Looking For a Favorite NASCAR Driver? Look No Further Than Josh Berry

Written By Colin Ward

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 9: Josh Berry (21) Motorcraft Ford celebrates his victory in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Photo By Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images

Josh Berry clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, and the 101st win for Wood Brothers Racing in the Pennzoil 400 this past Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Berry, 34, from Hendersonville, Tennessee, is the quintessential driver’s driver in NASCAR. He doesn’t come from a wealthy background or a long line of stock car racers. He’s just a blue-collar guy who worked tirelessly to get his big break in the sport he loves—and he did.

In the late 2000s, Berry worked as a teller at a bank—but when Dale Earnhardt Jr. called to give him a shot at racing Late Model Stocks, he dropped everything and moved to North Carolina.

Nearly three years ago, while Berry was climbing the NASCAR ranks, Earnhardt described Berry as “a Cup champion waiting for a Cup owner who wants to be a Cup champion owner,” in a Twitter post.

Fast forward about a decade, and here we are—a championship-caliber driver winning races for a historic team that desperately needed him.

Reflecting on his victory, Berry told the press: "I'm just really proud of everybody on this [Wood Brothers Racing] team. This is a great group. They build great race cars and it's just been a privilege to drive for them." (NBC Sports)

Berry is the 20th driver to secure a Cup win for Wood Brothers Racing, one of the oldest operating teams in NASCAR. Maybe even more notably, he’s the fourth consecutive driver for the Wood Brothers to achieve his first Cup win in the No. 21 Ford, following in the footsteps of Harrison Burton, Ryan Blaney, and Trevor Bayne.

Berry has quickly adapted to his new home at Wood Brothers Racing this season, with several consistent performances to open the 2025 campaign. The week prior at Phoenix Raceway, Berry placed an impressive fourth.

For anyone looking for a new driver to root for, Josh Berry is an easy pick. His journey from local short track ace to Cup Series winner is a true throwback to how drivers once climbed the ranks, a method that’s become almost extinct in modern NASCAR. 

But here’s the looming question: Is Berry’s success sustainable?

Once upon a time, a driver might begin their long-term success in the NASCAR Cup Series in their mid-30s. But as the sport has become more physically demanding over the years, that’s about the age when performance starts to decline. Most drivers now retire in their early 40s.

At 34 years old, time isn’t exactly on Berry’s side. If he hopes to hoist a Bill France Cup, he’ll need to do it sooner rather than later—and, can Wood Brothers Racing be a true championship contender?

As an affiliate of Team Penske, it could certainly be feasible. Ryan Blaney made a deep playoff run in the No. 21 car before—and Team Penske has won the last three Cup Series titles.

Only time will tell if Berry and the Wood Brothers can sustain their success throughout 2025. But for now, their Las Vegas victory has raised the stakes, put them on the map, and made them part of the playoff conversation.