A few weeks ago, Josh Berry silenced his critics in the best way possible—by winning his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For a driver who had spent years proving his worth in Xfinity and regional series, it was a statement victory. Berry’s No. 21 Ford Mustang wasn’t just competitive; it was dominant. He capitalized on a caution at Lap 195, snatched the lead, and held off fierce competition to take the checkered flag.

Despite some calling his win an upset, Berry didn’t see it that way. “Winning races in the Cup Series is a big deal, and it’s so incredibly difficult. So, I’m not taking that moment for granted. But at the same time, I want to keep pushing forward and keep getting better… I don’t feel like this is the last one,” he said. Berry’s confidence wasn’t misplaced. His performances had already surpassed expectations, and he was proving himself as a rising force in NASCAR.

Riding that momentum, Berry arrived at Martinsville Speedway, a track where he had past success in lower divisions. He started strong, taking the lead in the race, but his dream quickly fell apart. A disaster struck his No. 21 car, costing him precious points and any chance at another strong finish. And at the center of it all? A controversial incident with Bubba Wallace.

Josh Berry concedes to Bubba Wallace!

Josh Berry had control of the race early, leading the field after the first caution on Lap 34. But on Lap 71, things changed when Carson Hocevar spun Chris Buescher. Despite leading the field under caution, Berry found himself sandwiched on the busy pit road. On lap 76, Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota made contact with Berry’s No. 21 Ford, and suddenly, Berry’s car lost all power. His dash went black. His engine shut off. The race leader was now stranded, helpless as his chances of stage points evaporated.

Initially, the Wood Brothers Racing team believed Wallace’s contact had caused the issue. “The dash is black, and it’s like it has no power,” Berry reported over the radio. The assumption was that the hit had dislodged the battery, taking Berry’s car out of contention. Fans online were quick to pin the blame on Wallace, accusing him of reckless driving. But as the race went on, the narrative shifted.

Soon, NASCAR insider Matt Weaver reported that Berry on his team radio updated about the incident. The No.21 team reported that the battery issue was likely unrelated to the contact. “Josh Berry said they think they had a battery failure unrelated to the contact on pit road,” Weaver posted. The damage was done, though. Berry had lost multiple laps while his team scrambled to diagnose the issue.

For Berry and his team, it was still a gut punch. Just two weeks removed from his Vegas triumph, he had a golden opportunity to score stage points and contend for another strong finish. Instead, his car went from first place to two laps down in a matter of minutes. The frustration was even fueled by considering the Woods brothers’ special week at Martinsville as they are celebrating their 75th anniversary in the sport.

Ahead of the race, Berry had been relaxed and optimistic. He spoke about how much he appreciated driving for a legendary organization and how making the playoffs had already been a huge achievement. “So, I think now it’s just about working together and getting better, staying competitive over the course of this summer,” he had said. But Martinsville threw yet another test over him.

However, he wasn’t alone. A few laps after Berry’s incident, No.2 driver Austin Cindric suffered a similar battery failure. On Lap 89, both drivers pitted and swapped a new battery in their vehicle. While Berry’s issue came under caution and dropped him two laps down, Cindric’s failure kept him at the back of the lead lap. As for Bubba Wallace, he found himself at the center of yet another controversy. However, for Wallace, handling pressure and scrutiny is nothing new.

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Wallace eyes ‘evident’ win!

If there’s one thing Bubba Wallace has learned, it’s that growth comes from discomfort. That mindset has fuelled his best-ever start to a NASCAR Cup Series season. He currently sits seventh in the championship standings, has led 98 laps through six races, and has been a consistent frontrunner. A major part of that success is his new crew chief, Charles Denike.

Notably, Denike was an unfamiliar name in the Cup Series before this season. He had spent the last five years in the Truck Series and had never led a Cup team. When Wallace first learned about the crew chief change, he wasn’t sure what to think. But the move is paying off. Wallace has been one of the fastest drivers in practice and qualifying. He has led laps in four of the six races so far and has collected the third-most stage points in the series. While he hasn’t won yet this season, he has been knocking on the door.

Wallace credits his new mindset to his team’s co-owner, Michael Jordan. The six-time NBA champion has preached a relentless mentality to his drivers. Wallace has embraced that approach. “While we didn’t get the win, I didn’t lay over and give up, and we fought hard until the very end,” Wallace said after a tough race at Homestead. As the NASCAR season moves forward, Wallace will continue to push his limits. And if his performance so far is any indication, stepping out of his comfort zone may just lead to the biggest season of his career.