Rajah Caruth would love to reel off another victory in Saturday’s WEATHER GUARD Truck Race at Bristol. (Photo: Myk Crawford | The Podium Finish)
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Rajah Caruth may be a 21-year-old driver in just third season of NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition. However, he races with confidence, swagger and poise prevalent in a seasoned veteran.
At age 16, Caruth’s family fundraised an iRacing sim in 2018. The Washington native’s love of racing was fueled by watching Disney Pixar’s Cars and attending his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway in September 2014.
Virtually competing in the eNASCAR Ignite Series, Caruth caught the eyes of those from the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. Along the way, Caruth, who cut his teeth racing in legends cars and late models, showcased his talents with grace, determination and humility.
While Caurth was making a name for himself racing in late models in 2020, he looked toward the future with an X post that expressed his ambitions in a moving but simple way.
One day. pic.twitter.com/naRydiNmmF
— Rajah Kirby Caruth (@rajahcaruth_) May 19, 2020
Moving up to the ARCA Menards Series East division in 2021 for Rev Racing, Caruth placed third in the championship standings with two top fives and five top 10 results in the eight-race season. Graduating to the national ARCA Menards Series a year later, he finished third in the standings with eight top fives and 14 top 10s in a 20-race schedule.
It was evident that the sim to reality racer applied some valuable lessons from the virtual scene to real life competition. Presently, Caruth serves as an inspiration to those who hope to follow in his footsteps.
“I cut my teeth on iRacing,” Caruth said. “I made a lot of mistakes on there, had a lot of valuable lessons, but also had some success. And I think about all those experiences I had racing online and that’s helped mold me into the racecar driver I am today, no doubt about it, for better or for worse.
“So, it definitely means a lot because I think for the most part, I feel the love from the community over there because it is pretty deep. So it’s awesome to represent and be the latest sim to reality guy.”
William Byron may serve as the poster boy for the #Sim2Reality movement with his 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship and 2024 DAYTONA 500 victory. Then again, Caruth represents more than just the sim racing community.
In this case, Caruth is the latest Drive for Diversity graduate to win in one of NASCAR’s top divisions. As the third African American racer to win in NASCAR’s national series, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace, Caruth is more than a face for change in the driver’s seat.
Namely, Caruth tries to pay it forward as a young driver who mentors others working their way up the racing ladder.
“LaVar Scott, [who’s] currently in the program, [he’s] one of my my best friends and and and we talk almost every day,” he said. “And he was one of the first people that texted me and called me. Same with the other kids in there. I try to be a resource for them as much as possible, just because I remember when I was at that point and how different it was as, as a young, young kid, a young young man or woman trying to figure out how to adjust to a different lifestyle here in North Carolina, then also how to drive, to an extent.
“So, I just try to be available for them as much as possible. I know they’ve got a lot of people that are there to help them, a lot of somewhat structure around them and voices and information coming at them from all ways. But I just try to be available, any way I can.”
Overall, Rajah Caruth has been consistent and fast in the early season races. (Photo: Erik Smith | The Podium Finish)
By all means, Caruth makes a difference as a mentor, role model and game changer on and off the track. Likewise, his incredible work ethic and attention to details have paid off this year.
After placing 16th in the championship standings last year in his rookie season of NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Caurth has thrived in his new surroundings with Spire Motorsports.
Kicking off this year with a podium at Daytona, Caruth placed eighth at Atlanta before scoring a popular win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ranked fourth in the championship standings heading into Saturday night’s WEATHER GUARD Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Caruth has more than confidence by his side.
Prior to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas, HendrickCars.com extended its partnership with Caruth and his No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado entry for the full season. Certainly, it speaks volumes to the faith and belief with the Hendrick Automotive Group places on Caruth and his talents.
Last September, Caruth started fifth and finished sixth in the fall Bristol Truck race. Now, he hopes to do more than secure a strong top 10 result at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” track.
Suffice to say, Rajah Caruth is a force to be reckoned with now and in the future. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
Mainly, Caruth carried the familiar blue, white and red colors of HendrickCars.com to Las Vegas‘ Victory Lane on Mar. 1. Hoping to do the same at Bristol on Saturday night, Caruth understands the significance of the full-time sponsorship and the paint scheme adorning his weekend chariot.
“I mean, I didn’t take that lightly at all,” Caruth said. “I feel just… extremely grateful that I’m the one that that gets to drive the truck and represent them because it’s not something they do for everybody.
“That’s Ricky (Hendrick)’s paint scheme and to represent the automotive group at Hendrick and the Hendrick name is something I definitely honor and cherish. So, I’m really excited for the rest of this year. And hopefully that relationship continues to grow over time and it can be mutually beneficial.”
