Josh Berry Hits Animal in 180 MPH Talladega Bird Strike

Newsweek

28-04-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
It was an exciting NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway yesterday. Josh Berry, however, was unfortunate enough to come into contact with one of the more unusual hazards of speedway racing: bird strikes. Driving at around 180-190mph, his No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse smashed through a bird flying over the track.
The bird was killed instantly as the driver remained on the hunt for a strong finish.
"I've certainly witnessed it before, and they can cause some damage," Berry's crew chief Miles Stanley told media following the race. "They can wreak havoc and even shred some windshield tear-offs and things like that."
He continued:
"A lot of times when we come here for like first practice or qualifying and stuff, we'll see birds flying out around the racetrack. So, it's not a huge surprise that we ended up getting one on the windshield."
Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia.
Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
There was a small amount of damage to the car, but there was nothing the team or the driver could have done or could do following it.
"We had seen that there was some damage from the bird strike," he admitted. "I mean, nothing we could really do about it. It was damaged by it. Just from hitting it. Nothing too big performance-wise. It probably tore some tear-offs and stuff like that."
Berry had an impressive race as he took the lead on lap 4. But, a slow pit stop dropped him to 29th in Stage 1. Stage 2 was more successful with him finishing 10th. He finished the race in 28th but moved up two places to 26th after two disqualifications ahead of him.
"I felt like we did a really good job and saved a lot of fuel and then still had the track position by the end of it. I knew I needed to get on the pit road good and I just went a little too deep," Berry told media after the race.
"I mean I think it's a couple of different things. I think it's trying to be aggressive, but at the same time, probably that's the first time in one of these that I've actually been in that position where I'm not kind of judging my braking marker off of somebody else. So, I just thought that I could go a little bit deeper than I could have."