On March 16, 2025, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway roared to life as Josh Berry etched his name into NASCAR history by securing his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Pennzoil 400. The 34-year-old driver from Hendersonville, Tennessee, delivered a performance that was both thrilling and inspiring, overcoming fierce competition and a challenging race to claim the checkered flag. This monumental win not only marked a personal triumph for Berry but also added another chapter to the storied legacy of Wood Brothers Racing, the oldest active team in NASCAR, which celebrated its 101st victory in the series with this achievement.

The Pennzoil 400, a 267-lap race spanning 400.5 miles on the 1.5-mile oval, was a showcase of strategy, skill, and sheer determination. Berry, piloting the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, started the day in seventh position after a strong qualifying effort. From the outset, the race promised intensity, with 32 lead changes among 13 different drivers—a track record that underscored the competitive nature of the event. The green flag dropped under the bright Nevada sun, and the field quickly settled into a rhythm, with Michael McDowell, the pole-sitter, and Joey Logano trading early leads. Berry, however, remained patient, biding his time and conserving his equipment while keeping himself in contention.

The race unfolded in three stages, each presenting its own set of challenges and opportunities. In the first stage, Austin Cindric emerged victorious, capitalizing on a series of cautions and restarts to take the lead and hold it through the closing laps of the segment. Berry finished eighth in that stage, earning valuable points and maintaining a solid position among the frontrunners. The second stage saw Kyle Larson dominate, leading 61 laps throughout the day and securing the stage win with a combination of speed and smart pit strategy. Berry again stayed in the top 10, crossing the line in eighth place once more, quietly building momentum as the race progressed toward its decisive moments.

What made the Pennzoil 400 particularly chaotic and unpredictable were the nine cautions that slowed the pace for a total of 53 laps. Incidents ranged from tire failures to multi-car tangles, testing the resilience of every team in the field. For Berry and the Wood Brothers crew, these interruptions were both a hurdle and an opportunity. Crew chief Miles Stanley and the pit team executed flawless stops, keeping Berry in contention even as others faltered. A notable moment came around the midway point when Kyle Busch, a hometown favorite, lost a tire and hit the wall, bringing out one of the many yellow flags. Berry avoided trouble, staying clean and positioning himself for the final push.

As the race entered its closing laps, the tension reached a fever pitch. With 19 laps remaining, a restart set the stage for a dramatic showdown between Berry and Daniel Suárez, who had taken the lead after a strong pit stop under caution. Suárez, driving the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, had been a force all day, leading multiple times and showing the speed to contend for the win. But Berry, drawing on his experience at Las Vegas—where he had previously won twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series—found another gear. In a bold move, he overtook Suárez on the outside, reclaiming the lead with 15 laps to go and refusing to look back.

The final stretch was a masterclass in precision and nerve. Berry pulled away, building a gap of 1.358 seconds over Suárez by the time the checkered flag waved. Behind him, the field battled fiercely, with Ryan Preece finishing third in the No. 60 Ford, William Byron taking fourth in the No. 24 Chevrolet, and Ross Chastain rounding out the top five in the No. 1 Chevrolet. The victory lane celebration was an emotional one for Berry, who climbed from his car to a chorus of cheers and immediately credited his team for the success. “Oh, man, I don’t even know what to think,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “Just awesome. I love this track. Las Vegas has been so good to me. So many great moments here.”

For Wood Brothers Racing, the win carried extra significance. The team, founded in 1950 by Glen and Leonard Wood, has a rich history in NASCAR, with iconic drivers like David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Neil Bonnett contributing to its legacy. Berry became the fourth consecutive driver to score his first Cup Series win in the No. 21 Ford, following in the footsteps of legends like Trevor Bayne, Ryan Blaney, and Harrison Burton. This victory, the team’s first of the 2025 season and its first at Las Vegas with Berry at the wheel, reaffirmed their status as a powerhouse despite the ever-evolving landscape of the sport.

Berry’s journey to this moment has been one of perseverance. After cutting his teeth in short-track racing and climbing through the ranks of the Xfinity Series, he made his Cup Series debut in 2021 with Spire Motorsports. His rookie season in 2024 with Stewart-Haas Racing showed promise, but it wasn’t until he joined Wood Brothers Racing for 2025 that he truly found his footing. The partnership with Team Penske, which provides technical support to Wood Brothers, has clearly paid dividends, giving Berry the equipment and confidence to compete at the highest level. “This whole 21 team, everybody at Wood Brothers Racing, they gave me a great car today,” Berry said. “We just battled and battled and battled.”

The implications of this win extend beyond the trophy. In the Cup Series points standings, Berry’s victory vaults him into the playoff conversation early in the season. With five races complete in the 36-race schedule, he joins William Byron and Christopher Bell as drivers with wins in 2025, locking in valuable playoff points. Bell, who entered the race on a three-race winning streak and was aiming to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win four straight, finished 12th after starting at the rear due to a penalty. Meanwhile, Byron, the Daytona 500 winner, leads the regular season points standings, with Berry now firmly in the mix.

As the NASCAR Cup Series moves on to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 on March 23, Berry’s breakthrough performance sets the stage for an exciting season ahead. His ability to thrive under pressure at Las Vegas—a track he admitted has been tough in the Next Gen car—signals that he’s ready to contend with the sport’s elite. For fans, the Pennzoil 400 was a reminder of why they love NASCAR: unpredictable action, emerging stars, and moments of triumph that resonate far beyond the finish line.

In the end, Josh Berry’s first NASCAR Cup Series win was more than just a race victory—it was a statement. A statement of resilience, teamwork, and the enduring spirit of a driver and a team determined to leave their mark. As the confetti fell in Las Vegas, Berry stood atop the racing world, a first-time winner with the promise of more to come. For him, for Wood Brothers Racing, and for NASCAR fans everywhere, March 16, 2025, will be remembered as the day a new chapter began.