On March 17, 2025, Berry pulled off something huge by winning the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driving the No. 21 Ford for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing. It was his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, and the garage was buzzing. This wasn’t just a win, it was a moment that got everyone talking, from teammates to rivals to legends of the sport. Berry, the underdog who’s fought his way up, is soaking in every second of it.

NASCAR universe can’t get enough of Josh Berry

Josh Berry’s 2025 Pennzoil 400 win sparked joy across NASCAR. Fellow Ford driver Austin Cindric said, “He’s done each step of the way right and obviously had the car today and got the job done. It’s really that simple. It’s cool to see, and cool to see the guys in the shop that are excited; the Wood Brothers and everybody. So yeah, if I can’t win one of these and my other two guys can’t, he’s the guy. It’s a cool group because there’s a lot of first-time winners.” His close friend William Byron, finishing fourth, added, “We grew up all the way back to iRacing days racing each other. So, good for him. Happy for them. He’s definitely been a contender.” Congrats poured in even from his 2024 crew chief Rodney Childers and JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller.

And then there’s Berry himself, taking it all in with a grin. “It was a very popular win,” he said after the race. “It just goes to show you a ton of the respect that the garage has for the Wood Brothers is a big part of that, and their legacy and history in this sport really is something a lot of people appreciate a lot. And I think, yeah, my story, it’s such a unique one, right, and I’ve been a part of a lot of different programs, a lot of different race teams…. Kyle Larson came to Victory Lane, that’s somebody that I’ve, you know, spent a good bit of time with, and to have guys like that excited for us and appreciate what we were able to accomplish is really cool.” You can hear the emotion in his voice and he knows this is bigger than just him.

 

The respect kept pouring in. Richard Petty, a name that echoes through NASCAR history, gave Berry a nod for his humble celebration. Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t hold back either, comparing it to a ‘90s sports movie moment. Even Berry’s subtle victory move which was nothing flashy, inspired by the sport’s old-school heroes, Berry stood up on his car and embraced the crowd.

Looking back on Josh Berry’s path, Denny Hamlin said, “It is so refreshing and great to see a self-made Cup Series driver like Josh to be successful.” Hamlin saw his own story in Berry’s rise. Neither had rich families or big sponsors behind them; they honed their skills on short tracks, grinding it out until NASCAR’s top teams took notice.

Even Berry’s own crew chief Morgan Stanley was shocked with the win. “No, honestly, I didn’t. I mean, we talked through everything that we kind of planned on expectations for the season and everything in the off-season. And this was not one of the things I had pegged to be a winning option for us or one of the races we would be really strong at. I was surprised. Honestly, I’m still surprised.” 

This victory wasn’t just a fluke it’s been building. It started back in 2020 at Ace Speedway. Racing Late Models for Junior Johnson Motorsports, Berry wrecked Bobby McCarty on purpose during a CARS Tour event. Josh Berry’s suspension laid the foundation for his current success as he grabbed the opportunity presented to him.

Disqualified and banned for a race, he shifted gears, dominating weekly racing with over 20 wins to snag the 2020 NASCAR Weekly Series title. That grit caught Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s eye at JR Motorsports. In 2021, Berry jumped to the Xfinity Series part-time, winning his first race at Martinsville. By 2022, he was full-time, racking up five victories and a Championship 4 spot.

Berry’s not just celebrating a trophy; he’s feeling the love from a sport that’s watched him climb from the bottom. This win’s got everyone rooting for him, and Berry? He’s just happy to be here, proving he belongs.

Berry had a blast from the past for his hero

That night in Vegas, Berry stood in his car feeling the love from the stands. It was messy, loud, and perfect. “I’m living my dream,” he told Dale Jr. And honestly it feels like one of the best moments right off a sports flick. Berry’s been grinding for years. From short tracks with JR Motorsports to stepping up in the Xfinity Series, he’s had Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his corner. That bond paid off big time in Vegas.

On

The Dale Jr. Download, Berry spilled his guts about the win, saying, “A lot of what I did was from your celebration that night.” He was talking about Dale Jr.’s iconic 2014 Daytona 500 win, how Junior climbed out, stood on his car, and soaked in the crowd’s roar. Berry wanted that same raw, real moment, and he got it. “I thought about what I’d do if I won,” he said, “and Junior, you influenced that a lot.”

Berry’s NASCAR dreams seemed distant for a long part of his life. He worked as a bank teller and raced Legend Cars at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, funding his passion out of pocket. When Josh Berry came to Vegas he had a chip on his shoulder. He left the track like George Clooney after his heist in Ocean’s 11. We hope just like the movie we’ll see a lot of sequels to Berry’s entertaining act soon.