The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have already produced some unexpected twists so far, and Josh Berry’s last two races have been a part of it. Driving the iconic No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing, Berry opened his first playoff run with a devastating 38th-place finish at Darlington after an early crash left him 128 laps down. Gateway was supposed to offer redemption, but instead, his campaign unraveled further, where he finished 36th. With only one race left in the Round of 16, he now sits at the bottom with 45 points below the cut line, on the brink of elimination. That grim position has also brought out an emotional reaction from his longtime mentor, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Berry’s struggles cut deeper because of his history with Earnhardt Jr. A late bloomer in the sport, Berry spent years workin

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