Kenny Wallace has shared his thoughts about Wood Brothers Racing after the team announced that Jesse Love will replace Josh Berry in the No. 21 Ford beginning with the 2027 Cup Series season. The former NASCAR driver questioned how the team’s identity has shifted from one that attracted NASCAR’s top drivers.
Last week, Wood Brothers Racing confirmed it would not bring Berry back for another season. Berry joined the team last year after Harrison Burton gave the team its 100th NASCAR Cup win at Daytona International Speedway in 2024. Berry also won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last year.
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Wood Brothers Racing’s decision continues a pattern. The team placed young or developing drivers, including Trevor Bayne, Ryan Blaney, Burton and Berry, in its famous No. 21 car. Love will now join that list. In a recent episode of his Coffee with Kenny podcast, Wallace reflected on the team’s identity change over the years.
“They really were brand new and the Wood brothers gave them a chance. That’s a far cry from A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, right? So, the Wood brothers used to hire the greatest race. The Wood brothers used to hire the greatest race car drivers of all time, What made them start being a learning race team?” Wallace asked (7:18 onwards).
Wallace questioned why drivers who earned race wins were still being replaced from the No. 21 team, which operates out of Team Penske‘s facilities.
“Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500. Harrison Burton I he won Daytona. Josh Berry won Vegas. Drivers that aren’t thought of as great, but the Wood Brothers take them. They win, then they fire them,” Wallace added.
Wallace also expected that Wood Brothers Racing would cut Berry a break, given that Ford has struggled this season and wondered if there was some disagreement behind the scenes.
Wood Brothers Racing signs former Chevrolet driver Jesse Love from Richard Childress Racing
Defending NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love will join Wood Brothers Racing with just seven Cup starts. The 21-year-old’s best Cup finish so far is 24th in the 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.
“This team has played such an important role in NASCAR history, and the drivers who have sat behind the wheel of this car are some of the greatest our sport has ever seen. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at Wood Brothers Racing, Team Penske and Ford Racing for believing in me,” Love said in a statement.
Love, who was the youngest champion in ARCA Menards Series history at age 16, will leave Richard Childress Racing‘s No. 2 Chevy after this season to join the No. 21 Ford in 2027.
Edited by Palak Gupta
