In NASCAR’s storied history, a driver’s career often pivots on unexpected turns, much like a last-lap battle at Martinsville. For Josh Berry, the road from Late Model legend to NASCAR Cup Series winner has been anything but straightforward. After being handed the keys to Kevin Harvick’s prestigious No. 4 car at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024—a dream opportunity by all accounts—Berry found himself “racing for my career again” when SHR announced its shocking closure. Yet, barely a year later, Berry stands on Victory Lane with the iconic Wood Brothers Racing, subtly revealing how organizational structure can determine a driver’s destiny.

Berry’s recent comments following his Las Vegas win with the Wood Brothers drew a stark contrast between his experiences, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes reality that fans rarely witness. Without explicitly criticizing his former team, Berry’s comparison between organizational structures spoke volumes about what was missing during his abbreviated SHR tenure.

“When I was part of HMS for them couple races and even prior to that, being part of JR Motorsports’ deal and having the structure and things going on, I thought was really good for me personally and really good for me as a driver,” Berry said this to Kevin Harvick. “Stepping back into some of that here with the 21 car and Penske, I think is just really allowed me to lean in on the organization a lot and their strengths and just kind of be a little better prepared going to the racetrack.”

The news of SHR’s closure last June left Berry and teammates Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Preece scrambling for 2025 opportunities. Tony Stewart personally delivered the news, meeting with drivers approximately 90 minutes before addressing the entire company. “Tony met with us and then the crew chiefs and then obviously the whole company. And honestly given the circumstance, I think he handled it as good as he could of,” Berry told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. Despite the uncertainty, Berry maintained his professionalism, adding, “Without a doubt I would do it all again, even if I knew the outcome.”

Berry’s performance during this turbulent period spoke for itself. By mid-2024, he had climbed to 20th in points—remarkably consistent with the average position (19.8) of top rookies from the previous four seasons at the same point. His crew chief Rodney Childers became one of his strongest advocates: “I said it at the beginning of the year that Josh Berry’s not gonna fail on my watch,” Childers declared on “DJD Reloaded.” “He’s extremely good and he deserves to be in the Cup Series.” This was evident from his run mid-season during a five-race stretch from Talladega to Charlotte where he finished 16th or better.

Now with the Wood Brothers and Team Penske alliance, Berry has found what he calls “a great home.” His Las Vegas victory, coming early in his tenure with NASCAR’s oldest active team, placed him alongside legendary names who have piloted the No. 21 car to Victory Lane. A list that includes David Pearson, A.J. Foyt, Neil Bonnett, and Ryan Blaney.

The Wood Brothers’ No. 21 represents NASCAR royalty in every sense, with 101 wins spanning seven decades of competition. Founded in 1950 by Glen and Leonard Wood, the team has maintained its family operation through multiple generations. It has also partnered with Ford for over 70 years—the longest such relationship in motorsports.

“The Woods are obviously just amazing people and have had such an impact on the sport,” Berry reflected. “They’re so well respected and so well loved in the industry that it’s really special to get to drive their race car.” Berry’s victory continues the team’s renaissance that began with Ryan Blaney’s breakthrough wins and continued through Harrison Burton’s development.

From Late Model Legend to NASCAR Victory Lane: Berry’s Incredible Journey

Five years ago, Josh Berry was eyeing a career path similar to Bubba Pollard as a renowned short-track racer. He had no expectation of reaching NASCAR’s highest level. “Five years ago, I felt like I was going to be a career short-track racer,” Berry reflected after his Las Vegas win. “I wanted to be Bubba Pollard. I wanted to be the greatest on the short tracks.” His journey took a pivotal turn when JR Motorsports provided him an opportunity in the Xfinity Series in 2021, leading to crucial victories including one at the very same Las Vegas track.

Ironically, Las Vegas Motor Speedway also hosted Berry’s first Next Gen car experience in March 2023. There he substituted for an injured Chase Elliott in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 Chevrolet. Despite finishing 29th in that debut, Berry revealed, “I flew home that night thinking that my career was over because of how I ran that day.” Just one week later, he bounced back with a top-10 at Phoenix and followed with an impressive second-place finish at Richmond in only his sixth Cup start.

Berry’s victory has resonated throughout the NASCAR community. It attracted congratulations from multiple sectors including former crew chief Rodney Childers, JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and competitors like Chase Briscoe and William Byron. Hendrick Motorsports president Jeff Andrews, who worked with Berry during his substitute role, expressed his continued admiration: “Josh is just a solid guy… Hendrick Motorsports, from our perspective, we couldn’t be more proud to see where Josh has ended up and win today. Very, very deserving. Just a good guy, a good race-car driver who works hard and has made his way up through the sport.”

It wasn’t a surprise to see Josh Berry win the Cup Series in Vegas. If anything this was a testament to his perseverance, dedication and hard work to prove his talent on the biggest stage. Now that the playoffs spot is all but secured, Wood Brother Racing will look to script a big underdog story this year. And we just might see another Furniture Row, Martin Truex Jr. kind of story with Josh Berry and the No. 21 team.