Sunday, March 16, was a milestone day for Josh Berry, as he secured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was a moment he had worked toward his entire life, a moment filled with emotion, celebration, and reflection. But when it came time for the traditional postrace burnout, Berry did something unexpected—he skipped it.
A Celebration With Meaning
After taking the checkered flag, most drivers would have lit up their tires, filling the air with smoke in a display of raw emotion. But Berry chose a different approach, one inspired by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. and rooted in his own blue-collar racing background.
“There’s a couple reasons,” Berry explained in his postrace interview. “Over the offseason, I found myself watching the 2014 Daytona 500 when Dale won. He went down to Turn 1, swung around, took his stuff off, and just waved at the fans. That moment stuck with me.”
Instead of tearing up his car in celebration, Berry followed in Dale Jr.’s footsteps, soaking in the moment and acknowledging the fans—the people who had supported him throughout his journey.
A Nod to His Short-Track Roots
But his decision wasn’t just about Earnhardt’s influence. For Berry, a self-made racer who climbed the ranks the hard way, there was a practical reason, too.
“I think back to Saturday night short-track racing—we wouldn’t have that type of celebration because you couldn’t blow the quarter panels up, blow the motor, or tear the car to hell after the race,” he said.
Berry, now racing in NASCAR’s biggest series, hasn’t forgotten where he came from. He’s spent years building and working on his own cars, understanding their value in a way few drivers do.
“That’s just who I am,” he continued. “I’ve spent my whole life working on my own race cars, building race cars, and I’ve gotten my ass chewed a couple times for doing burnouts when I shouldn’t and tearing stuff up. I just wanted to soak in the moment.”
A Journey Years in the Making
Berry’s first Cup Series win wasn’t just another victory—it was a moment of validation. A driver who once wondered if he’d ever get a shot at NASCAR’s highest level had now put his name in the record books.
At 34, Berry took an unconventional route to the Cup Series. Unlike many of his competitors who rose through the ranks with big sponsorships and elite development programs, Berry earned his way up through grassroots racing. His career took a significant leap when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports gave him a shot in the Xfinity Series, where he secured three wins and multiple top-five finishes over two seasons.
Now, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, he’s proven that he belongs at the top level. His Las Vegas victory, where he passed Daniel Suárez with 16 laps to go and held onto the lead, wasn’t just his first Cup win—it was also Wood Brothers Racing’s first win of the season.
A Win for the Fans
By skipping the burnout, Josh Berry made a statement—racing is about more than just raw speed; it’s about the journey, the passion, and the people who support you along the way.
For a driver who has spent years grinding his way through the sport, this win meant everything. And as he stood by his car, looking up at the fans instead of into a cloud of smoke, it was clear that he understood just how special the moment truly was.
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