Josh Berry is capturing NASCAR’s attention this season, leading Wood Brothers Racing (WBR) into a new era of competitiveness and hope. With his first career Cup Series win earned recently in Las Vegas, Berry has clinched a playoff spot for the 2025 season, marking a pivotal turnaround for both himself and the historic team. After years of being considered among the most underrated drivers in NASCAR, Berry’s standout performances are igniting energy and belief throughout Wood Brothers Racing and the wider NASCAR community, raising exciting questions about his future trajectory and the team’s resurgent fortune.
Having established his reputation over nearly a decade with JR Motorsports, where Berry accumulated a remarkable 100 victories—including five in the Xfinity Series and 95 in late model competition—he was long seen as an exceptional talent whose abilities weren’t fully recognized at NASCAR’s highest level. Opportunities for a full-time Cup drive often proved elusive, with many wondering why such a capable driver had to wait so long for his break. The situation changed when Berry finally secured a seat last year with Stewart-Haas Racing, but despite high expectations, the team’s internal struggles and eventual closure curtailed Berry’s chances, leaving him with no wins and a lowly 27th-place finish in the season standings.
Reflecting on that difficult chapter, Berry openly acknowledged,
“I think in a way I left the situation last year kind of questioning if I could race at this level.”
The move to Wood Brothers Racing has since reignited both his confidence and his career. The boost was immediate and striking—his Las Vegas victory marked a turning point not just for Berry but for a team steeped in NASCAR history, and he has already led 169 laps in the current season. This total represents the third-most laps led by a WBR driver in more than 40 years, trailing only Ryan Blaney and Buddy Baker’s single-season records, and with 25 races remaining, Berry is in prime position to further stamp his mark on the season.
Berry has repeatedly expressed the sense of excitement and motivation fueling his resurgence, noting,
“It’s been really exciting, honestly. It’s just built up everybody’s confidence and we’re having a lot of fun.”
He added,
“After you win a race, people are like, ‘Oh, do you have pressure off of you now that you’ve won a race and do you feel that much different?’ If anything, I feel more motivated and more excited waking up every day.”
Such statements reveal just how vital this season has been—not only in terms of Berry’s own drive but also for the atmosphere and expectation within Wood Brothers Racing.
Yet, Berry’s success story has also included its share of setbacks, prompting a candid reflection from the driver himself. While he boasts one win, he has just one more top-five finish and has struggled for consistency, failing to notch other top-10 results during the first 11 races. Seven finishes of 25th or worse, including three DNFs resulting from crashes, have underlined the challenges of racing at NASCAR’s elite level. Even with his win, Berry currently sits 24th in the standings, the lowest of any driver to score a victory so far this season. The message is clear: for Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing, brilliance must be matched with greater consistency if the team is to sustain its momentum and capitalize fully on this promising new chapter.
Berry is the first to admit there is work to do.
“Obviously, we’ve definitely left some points on the table, but the biggest thing is just how you’re running,”
he explained. He pointed out that the team has been qualifying well and routinely battling near the front, but that varying circumstances have resulted in disappointing finishes.
“Each race that the finish got away from us is for different reasons, I feel like,”
Berry said.
“We’re fast and we’re competitive and just have to keep working on the execution side of things and learning. But I feel like we’re in a really good spot.”
For Berry, the combination of frustration over missed opportunities and excitement for what lies ahead drives him to improve, both in execution on race day and in learning from adversity.
Even tough moments—like the three DNFs—are seen as valuable learning experiences rather than just setbacks.
“I think at times I could be a little bit more patient, I guess,”
Berry conceded, reflecting on the fine line between racing aggressively and playing the long game. He explained,
“I think the biggest thing is… maybe not being so focused on just being fast and being competitive, considering that we’ve been doing that.”
This self-awareness and willingness to adapt suggest Berry is prepared to evolve, a must-have trait for anyone seeking lasting success in NASCAR’s demanding ecosystem.
Crucial to Berry’s progress is the support network around him. Wood Brothers Racing operates as a satellite team for Team Penske, one of the sport’s powerhouse organizations. That alliance brings the added benefit of access to champions like Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, as well as fellow driver Austin Cindric. Those relationships have proven vital for Berry’s development.
“There’s a lot of structure here, which I think works really well for me,”
he noted.
“It’s not anything that I mind, and I feel like I’ve just gotten in a good routine of preparing each and every week.”
Berry further emphasized the influence of his accomplished teammates, saying,
“The biggest thing too is having teammates like Joey and Ryan and Austin to talk to that run as well as they do. You’ve got championships and lots of wins that just elevate it. Being in this environment has helped me grow a lot. I feel better prepared going to the races.”
That sense of preparation and belonging is already translating into tangible results, with Berry and his entire crew motivated by the progress thus far.
“All in all, everybody has done such a good job and the cars have been really fast and I’ve learned a tremendous amount here in a couple months of being in this environment. That makes me excited for the second half of the year, for sure,”
an enthusiastic Berry shared.
Looking ahead, the resurgence driven by Josh Berry could mark a new golden era for Wood Brothers Racing, provided they address the consistency that’s so vital in NASCAR’s rigorous schedule. If Berry can match his race-winning pace with reliable finishes week in and week out, he may well establish himself as one of the season’s biggest stories and secure a deeper playoff run for WBR. For now, fans and analysts alike are watching closely, eager to see whether Josh Berry’s breakout year is just the beginning of a lasting Wood Brothers Racing NASCAR resurgence that blends history, talent, and ambitious hope for the future.
