In Vegas, people come to roll on their lucks with few even changing their fortunes overnight. The weekend’s race showcased that true spirit of Las Vegas. “Driving for the Wood Brothers, I earned my first NASCAR Cup win.” Josh Berry reflected on his historic day. His wife Ginny Berry’s candid pre-race picture captured the nerves and hope before the big moment. It’s a legacy moment with Bell’s near-miss adding drama, but Berry’s steady hand trumped the chaos. NASCAR.com’s video of the final laps named “Sin City Sweetness,” showed it all: Berry’s focus, his team’s belief, and that checkered flag.
Let’s just take a moment to soak in Josh Berry’s incredible moment at Las Vegas. It was pure magic. The 99,000-strong crowd at Las Vegas Motor Speedway roared as Berry crossed the line, ending a 51-race winless streak for the legendary team and notching their 101st victory. It’s the kind of triumph that will inspire more victories for his team.
Even veterans rally behind Josh Berry’s unwavering spirit
From Cars Tour roots to five Xfinity wins, he’s been grinding, and this season with Wood Brothers has been a rollercoaster. At Vegas, he outran Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick, showing the grit that earned him props from Mark Martin, who explained Berry’s no-burnout moment post-race, “He didn’t know what to do… he was just so overwhelmed.” It’s hard not to love this guy for his honesty. Even at a Goodyear tire test in Phoenix, Berry, alongside Reddick and Austin Dillon, gave a straight-up take: “We find a solid answer”, proving his focus on the details.
Then there’s Eddie D’Hondt, a former Hendrick Motorsports veteran, whose voice added such heart to this win. On X, he posted: “We all work so very hard to reach our goals & truth.. we are one big traveling family. In saying that, I am sooooo very happy for @joshberry his wife Ginny & his family. They have put in the work & suffered the pain & now, they have hit the mark they have worked so very hard for.” That’s the kind of sentiment that gets you teary-eyed. Eddie’s seen the struggles, the late nights, and now, the payoff for Berry, Ginny, and their crew.
We all work so very hard to reach our goals & truth..we are one big traveling family. In saying that, I am sooooo very happy for @joshberry his wife Ginny & his family. They have put in the work & suffered the pain & now, they have hit the mark they have worked so very hard for
— TheEddieD’ (@TheEddieDHondt) March 17, 2025
Before Wood Brothers, Berry spent 2024 with Stewart-Haas Racing, replacing Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Ford. That year was tough—early struggles, a team closure announcement in May, and only seven finishes of 16th or better in the last 10 races. This wasn’t just a win; it was validation for a guy who’s poured everything into this sport. As Mark Martin put it, Berry’s overwhelm was real, but so was his triumph. Vegas proved it. Josh Berry’s star is rising, and we’re all here for it, cheering alongside Eddie and the NASCAR family. What a day.
The post-race reactions were electric. Fans lit up with this victory. While Berry himself kept it real about racing for Dale Jr, “That door’s definitely still open,” hinting at future possibilities. Even Wood Brothers’ boss aired frustration at Penske’s pact but rallied behind Berry, “When it’s good, it’s nothing to it… when it sucks, it’s my fault.”
How drivers reacted to a breakthrough moment
Josh Berry’s driving for Wood Brothers Racing clinched the Pennzoil 400, notching the team’s 101st victory. That checkered flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a huge deal for Berry, the team, and the whole NASCAR family. We’re still feeling the celebration jitters and the drivers’ reactions after the race show they felt it too.
Berry’s post-race words, shared by NBC Sports, were raw: “I’m just really proud of everybody on this (Wood Brothers) team. This is a great group. They build great race cars and it’s just been a privilege to drive for them. I’m just so really thankful to be here.” You can hear the relief and joy that he’s been chasing this since his Xfinity days, and now, in his 53rd Cup start, it’s here. Teammate Harrison Burton added perspective, “Got him a good push down the frontstretch and through the restart zone; another one into (turn) one and another one into three. We stayed connected well. It was aggressive, but it got him to the lead. And then he just bottomed out too hard with his car and let Josh (Berry) inside of him a couple laps into that run.” That teamwork? It’s what sealed the deal.
Christopher Bell, who finished 12th after his own struggles, kept it real, “I’m just really proud of everybody on this (Wood Brothers) team. This is a great group. They build great race cars and it’s just been a privilege to drive for them. I’m just so really thankful to be here.” His respect for Berry’s moment shines through, even after his streak ended. Ryan Blaney, who had a tough day, admitted, “I thought that the performance in the car wasn’t what held us back,” showing the field’s high stakes.
This win means everything for the Wood Brothers and proves Berry’s never-say-die attitude after joining the team post-Stewart-Haas. These drivers’ words capture the respect and emotion around Berry’s hard-fought victory. It’s a big moment, and we’re all here for it.
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