As the checkered flag dropped at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, one man stood in absolute shock—Miles Stanley, the crew chief of the No. 21 Ford. Just a few months ago he had joined the struggling Wood Brothers Racing to lead their new signing, Josh Berry. Now, he was watching him pull off an unexpected yet dominant victory. Stanley was in disbelief as he admitted he never saw this coming.

“No, honestly, I didn’t. We talked about expectations for the season, but this was not one of the races I had pegged as a winning option for us. I was surprised. Honestly, I’m still surprised,” he told the media. Stanley’s reaction made sense. The Wood Brothers hadn’t won a race on a non-drafting track since 2017. Berry, in just his second full-time Cup season, was adjusting to a new team after a turbulent 2024 campaign with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Many fans and experts expected him to need time to settle in. Instead, he delivered a performance that left the garage stunned. But as celebrations continued, whispers of “fluke” surrounded his win. Some critics were quick to call it an upset, suggesting that it was more about circumstances than skill. Now, almost a week after the win, Berry has come out to shut down his doubters.

Josh Berry reflects on his hard-earned win!

Josh Berry’s path to victory wasn’t easy. He capitalized on a caution at lap 195, which shook up the race and stripped control from Stage 2 winner Kyle Larson. When the final caution came at lap 243, Berry executed a flawless restart, beating Suarez in a tense battle to the finish. His skill behind the wheel and his team’s well-timed strategy made all the difference. But despite his impressive drive, some labelled the win as an upset.

However, ahead of the Homestead-Miami race Berry set the record straight. Speaking to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, he dismissed any notion that his win was a lucky break. “This winning races in the Cup Series is a big deal, and it’s so incredibly difficult. So, I’m not taking that moment for granted. But at the same time, I want to keep pushing forward and keep getting better… I don’t feel like this is the last one. Sunday was considered an upset at least, but not a fluke,” said Berry.

Berry’s words carried real confidence and they matched his results. His Vegas win may have surprised some, but it was part of an upward trend. In Atlanta, a late-race incident robbed him of a potential top-five finish. But at Phoenix, he started and finished fourth, proving that he could run with the best. His performance in the No. 21 car had already surpassed what the team had accomplished in previous seasons.

Notably, Harrison Burton, who drove the No. 21 for three seasons before Berry, had only managed six top-10 finishes during that span. Berry, in just a few races, was already making the car more competitive. The schedule hadn’t even reached the short tracks where he excels, like Richmond and Martinsville, yet he had already secured a playoff spot. This wasn’t luck—it was a driver hitting his stride.

However, Berry’s path to this moment wasn’t easy. He built his name in late-model racing, earning 21 wins in the CARS Late Model Tour and the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship. His big break came when Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave him an opportunity in the Xfinity Series, where he proved himself with five wins. But his Cup Series debut in 2024 with Stewart-Haas Racing was far from smooth.

The Tennessee native managed just four top-10s and endured a brutal wreck at Daytona that flipped his car upside down. Then came a DVP penalty in Michigan. Despite the setbacks, Berry remained focused. Now, with Wood Brothers Racing, he had proven he belonged. Berry’s win had silenced many doubters, but it also caught the attention of one of the sport’s biggest names. Denny Hamlin, a Cup Series veteran, had high praise for Berry and what his victory meant for the season ahead.

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Denny Hamlin warns NASCAR garage!

While many questioned Josh Berry’s win Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin didn’t hesitate to recognize its significance. On his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin acknowledged that most teams hadn’t accounted for the No. 21 car being a legitimate playoff contender. He even claimed that Berry can go even big in Playoffs as he is driving really well.

“I’m not sure any of the other teams budgeted the 21 car and Josh Berry to be in the playoffs taking a spot. He’s not just taking a spot. He’s someone that could go in there and win, get into a couple of rounds deeper than just the Round of 16, the way he’s running,” said Hamlin. For a driver like Berry, that kind of praise from a veteran like Hamlin is significant. However, Hamlin was not alone who is praising Berry.

Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe, two drivers who raced alongside Berry in 2024, also had no doubts about his ability. “I expected him to win,” Preece said. “Maybe other people didn’t, but I know Josh is capable. Josh was gonna win a race. There was never a question,” Briscoe echoed that sentiment. Notably, Berry’s mentor, Dale Earnhardt Jr., has long believed he had the talent to become a Cup Series champion.

Now, with a playoff berth secured early in the season, Berry could focus on refining his performance without the pressure of fighting for a spot in the postseason. If Berry continues this form, he won’t just be a surprise playoff driver—he could be a serious championship contender.