When you’re stepping into the shoes of a Cup Series champion, things certainly won’t be easy. And for Josh Berry, the challenge was clear. Tony Stewart had said, “We literally put all of our eggs in one basket, and we put them on this kid to my left here in Josh Berry, who is somebody we all feel like is the right fit to step into the 4 car in the future.” But for Josh Berry, the challenge was proving difficult.

Josh Berry’s 2024 season with Stewart-Haas Racing was anything but easy. For a rookie, the distractions were heavy. Berry faced rumors, uncertainty, and pressure from day one. Yet, even in a sinking ship, he flashed moments of raw talent. At tracks like Iowa, New Hampshire, and Richmond, he ran up front. He was competitive in several races but couldn’t close the deal. “It’s been a challenge, for sure. But I’m grateful for the opportunity to race at this level,” Berry admitted.

Then came the second chance. Wood Brothers Racing signed Berry for 2025, and it’s turned out to be a career-defining move. In just 12 races with WBR, Berry has made headlines. He won at Las Vegas, giving the team its first victory since 2017. He’s led 169 laps, the third-most for WBR in a single season over the last 43 years. The #21 Ford has shown top 10 speed on multiple occasions, and Berry is once again part of the weekly conversation. “It just builds up everybody’s confidence, and we’re having a lot of fun. You feel like you’re doing the right things,” Berry said in Kansas.

Apart from a fast car and a legacy team, Berry gives a lot of credit for this turnaround to his crew chief, Miles Stanley. The former Team Penske engineer took full time crew chief roles this year and have already delivered some great results with Berry. But behind Stanley’s quick success lies a deeper story, one rooted in experience, strategy, and a deep knowledge base formed during his time at Team Penske. As Berry thrives, insiders are now crediting Penske’s subtle yet powerful influence behind the scenes.

Last Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Josh Berry turned heads with one of the most remarkable recoveries of the season. Forced to start at the rear after unapproved adjustments, Berry sliced through the field with precision. He climbed from 38th to inside the top 10 by Lap 18, earning seven Stage points in Stage 2. But fate had something else planned. Due to pit road speeding, he was sent back again just to showcase his driving skills. With just 6 laps left, Berry broke into the Top six and held it off till the end.

It was a gritty, high-pressure drive, just the kind of performance Berry once struggled to deliver at SHR. And right behind it all? Miles Stanley. But Stanley credits his seamless transition to his time at Roger Penske‘s team. “I’ve worked with every single one of the drivers at the Penske organization now. I was a crew chief for Austin on the 33, a race engineer for Joey for several years, and for Ryan for a few years as well… So, if they have feedback about what their car’s doing at the track or notes from the past, I can interpret it better because I know them a little bit. That helps me understand how their feedback can be applied or relates to Josh and our team—and that’s really valuable,” he said.

Stanley’s resume speaks volumes. As an engineer for Joey Logano’s 2018 championship team, and later as performance manager for Penske’s 2022 and 2023 title runs, he shaped championship-caliber operations. He even led the No. 33 part-time entry as crew chief in 2021. When WBR brought him in for its 75th anniversary season, they weren’t just hiring a rookie crew chief, they were gaining a quiet weapon forged in a championship factory.

However, their season didn’t start well as Josh Berry had back-to-back DNFs in Daytona and Atlanta. But since then, in the next 10 races, Stanley has guided Berry to a win, three top 10s, and leadership in six of the first 12 races. Berry’s average finish may still hover around 20th, but that’s often due to bad luck rather than poor speed. Stanley’s influence is clear in how quickly the #21 car unloads and adapts, something the team lacked in past seasons.

Berry himself has not held back in praising Stanley’s impact. “I left the situation last year, kind of questioning if I could race at this level, and now you’re looking at a six-month difference of leading laps in multiple races, and I’ve won a race, [plus] a lot of excitement. It’s been quite a change, but it’s been a lot of fun to get to work with Miles. He’s done a really good job. Everybody on the team really has, and they’re behind me a lot…,” he said before the Kansas race. Notably, their teamwork began before the season, with Berry regularly visiting the WBR shop and bonding with the crew. That early foundation paid off.

“We were in the simulator right after Phoenix. It started there. Everything we do now builds off that. The way we prep, the way Miles makes decisions, it all feels like we’re finally working in the right areas,” Berry recalled. With momentum growing, the next challenge is maintaining consistency. Kansas was a big step, but Berry knows every race is a test. That includes moments of conflict. After Sunday’s race, Kyle Busch confronted him over a crash. And just like his recovery was on track, Berry handled the confrontation with calm resolve.

Berry reflects on Kyle Busch’s confrontation

The clash at Kansas wasn’t just on the track, it spilled into post-race tensions. On Lap 207, Josh Berry found himself squeezed in a chaotic four-wide battle with Ross Chastain, Noah Gragson, and Kyle Busch. Berry, second from the outside, checked up slightly and made contact with Gragson’s car. That led to a chain reaction that sent Kyle Busch spinning into the grass. Following the race, Busch, frustrated with his 21st-place finish, confronted Berry.

But the WBR driver stayed composed. “Well, he said that it was kind of related to me that I caused it. But Ross was on my outside, and we kind of all just squeezed together. I’m not really sure; we all just ran out of room. Kyle was probably told that I was clear. We were three wides but actually four wides. So yeah, things happen, I guess,” Berry explained. His calm, measured response showed a maturity that reflects both personal growth and team confidence.

However, Busch later vented his anger on Denny Hamlin’s podcast, blaming the Next Gen car and calling drivers “clowns” who bank on composite bodies saving their mistakes. Notably, he is nearing a 70-race winless streak, and it must be taking a toll on Rowdy. But Berry, despite being at the center of the wreck, didn’t fire back. His focus remained on the race and the broader season ahead.