Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing EchoPark team enter the 2026 season’s second race with renewed confidence following a top-10 finish at the Daytona 500. Competing with the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, Berry secured a ninth-place result, breaking a years-long streak without such a finish for the Wood Brothers in the prestigious event.
Although the team boasts a storied history at Daytona, including five victories in the Daytona 500, the last top-10 in this race came in 2018 when Paul Menard finished sixth. Berry’s performance not only ended that dry spell but also elevated him to 12th place in the Cup Series standings heading into the upcoming race, giving the team a valuable points buffer under the current championship format that no longer guarantees a playoff spot with just a single win.
Preparing for the Unique Demands of EchoPark Speedway
Attention now turns to EchoPark Speedway, previously known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the Autotrader 400 will take place on Sunday. This 1.54-mile track has evolved into a superspeedway-style circuit over recent years, emphasizing the importance of drafting, keen execution, and maintaining favorable track position throughout the race.
Berry expressed pride in the speed demonstrated during Speedweeks at Daytona and stressed the importance of carrying that momentum forward.
“I’m proud of the speed we showed at Daytona,”
Berry said.
“The 21 team brought a fast Ford Mustang, and we were able to put ourselves in position throughout the week.”
Capitalizing on Past Qualifying Success at EchoPark
Last season, Berry showed strong qualifying performances at EchoPark, starting third in the spring race and second in the summer event. Despite the promising starting positions, race incidents prevented the Wood Brothers from converting this speed into strong finishes. Berry hopes to leverage those experiences to produce a complete and competitive race this time around.
“Atlanta races similar to Daytona now, so hopefully we can build on what we learned last week and put together a complete race,”
Berry stated.
The weekend will feature no practice session before qualifying, which is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. ET. The 400-mile race, consisting of 260 laps, will begin shortly after 3 p.m. ET on Sunday with live coverage on FOX. Stage breaks are planned for Lap 60 and Lap 160 to shape race strategy and action.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities at EchoPark
The team’s ability to translate qualifying speed into race results will be crucial at EchoPark, especially given the superspeedway-style demands of the track. Berry and Wood Brothers Racing EchoPark’s showing at Daytona has set a positive tone, but the upcoming race will test whether they can sustain that performance in a highly competitive environment where mistakes can quickly alter the outcome.
Success here could strengthen Berry’s position in the Cup Series standings and reinforce the Wood Brothers’ standing as a competitive force, sustaining momentum early in the 2026 season.
