LAS VEGAS – Josh Berry clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series victory on Sunday, March 16, 2025, during the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking the 101st win for the storied Wood Brothers Racing team. The victory came at the expense of Daniel Suarez, who finished second, 1.358 seconds behind Berry after fierce competition.
This win not only allowed Berry to break his maiden cup but interrupted Christopher Bell’s impressive three-race winning streak. Berry's triumph was historic, as he became the first driver to secure his inaugural Cup Series victory at this 1.5-mile track.
Berry’s victory is remarkable. It was achieved during only his fifth race with Wood Brothers Racing, just 53 races since he debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series. The 34-year-old from Hendersonville, Tennessee, had previously succeeded on the short track circuit, including two victories at Las Vegas during his career with JR Motorsports. Despite being listed as a 40-to-1 underdog going in, Berry found himself on the winning side of the finish line.
“Oh, man, I don’t even know what to think,” said Berry after his triumphant finish. “Just awesome. I love this track. Las Vegas has been so good to me. So many great moments here. I just can’t believe it.”
The race was filled with drama, particularly during the final laps. After rejoining the grid following the ninth caution—set off by Noah Gragson’s crash—Berry and Suarez found themselves racing side by side on the lap 248 restart. Berry took control of the race on lap 252. He remained consistent, leading the final 16 laps and successfully defended against several aggressive attempts by Suarez to overtake him.
Suarez, who had also shown impressive pace throughout the race, admitted his disappointment but recognized Berry's skill on the track. "Congratulations to the 21 team and Josh," he said. "They did everything right, you know? Our car was fast. We just struggled a little bit in the short run. I felt like we did everything right but just had too much contact on the track, which affected our performance.”
The race was characterized by its high-level competition; there were 32 lead changes among 13 different drivers, and nine caution flags flew throughout the event. Remarkably, Berry led for 18 laps, showcasing both his driving skill and his team's strategic acumen.
Berry’s success is more than just personal; it is indicative of the resilience of Wood Brothers Racing, which is now celebrating its 75th season, establishing this iconic team as one of the oldest and most successful entries in NASCAR history. Team president Jon Wood expressed his elation, praising Berry's abilities: “This one was legit,” he stated. “Sometimes speedway races can feel like they need to have an asterisk, but [Berry] dominated those last 20 laps.”
Ryan Preece rounded out the podium with a solid third-place finish, followed closely by William Byron and Ross Chastain. Preece, reflecting on his performance, stated, “Going as aggressive as we could, putting us in position. I’m happy for Josh.” Byron, who remains at the top of the Cup Series standings, also noted the challenges posed by the changing race conditions.
With this significant victory, Berry puts his name on the map as not only the latest winner for the Wood Brothers but also as the first Nashville-area driver to achieve victory since Sterling Marlin back on March 17, 2002. He is grateful for the opportunities he has received, especially from both the Wood Brothers and Team Penske, stating after the race, “I can’t say enough for Miles Stanley, my crew chief. He’s just so good at what he does, and he believes in me.”
Looking forward, Berry's first Cup win with the Wood Brothers sets the stage for what many hope will be continued success. The NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Berry will aim for another strong performance.