Ryan Blaney’s day at Martinsville effectively ended after contact with Josh Berry on Lap 253. Blaney said the bump was accidental and accused Berry of brake-checking him; Berry countered that Blaney hit him hard and he was trying to save his car. The incident left Blaney’s No. 12 with heavy front-end damage, adding tension between drivers whose teams currently have a close alliance.

By the Numbers
  • Lap 253: Blaney and Berry made contact.
  • 2 drivers — Blaney and Austin Cindric — were involved in separate brake-check incidents.
Yes, But

Blaney described the contact as slight and accidental, while Berry said Blaney hit him “pretty good” and he was trying to save the car. The accounts differ, and the provided details don’t establish whether Berry deliberately brake-checked Blaney.

What's Next

NASCAR moves to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the championship round next week. Berry is set to leave Wood Brothers Racing for Legacy Motor Club in 2026, changing the team relationship at the center of this dispute.

Bottom Line

A single disputed contact ended Blaney’s day and turned a short-track incident into a public disagreement—with a team change ahead that could reshape the relationship.