In Las Vegas, Josh Berry achieved a significant milestone in his racing career by clinching his first Cup Series victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Having spent years as a journeyman racer on the local short-track circuit, Berry caught the attention of NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who supported Berry’s ascent in the sport. His success in the Xfinity Series, where he garnered five wins with JR Motorsports, opened the door for him to step up into the Cup Series. Last year, he secured a full-time position with Stewart-Haas Racing. However, after SHR’s closure at the end of the last season, Berry found himself seeking new opportunities. Wood Brothers Racing quickly picked him up, and in just his fifth race with the team, he delivered a triumphant victory, marking Wood Brothers Racing’s return to victory lane.
Berry expressed his gratitude for being in his current position, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of racing. He noted the influence of his short-track experience, which he now brings to the bigger stages of NASCAR. Driving the iconic No. 21 Ford, Berry’s win was also the first for Ford in the Cup Series this season, breaking a string of wins by Chevrolet and Toyota. Berry managed to overtake Daniel Suarez after a restart with 19 laps remaining, cementing his lead until the finish line. His victory was noted as the first on a non-superspeedway track for Wood Brothers since Ryan Blaney’s win at Pocono in 2017.
Team President Jon Wood lauded Berry’s performance, emphasizing the legitimacy of the victory. Celebrating their 75th season in NASCAR, the Wood Brothers were thrilled with Berry’s performance, which reflected their long-standing competitive spirit. Berry showcased remarkable resilience in a challenging race, especially with his intense battle against Suarez in the final segments.
In the standing lineup, Suarez came in second driving for Trackhouse Racing in a Chevrolet, while Ryan Preece achieved third for RFK Racing. The finish saw a strong presence from Chevrolet, with William Byron and Ross Chastain both securing top positions, and Chevy drivers clinching seven of the top 10 spots. Despite Joey Logano’s earlier lead, a strategic caution due to Noah Gragson’s incident allowed Berry an opportunity to overtake Suarez.
Berry’s triumph came at his 53rd Cup race and infused Wood Brothers with vigor, positioning them well for the playoffs. Significantly, Berry’s journey to this achievement underscored the dynamic alliances in the sport, with influence from Team Penske contributing to the selection of drivers for the Wood Brothers’ team.
Christopher Bell, who arrived in Las Vegas on a successful streak of three consecutive wins, faced a challenging race day. An unexpected mechanical issue with the No. 20 Toyota forced Bell to start from the back, diminishing his chances of securing a fourth consecutive win. Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing team faced a challenging day, with Bell finishing at 12th place, the highest among the team’s drivers. Despite this setback, Bell’s performance in the recent races underlines his skill and competitiveness.
The NASCAR Cup Series looks forward to the next race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a venue which had been a pivotal playoff stage in recent years. This race now serves as a spring event, and drivers like Tyler Reddick and Bell, past victors at the track, are expected to pursue triumph actively.
