Wood Brothers Racing Changed Crew Chief for Vegas
Jefferson Hodges will step in for Miles Stanley at the No. 21 pit box this race weekend.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Motorsports
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Wood Brothers Racing has replaced crew chief Miles Stanley for this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway because he is unable to attend. Team Penske manager Jefferson Hodges will take over as interim crew chief to guide driver Josh Berry.
Why it matters
The last-minute change to the No. 21 team leadership comes as Josh Berry looks to turn around recent performances on the 1.5-mile track. Berry aims to replicate his past success in Las Vegas despite coming off a 31st-place finish earlier this season.
Driver Josh Berry has recorded nine top-10 finishes this season, following a 31st-place finish at the spring race and a 26th-place result in the playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The players
Wood Brothers Racing
The NASCAR racing team that operates the No. 21 car.
Miles Stanley
The crew chief for Wood Brothers Racing who is unable to attend the Las Vegas race.
Jefferson Hodges
The Team Penske NASCAR team manager who will serve as the interim crew chief.
Josh Berry
The driver of the No. 21 car who is competing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The details
Team Penske manager Jefferson Hodges moves to the pit box for the No. 21 team beginning this weekend. Hodges, who has served as a NASCAR team manager since 2019, has not worked as a crew chief in a national series since 2011. He will oversee Berry as the driver attempts to secure his second Cup Series win at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas track.
Timeline
2011 was the last year Hodges served as a crew chief in a national series.
2019 was the year Hodges began his role as a NASCAR team manager.
October 2, 2026, was the date of the team announcement regarding the crew chief change.
Beyond the Strip
The transition marks a return to the pit box for Jefferson Hodges for the first time since his 2011 role in a national series. It updates the leadership configuration for a team currently seeking to mirror previous Vegas success.
Fans attending the race weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will see Jefferson Hodges atop the No. 21 pit box for the first time. The team enters the weekend looking to improve upon Berry's 31st-place finish from the spring.
The takeaway
The No. 21 team is banking on a familiar track to reset their season under new temporary leadership. Watch for how Josh Berry navigates the 1.5-mile speedway under the guidance of Jefferson Hodges during this weekend's events.
Further reading
For more on the race weekend, visit our Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FanBuzz - Sports News - NFL | NCAA | NBA | WWE.
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