If you’ve been keeping an eye on NASCAR this year, you’ve probably noticed one name starting to pop up a lot more than usual—Josh Berry. The sport’s most underrated driver is now making some real noise in the Cup Series. And he’s doing it in one of the most legendary cars in the sport—Wood Brothers Racing’s No. 21 Ford.
Berry’s not just racing; he’s chasing history. And if things keep going the way they are at the moment, he might just catch up to a familiar name—Ryan Blaney.
Josh Berry: From Underdog to WBR Record-Chaser
For nearly a decade, Berry had been grinding it out with JR Motorsports. He racked up wins in late models, grabbed five wins in the Xfinity Series, and earned a whole lot of respect along the way. But as good as he was, a full-time Cup opportunity just didn’t come around—until last year.
He finally got his shot with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, but as we all know, that ship was already sinking. SHR closed its doors after the season, and Berry was left searching for a lifeline. Thankfully, he found one with the WBR, which has definitely been a great fit for him.
Berry scored his first Cup win earlier this year in Las Vegas, locking himself into the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs. That win also marked the 101st in WBR’s storied history, which goes all the way back to the late 1900s. And now, he’s climbing the record books with every lap he leads.
Right now, he’s sitting at 169 laps led this season, already ahead of most drivers in WBR’s history. Only Buddy Baker and Blaney have more in a single season. With more than 25 races left in the regular season, he could easily beat the record.
Fast but Flawed – Consistency Still Missing
Now, don’t get it twisted. Berry’s not perfect. He’s got speed for days, but consistency has been hard to find this season. Outside of that Las Vegas win and one other top-five finish, the rest of his season has been a bit bumpy. Seven finishes of 25th or worse, including three DNFs, paint a picture of a driver still trying to piece it all together.
Take Texas, for example. Berry looked strong, leading 41 laps—second-most in his career—but an incident in Turn 4 knocked him out while he was leading. He had a similar heartbreak earlier at Atlanta, where he led 56 laps and still ended up wrecked.
But he knows he needs to be better. He’s said it himself—he’s happy about the win, but he’s not satisfied. That’s the kind of mindset that turns potential into legacy.
As he heads to Kansas for his 60th Cup start, Berry’s got his eyes on more than just another strong finish. He’s chasing something bigger. And if he keeps this up, Blaney’s 2017 WBR record might just be the next thing to fall.