A historic moment unfolded at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as Josh Berry clinched his maiden victory in the Cup Series during the Pennzoil 400, marking the 101st success for one of NASCAR’s most venerable teams, the Wood Brothers Racing. This outcome came as quite a surprise, particularly since Christopher Bell had been on track to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive win and considering Kyle Larson’s consistent excellence on this type of racetrack over the past few seasons.
Nevertheless, the No. 21 Ford was the first to reach the finish line, leading to exuberant celebrations within Berry’s pit crew. As anticipated, the driver from Tennessee expressed great joy over the result and acknowledged everyone involved during the postrace interview.
Josh Berry is finally realizing his NASCAR dreams.
Josh Berry needed just five races to achieve victory. Indeed, this accomplishment came quicker than many anticipated. At 34 years old, he secured his place as the 20th winner for Wood Brothers Racing following intense competition at the 1.5-mile course. During lap 254, Berry engaged in a fierce battle with Daniel Suarez for the top spot before ultimately seizing control and finishing 1.35 seconds ahead of him. To call Berry’s success an underdog tale would be putting it mildly; few expected the Nashville-localized competitor to mount such a strong challenge, much less clinch the win here in Las Vegas.
Giving acknowledgment appropriately during the post-rrace interview, Josh Berry couldn't resist saying, " It's simply amazing how supportive they've been towards me. The connection has been fantastic. Whether it's the team at Wood Brothers Racing or even those at Team Penske, everybody has embraced me warmly. They're all putting in efforts to speed up my learning curve however possible. There aren't adequate words for describing Miles Stanley; his expertise truly shines through our collaborative success."
Now that the curse is broken, Josh Berry can look forward optimistically to the upcoming season. He has managed to clinch a playoff berth, which seemed less likely after each race. Through careful driving to avoid crashes, flawless pit stop executions, and daring overtakes, the driver of the No. 21 Ford has claimed an impressive victory, overcoming his Next-Gen challenges. Was this success achievable without Team Penske’s technical partnership? Wood Brothers Racing It’s improbable. However, the 34-year-old won’t have anything to complain about as he heads toward the podium.
With just 53 Cup Series Initially, Berry has already gained recognition as something of a wanderer. In 2021, he began his racing career substituting at Spire Motorsports. The following year, in 2023, he returned to the Cup Series, filling in for both Hendrick Motorsports and Legacy Motor Club. Later on, he secured a permanent position with Stewart-Haas Racing; however, this opportunity came to an abrupt halt when the team disbanded by year-end. Despite these ups and downs, Berry can hardly imagine a more perfect beginning than what he experienced starting out with Wood Brothers Racing.
The Wood Brothers Racing secure their second debut victor.
The challenges have been significant. Since the formation of Wood Brothers Racing back in 1950, the team has faced numerous hurdles including financial difficulties, shifts in management, and erratic performance along with frequent driver turnovers. Navigating this unpredictable path has not been easy for the NASCAR squad as they've found it tough to keep up with the evolving standards of contemporary stock car racing. However, last year brought some light when Harrison Burton secured victory at Daytona, finally breaking their eight-year drought without a win. Ryan Blaney securing the final victory in 2018.
Interestingly, the past five drivers (including Berry) who won with the No. 21 car were all first-time winners. Sharing his thoughts on the outcome for the team, the driver from Tennessee stated, " I'm genuinely proud of everyone on this team. It's an excellent collective. They construct outstanding racing vehicles, and it has been an honor to pilot one of their machines. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. There are countless individuals who deserve thanks for bringing me to this point, yet achieving victory in the Cup Series is truly remarkable."
Now that Josh Berry has achieved victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway , the No. 21 Ford squad can relax, as they've secured their place in the playoffs. Although contending for the title might appear too early at this juncture of the season, unexpected turnarounds aren’t unheard of in NASCAR. The Wood Brother Racing hopes that with his age being 34, he’ll capitalize on this achievement and make a significant push during the postseason later this year.
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