Josh Berry's No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford is going full stars and stripes for the San Diego race, and the timing could not be more fitting. The Motorcraft and Quick Lane crew revealed the patriotic scheme with a simple line: the No. 21 is taking off to San Diego in stars and stripes to honor the military. For a race being held on an active Navy base, it lands exactly the way it is supposed to.
The Scheme: A Stars-and-Stripes Military Tribute
The design is a red, white, and blue military tribute, with star and stripe elements wrapping the Mustang Dark Horse and the Motorcraft and Quick Lane branding riding along. It is a clean, unmistakably American look, the kind of paint scheme you put on a car when the whole point of the weekend is to salute the people who serve.
This is a one-off built specifically for San Diego. The Wood Brothers are not the only team going this direction either, which is the part that matters for how we grade it. Patriotism is the theme of the entire weekend.
Why San Diego Is a Patriotic Paint Scheme Free-For-All
The San Diego race is the 2026 Anduril 250, run on the Coronado Street Course built right inside Naval Base Coronado. It is the first NASCAR points race ever held on an active United States military installation, the event ties into the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary, and it slots into the schedule where the Chicago Street Race used to sit. Cup runs there on Sunday, June 21, with the weekend streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Because the backdrop is a Navy base and a 250th anniversary, nearly the entire garage rolled out patriotic and military tribute schemes for the weekend. That is the context Berry's car lives in. When everyone leans red, white, and blue, a stars-and-stripes car is the right call, but it is also the expected one.
The Take: A Clean Tribute That Plays It Safe
Here is where we land. We like this paint scheme. The execution is sharp, the colors are crisp, and a patriotic look for a race on a Navy base is the correct instinct, especially with the Wood Brothers' long history as one of the sport's most traditional, all-American teams. The Motorcraft and Quick Lane red carries the theme naturally.
What keeps it from a higher grade is originality. In a field stuffed with patriotic schemes for this exact race, stars and stripes is the safe, predictable choice rather than the one that makes you stop and stare. We wanted one more idea, a specific Navy nod, a ship or a unit dedication, a sharper twist on the flag, something to separate it from every other red-white-and-blue car in the field. It is good. It is just not unforgettable.
There is also a bittersweet layer here. Wood Brothers Racing announced in June that Berry will not return to the No. 21 in 2027, so this San Diego run is part of a final season together. A patriotic tribute in a farewell year is a nice note to go out on.
ColorWay Sports Grade
B
Like it, do not love it. A clean patriotic tribute that plays it a little safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Josh Berry's paint scheme for the San Diego NASCAR race?
Josh Berry's No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford runs a stars-and-stripes military tribute paint scheme for the 2026 San Diego race, a red, white, and blue American flag design with Motorcraft and Quick Lane branding, revealed by the team to honor the military for the race at Naval Base Coronado.
Where is the NASCAR San Diego race held?
The race is held on the Coronado Street Course, a temporary street circuit built inside Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California. It is the first NASCAR points race ever held on an active United States military base.
When is the 2026 San Diego NASCAR Cup race?
The Cup Series runs the Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The race ties into the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary, and the weekend streams on Amazon Prime Video. It took the schedule slot previously held by the Chicago Street Race.
What car and team does Josh Berry drive in 2026?
Josh Berry drives the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Wood Brothers Racing in 2026, his second season with the team after moving over when Stewart-Haas Racing closed. Wood Brothers announced he will not return to the car in 2027.
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