Lap 1 crash in Southern 500 impacts multiple playoff drivers

NASCAR Cup Series driver Josh Berry (21) drives down pit road on the first lap during the Cookouts Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Lap 1 crash in Southern 500 impacts multiple NASCAR playoff drivers

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 6:30 PM ET

Less than half a lap into the NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, multiple playoff drivers found out how ruthless 'The Lady in Black' can be.

As Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe led the field to the green flag for the 76th running of the Southern 500 and the field came up to speed, Josh Berry's No. 21 Ford snapped loose in Turn 2.

16 enter, but only one can be champion.

The #NASCARPlayoffs kick off now with the #Southern500 at @TooToughToTame but there's trouble early! pic.twitter.com/eTBDcitTb5
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 31, 2025

Berry made contact with Tyler Reddick and spun up into the Turn 2 wall before sliding down the track.

Multiple drivers in the back of the field were forced to slam on their brakes in order to avoid Berry, who got the worst end of the Lap 1 incident.

Berry, who earned a playoff berth by virtue of his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, was forced to take his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford behind the wall. Reddick, meanwhile, was able to continue with only cosmetic damage. Berry was the only driver to fall off of the lead lap due to the crash.

The crown jewel race is the first of three events that make up the Round of 16 in the Cup Series playoffs.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

More must-reads: