Denny Hamlin praises 'self-made' drivers winning on Cup Series after Josh Berry Las Vegas win

Denny Hamlin watched as Josh Berry finally broke through his glass ceiling and won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the weekend. The veteran wheelman was more proud than anything as the Hendersonville, Tennessee native brought the Wood Brothers to Victory Lane.

One reason why is due to the fact that Hamlin and Berry come from similar backgrounds. While many of the drivers in the Cup Series make it due to their connections, whether it’s to sponsors, team owners or executives, Hamlin and Berry had to grind for every opportunity. That’s something the 44-year old respects, and he pointed it out on the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast.

“It’s so refreshing and great to see. You know, a self-made Cup Series driver like Josh being successful,” Hamlin proclaimed. “[He was] all over the Mid-Atlantic in the Late Model. I watched him just a few years ago winning Late Model races. To see him win now a Cup race, just a few years later is just — it’s very gratifying to see guys from my discipline and how I grew up being successful in the Cup Series. It’s like, it’s not all about dirt, folks. You can come from something other than dirt and be successful.

“It’s good to see some of these asphalt Late Model guys, you know, really doing well. Kaden Honeycutt is another one who I think is very, very good and has a chance. Ty Majeski. These are all asphalt, Late Model guys. The list goes on and on, and I don’t mean to leave anyone [out] — Layne Riggs. Like, it’s just — there’s many coming down the pipeline from our background that are going to be and will be successful, given the right opportunity.”

All told, Hamlin and Berry didn’t make it alone — Hamlin had Joe Gibbs give him his opportunity, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in Berry’s corner. Still, their talent is what brought them to the Cup Series, not their last name, or how much money they could bring to a team. That’s certainly not always the case in the sport, and it’s easy to see why Hamlin would take a liking to a racer like Berry.

Josh Berry may be 34-years old, but it feels like he’s just getting started. He has the respect of Denny Hamlin, and the Wood Brothers wheelman will be hoping it doesn’t take him as long to get win No. 2 in the Cup Series, compared to his inaugural trip to Victory Lane.