Wooden Brothers Racing is the oldest energetic group in NASCAR, having competed within the sport’s prime degree because the early Fifties. They have been there as the game transitioned from a small native collection to a nationwide spectacle, racing on the seashores of Daytona and later the excessive banks, however the iconic No. 21 automobile almost disappeared from the monitor fully not so way back. Throughout the Nice Recession (2007-2009), they have been pressured to run a partial schedule simply to remain in enterprise, at one level solely doing 13 races via the 12 months and popping out with little to indicate for it. However as an alternative of fading into the pages of historical past like each different group from their period, they persevered. They remained.
Sadly, it looks like persevering and surviving was nearly all of the single-car group has been in a position to do lately. However now not. With Josh Berry behind the wheel in 2025, they’re rapidly changing into a reputable contender amongst a aggressive discipline. Sunday’s win in Vegas did not really feel like one other one-hit surprise. It felt like this family-owned and operated group discovered Victory Lane, and is able to discover it a couple of extra instances.
Berry is an ideal match for the Wooden Bros
It is the primary time since 2017 that the Wooden Brothers claimed a win on a non-drafting monitor, and the primary time since 1986-1987 that they’ve gained in back-to-back seasons. And the important thing to all of it was the choice to rent Josh Berry, who took the laborious path to the Cup Collection and has a humble background appears to slot in completely with this underdog group.
“I feel Josh suits us,” stated group co-owner Eddie Wooden in an interview after Sunday’s victory. “Miles [Stanley, crew chief] suits us. All the pieces simply suits. I used to make enjoyable of individuals years in the past after they would discuss chemistry. Soccer groups, baseball, all that. Then it form of bled over into racing. This goes again a couple of years.
“When issues click on, they click on. I have been doing this since I used to be a child. I used to be there when David Pearson and Leonard Wooden, my uncle, attached. That clicked immediately, like proper off the bat.”
Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford, Eddie Wooden
Photograph by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Photographs
It is fairly the comparability to make, as Pearson is liable for 43 of the group’s 101 victories together with 11 throughout a single season [1973].
“This appears like the whole lot is clicking,” continued Eddie. “It feels good to win the hundredth one final 12 months with Harrison [Burton]. It was good for him, good for us to get that one, truly to get it. Now to get the following one is only a actually huge deal to us. Actually particular.”
Not simply one other Penske automobile
And whereas some equate the No. 21 to only one other Penske automobile resulting from their technical alliance, Jon Wooden [son of Eddie, grandson of Glen] takes situation with that perspective. Because the social media admin for the group, he sees all of the feedback from these able to pile it on when issues go incorrect and fast to present credit score elsewhere after they go proper.
“Once we suck, it is our fault,” stated Jon. “However once we do good, (they are saying) we had nothing to do with it. It is 100% Penske or one thing. I feel that is [the] irritating half. These are our guys which can be doing this. We sat in a room and debated who our subsequent driver can be for 2025. It is Josh Berry. These are choices that we made collectively. It is our race group and our determination.
“I am most likely hypersensitive as a result of I am not simply an admin that, like, laughs it off and does not care as a result of I received my paycheck for the week for doing social media. It hurts somewhat bit after I see that stuff. However then this occurs and the outcomes converse for themselves. I have not actually needed to be tremendous crappy on social these days, defend ourselves. He is simply doing it. That is the neat half.”
Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford; Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
A brand new golden age for the No. 21?
The outcomes actually do converse for themselves. In simply 5 races, Berry has equaled or surpassed the season totals for prime fives and prime tens earned by the No. 21 throughout every of the final three seasons. Berry has additionally led extra laps in these 5 races than the No. 21 group did within the earlier three seasons mixed. Vegas actually does not seem like a fluke, however a part of an upward trajectory that instantly correlates to bringing this grassroots racer to the group.
“By way of the years we have been via so many ups and downs,” stated Eddie. “This sport’s identical to each different sport: There’s extra downs than there’s ups. While you do get in place to be lucky sufficient to have the ups, you actually recognize it.
“In racing, it is at all times subsequent week. You bought one other week. You bought one other alternative to show issues round for those who’re not doing nicely.
“That is how I feel we have survived this lengthy, is simply you by no means surrender, you by no means stop, and also you simply hold going to the following race. Hastily issues will begin constructing. You keep on the nook lengthy sufficient, will probably be your flip finally. That is form of the way in which we’re.”
Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford
Photograph by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Photographs
It actually appears like Eddie is true and that the No. 21 goes via a resurgence of kinds. It is uncertain they will be rapidly written off as a first-round exit on this 12 months’s playoffs like they have been one 12 months in the past, and it is doubtless not the final we have seen of them contending for race wins this season both. And that might be the following achievement to unlock because the Wooden Brothers have not skilled a multi-win season in 44 years. Neil Bonnett was the final to tug it off, profitable three races, over 4 a long time in the past, in 1981.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Josh Berry
Wooden Brothers Racing
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