NASCAR driver Josh Berry explained why he didn’t wreck Ryan Blaney and allowed his Ford teammate to win in New Hampshire, while Ty Gibbs created a toxic environment at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Blaney secured his place in the Round of 8 after winning the USA Today 301 race, while Berry settled for second. Berry is no longer a playoff contender, but Blaney’s chances of securing the NASCAR championship have increased after his selfless move.

Meanwhile, Gibbs, also out of contention, was wrecked JGR teammate Denny Hamlin at New Hampshire and raced hard against Christopher Bell. Gibbs has been criticized for his approach, but Berry understands it’s no longer about him.

Blaney thanked Berry after the race, as his Ford teammate could have wrecked him and claimed victory at New Hampshire. During a Ford media call this week, Berry said: “I made him work for it, for sure, but I knew if I was able to get up beside him that I was gonna have to be careful. I was gonna have to make sure that nothing bad happened.”

Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing have clarified that drivers should respect their teammates, and Berry has understood the assignment.

Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.

“It’s bigger than you. There’s a company with hundreds of employees,” Berry said. The WBR driver then commented on the mood inside JGR, with reports of a toxic environment after Gibbs threatened playoff contenders Hamlin and Bell.

“I think you need to obviously race your teammates hard, and we’re racing everybody hard,” he said. “But it goes a long way if you just cut your guy a break and hopefully receive it on a later day, but you don’t want to be in a situation like they’re in.”

Hamlin and Bell are both looking to make the Championship 4, but Gibbs made things difficult at New Hampshire. On Lap 111, Gibbs made contact with Hamlin, which led to a wreck, and he raced hard against Bell despite racing for pride.

DON’T MISS

The mood was sour after the race, and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. called Gibbs out for his behavior. “He’s not been a great teammate at times,” Earnhardt said.

“He’s had some moments with, one of the more popularized ones, would be Brandon Jones at Martinsville but there were run-ins with some other folks in some Gibbs Xfinity cars. I just have a hard time trying to figure out Ty Gibbs.

“I’m having a hard time understanding, like, what is his motive? You’re not in the playoffs. You’re his teammate. Like, totally let him go.

“You know, I just don’t get it, I don’t know what his motive is. Like I can understand, maybe he’s not a huge fan of Denny. Maybe him and Denny don’t have much of a relationship. I don’t know. Maybe they have a great relationship, but it doesn’t seem like it.”