“I’m trying my da—-est to make him understand what a throwback is, but they use words like livery and revival,” said Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing, chuckling as he recalled his chat with Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s son. The moment unfolded at the Henry Ford museum, where a new chapter of NASCAR history was about to take shape.

Darlington Raceway, dubbed “The Lady in Black,” has tested drivers since its 1950 debut, like the moment when winner Johnny Mantz crawled to victory at 76 mph, nursing his tires on the brutal asphalt. This year’s Throwback Weekend promises a fresh twist on that legacy.

A young driver tied to Dale Earnhardt Jr. steps up at Darlington, carrying a story that stretches back decades. What could a 90-year-old racing legend possibly pass down to spark this moment? 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s rising star, Josh Berry, will drive the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at the 2025 Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Wood Brothers Racing unveiled its throwback scheme, honoring Jim Clark’s 1965 Indy 500 win in a Ford-powered Lotus 38. The heart of the story lies with Leonard Wood, the 90-year-old team co-founder, who gifted Berry a piece of memorabilia from that race, a personal token tying the young driver to a historic triumph.

“Yeah, I know it’s a really cool story obviously the Wood Brothers pitted Jim Clark’s, you know, Lotus Ford-powered Lotus in the Indy 500 and, you know, that’s what we’re throwing back to because they obviously won the race but it was really cool,” Berry told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Lee Spencer. He continued: “The stories from Leonard about how much it meant to him, you know, you think somebody that’s been in NASCAR for 75 years accomplished all these amazing things for him to say that, you know, that moment was one of the most memorable that he’s had in his entire life really puts into perspective how big of a moment it was.”

Jon Wood’s lighthearted struggle to explain “throwback” to Colin Chapman’s son mirrors this, Leonard’s memory underscores how that Indy win transcended racing, uniting NASCAR and open-wheel worlds in a rare feat of legacy. That 1965 victory hinged on more than speed. “There’s a lot of ingenuity that the Wood Brothers brought to that team to, you know, speed up the pit stops and, you know, Len and Eddie they got all that down to like the seconds that they saved they knew the story way better than me but all in all it’s a, it’s just, it’s just a really cool deal and, you know, it’s Ford’s first win in the Indy 500 so it’s a lot of, lot of cool moments we’re excited for it,” Berry said.

The venturi tube system they pioneered slashed refueling to 15 seconds, a game-changer that echoed their NASCAR pit mastery, like when they helped David Pearson dominate the 1976 Daytona 500 with flawless stops despite a late crash. Clark’s win was Ford’s Indy breakthrough, and Leonard’s pride in it still burns bright. The car’s British Racing Green paint and vintage script nod to the Lotus 38, displayed beside it at the museum unveiling. Berry, coming off his first Cup Series victory in Las Vegas, feels the honor deeply.

The Darlington scheme blends nostalgia with pride, a tribute to Ford’s Indy milestone. “Get a look at the historic scheme slated to race at Darlington this year,” NASCAR.com noted, spotlighting the team’s milestone season. Glen Wood once raced a Ford Falcon at Indy’s dirt track in 1963, showing their crossover chops. Berry’s ride, marked with the team’s 101st win sticker, adds a modern layer to their legacy.

Looking ahead, the Goodyear 400 could inspire more historical tributes. Picture a future scheme honoring the 1988 Daytona 500, where Bobby Allison beat his son Davey in a family showdown. For now, Leonard’s gift to Berry ties past to present, a quiet reminder that racing thrives on stories as much as speed.

Josh Berry gears up for a massive home race for Wood Brothers Racing

73 years ago, Wood Brothers Racing was set up just as NASCAR was finding its place in the motorsports world. And as NASCAR grew, so did the team, turning a family-owned racing business continued its legacy, handing down the reins across three generations. Sure, they relocated to Charlotte a few decades ago, but their heart lies in Martinsville. That’s because it was in the mountain town of Stuart, where the Wood Brothers Racing team was founded, barely 30 minutes west of Martinsville.

And it shouldn’t be a surprise that when it came to starting in NASCAR, Martinsville was the track the team entered their first entry into, in May 1953. As the team finds its footing after an incredible 101st win that came in incredible fashion, it was bound to get the drivers emotional.

“Seeing all the photos in the tunnel walking in here was really cool. Obviously, they’re really close by, so it’s a home race. So we’re going to try to do our best to have a good weekend,” explained Josh Berry. While it may have been a moment of madness for Berry, it was a historical moment for the team. Not only did the win seal a spot in the playoffs months anyone expected, it was also the team’s first time since the 1980s that they have won a race in consecutive seasons.

Even Ryan Blaney, a former driver of the team, couldn’t help but admire them. “I have a lot of fond memories with them. It was pretty neat just to be in their presence and be racing for a team that has meant so much to the sport and the sport so much to their family as well. No one is going to be around for 75 years if they don’t really care about what they do and don’t love it with a passion.”