The Wood Brothers are not just surviving, but thriving with Berry

Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team in NASCAR, having competed in the sport’s top level since the early 1950s. They were there as the sport transitioned from a small local series to a national spectacle, racing on the beaches of Daytona and later the high banks, but the iconic No. 21 car nearly disappeared from the track completely not so long ago. During the Great Recession (2007-2009), they were forced to run a partial schedule just to stay in business, at one point only doing 13 races through the year and coming out with little to show for it. But instead of fading into the pages of history like every other team from their era, they persevered. They remained. 

Unfortunately, it seems like persevering and surviving was just about all the single-car team has been able to do in recent years. But no longer. With Josh Berry behind the wheel in 2025, they are quickly becoming a legitimate contender among a competitive field. Sunday’s win in Vegas didn’t feel like another one-hit wonder. It felt like this family-owned and operated team found Victory Lane, and is ready to find it a few more times.

Berry is a perfect fit for the Wood Bros

It’s the first time since 2017 that the Wood Brothers claimed a win on a non-drafting track, and the first time since 1986-1987 that they’ve won in back-to-back seasons. And the key to it all was the decision to hire Josh Berry, who took the hard path to the Cup Series and has a humble background seems to fit in perfectly with this underdog team.

“I think Josh fits us,” said team co-owner Eddie Wood in an interview after Sunday’s victory. “Miles [Stanley, crew chief] fits us. Everything just fits. I used to make fun of people years ago when they would talk about chemistry. Football teams, baseball, all that. Then it kind of bled over into racing. This goes back a few years.

“When things click, they click. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid. I was there when David Pearson and Leonard Wood, my uncle, hooked up. That clicked instantly, like right off the bat.” 

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Eddie Wood

Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

It’s quite the comparison to make, as Pearson is responsible for 43 of the team’s 101 victories including 11 during a single season [1973].

“This feels like everything is clicking,” continued Eddie. “It feels good to win the hundredth one last year with Harrison [Burton]. It was good for him, good for us to get that one, actually to get it. Now to get the next one is just a really big deal to us. Really special.”

Not just another Penske car

And while some equate the No. 21 to just another Penske car due to their technical alliance, Jon Wood [son of Eddie, grandson of Glen] takes issue with that perspective. As the social media admin for the team, he sees all the comments from those ready to pile it on when things go wrong and quick to give credit elsewhere when they go right.

“When we suck, it’s our fault,” said Jon. “But when we do good, (they say) we had nothing to do with it. It’s 100% Penske or something. I think that’s [the] frustrating part. These are our guys that are doing this. We sat in a room and debated who our next driver would be for 2025. It’s Josh Berry. Those are decisions that we made collectively. It’s our race team and our decision.

“I’m probably hypersensitive because I’m not just an admin that, like, laughs it off and doesn’t care because I got my paycheck for the week for doing social media. It hurts a little bit when I see that stuff. But then this happens and the results speak for themselves. I haven’t really had to be super crappy on social lately, defend ourselves. He’s just doing it. That’s the neat part.”

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford; Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

A new golden age for the No. 21?

The results truly do speak for themselves. In just five races, Berry has equaled or surpassed the season totals for top fives and top tens earned by the No. 21 during each of the last three seasons. Berry has also led more laps in those five races than the No. 21 team did in the previous three seasons combined. Vegas certainly doesn’t look like a fluke, but part of an upward trajectory that directly correlates to bringing this grassroots racer to the team.

“Through the years we’ve been through so many ups and downs,” said Eddie. “This sport’s just like every other sport: There’s more downs than there is ups. When you do get in position to be fortunate enough to have the ups, you really appreciate it.

“In racing, it’s always next week. You got another week. You got another opportunity to turn things around if you’re not doing well.

“That’s how I think we’ve survived this long, is just you never give up, you never quit, and you just keep going to the next race. All of a sudden things will start building. You stay on the corner long enough, it will be your turn eventually. That’s kind of the way we are.”

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

It certainly feels like Eddie is right and that the No. 21 is going through a resurgence of sorts. It’s doubtful they’ll be quickly written off as a first-round exit in this year’s playoffs like they were one year ago, and it’s likely not the last we’ve seen of them contending for race wins this season either. And that would be the next achievement to unlock as the Wood Brothers haven’t experienced a multi-win season in 44 years. Neil Bonnett was the last to pull it off, winning three races, over four decades ago, in 1981.