NASCAR’s rule caught the same two drivers in its net again. Tensions were tense anyway surrounding the Talladega race for obvious reasons. The 2.66-mile drafting behemoth frequently bares its teeth to claw at drivers’ smooth racing. Accordingly, we saw a colossal wreck unfold during the waning portion of Sunday’s YellaWood 500. Josh Berry was caught in it, and his mangled car matched his jolted feelings for NASCAR.

The race marked the second time in a row that the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford got caught in an incident and thus fell prey to a rule. So although Josh Berry was relatively calmer last week, this week his emotions boiled over. He went into a sarcastic diatribe as he dared his rivals to face his misfortune.

Josh Berry loses his temper at the nagging rule

The Damaged Vehicle Policy in NASCAR’s rulebook has whipped up a load of controversy recently. Ryan Blaney was the first one this rule angered during the Watkins Glen race. Since the No. 12 Ford spun out on the first lap and could not move, officials invalidated the rest of its race life. Similarly, Josh Berry faced another Lap 1 melee with Harrison Burton and others last week in Kansas. The No. 4 got four flat tires, and NASCAR yet again implemented the DVP and kicked the car out for the rest of the race. Now Talladega also spelled a similar fortune.

This time, the misfortune set in late during the race, and impacted both Josh Berry and Blaney. Austin Cindric’s pinballing No. 2 Ford took out several cars in the largest “Big One” at Talladega Superspeedway. This left Berry cursing the DVP even after NASCAR assured of rule changes during the off-season.

Post-race Berry threw a sarcastic jibe as he addressed the press in the pitlane, “All I know is that those cars parked in Turn 3, they’re not getting towed to pit road. Because that will be breaking the Damaged Vehicle Policy. F-king 42 cars over there doing burnouts, slinking road rubber…trying to get going. But if you have 4-5 tires, you’re getting towed to pit road, you’re done, right? “

As Berry mockingly tried to counter the question Bob Pockrass, he was asked if he wanted to see change earlier, Josh Berry flatly denied it. He wants his rivals to get a taste of his medicine. “No, everybody else should get scr-ed too. I mean, it’s only fair, right?” And similar to Brad Keselowski’s claims, Berry also pointed fingers at Todd Gilliland for causing the entire ruckus. “I guess it started with the 38…that’s what caused it really. The 2 cars leaving, he got in. I don’t know where it started but just slinking around the 38 was what caused it all.” 

Although most of the Ford team persisted till the end, a lot of them struck heartbreak. Like Berry and Blaney, another Ford driver lamented after the fateful wreck.

The team plan went awry

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Like the Toyotas in April, the Fords rallied together for the climax at Talladega Superspeedway‘s Fall race. The No. 2 Team Penske Ford was spearheading that group, leading the inside row. For Austin Cindric, a second win would add magic to his playoff chances and automatically advance him to the next round. However, Keselowski’s bump from behind spun out Cindric wildly, and he collected 23 cars in the process. Cindric’s winning chances were similarly ruined in Daytona, where Corey LaJoie threw him into a last-lap crash in February this year.

Finishing 32nd, the Ford driver had nothing but despair to share like Josh Berry. “I just got turned at the front of the field. Unfortunately, that’s how Daytona ended for us and I think what that says is we’ve got really fast race cars and great execution. As the leader, I was trying to be as predictable as possible as far as taking pushes and it’s just a real shame. I don’t really feel like doing a whole lot of complaining about what happened or whose fault it is, it doesn’t really matter. It puts us in a must-win situation for the Charlotte road course. We’ve brought some exceptionally fast race cars every single race of the playoffs and I cannot understate how proud I am of my race team and we’ll have to bring another one next week,” said Austin Cindric.

Apparently, the Ford teamwork fell through with that last wreck. While Josh Berry and Ryan Blaney chase under NASCAR’s rule, let us see if any more drivers face it in the following races.