evident as he managed to lap competitors up to the ninth position by the race’s end.
Reflecting on those conditions, Berry said,
“We just struggled a little bit on the restarts. With the cold temperatures, I was locking the left front and got it locked up a little bit under AJ and washed him out. But once we were able to settle in and get some heat in the tires, I felt good about our car.”
He also expressed relief at advancing, noting,
“It’s a long night when you don’t make this race.”
Weather Challenges and Strategic Adjustments in the Main Event
The main event had already been postponed from Sunday to Wednesday night due to winter weather. As the 200-lap race proceeded, conditions remained difficult. Starting near the back, Berry gradually made progress and was running 13th at the halftime break when sleet began to fall. Teams responded by switching to treaded tires suited for wet surfaces. This adjustment initially helped Berry move up into the top 10 by Lap 115.
However, the race was heavily disrupted by a record 17 caution periods, including one that involved Berry and dropped him one lap behind, down to 22nd place. He managed to regain the lead lap before the race reached its three-quarter mark. Because caution laps did not count toward the total, the event lasted an extended three and a half hours.
Steady Advancement Amid a Long and Disrupted Race
With 35 laps remaining, Berry was in 19th but steadily climbed positions, reaching 15th by Lap 175 and 12th by Lap 185. He maintained 12th place until the race concluded under difficult and unpredictable weather conditions.
Looking Ahead to Speedweeks at Daytona
Following the Bowman Gray event, Berry and the Wood Brothers team are turning their attention to Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is slated for February 11, with the iconic Great American Race scheduled for February 15. The team hopes to build on their experience from the Cook Out Clash as they prepare for these high-profile events.
