Rajah Caruth: The Rising Star Inspiring NASCAR’s Future
If there’s one driver the NASCAR community is rooting for, it’s Rajah Caruth. Hailing from Georgia and without a family background in racing, Caruth had to fight his way into the sport. His passion for stock car racing earned him a spot in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. Like William Byron, Caruth developed his skills through iRacing before making his way onto the track. Now competing in the Truck Series, his journey from simulator racing to professional competition continues to inspire fans.
Caruth’s Journey from iRacing to NASCAR
Caruth grew up as a huge fan of the animated movie Cars, and a visit to Richmond Raceway at age 14 ignited his dream of becoming a driver. In 2019, he debuted in Legends cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway and progressed to ARCA in 2022. By 2023, he had completed his first full Truck Series season. His dedication and likable personality earned him the 2024 Most Popular Driver award, cementing his status as a fan favorite.
His humble and hardworking nature has drawn support from established drivers like Bubba Wallace, who took Caruth under his wing. A recent story shared by a fan highlights just how generous Caruth has been—even before making it big.
Rajah Caruth: The iRacing Mentor
In 2020, when Caruth was competing in Late Models, a fan asked for advice on cornering at Kansas while practicing on iRacing. Without hesitation, Caruth offered a detailed breakdown, analyzed the fan’s laps, and spent 15 minutes coaching them live. The fan, unaware of who Caruth was at the time, later felt honored to have been mentored by a rising NASCAR star.
Fast forward to today, and Caruth is making waves in the Truck Series. After a challenging 2023 season with GMS Racing, where he secured four top-10 finishes, Spire Motorsports recognized his talent and gave him an opportunity. With the support of Hendrickcars.com, Caruth proved his potential, earning his first NASCAR victory in 2024 at Las Vegas. That win made him only the third Black driver to win a National Series race, following Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace.
Caruth’s 2024 season showcased impressive consistency, with five top-5s, 12 top-10s, and a seventh-place finish in the standings. His strong performance secured his spot in the No. 71 Silverado for another season.
Despite a rocky start to 2025, with DNFs at both Daytona and Atlanta, Caruth now heads to Las Vegas—the site of his first win—where he hopes to turn things around.
Caruth’s Mission to Inspire Future Generations
Beyond racing, Caruth is committed to giving back. He recently launched Racing with Rajah, a program designed to introduce kids in Washington, D.C., to the world of motorsports. Caruth, who started his own journey through online racing, hopes to expose young people to new experiences—whether in racing or other industries.
“I just want to help young adults learn something new, open their minds to what’s possible,” Caruth explained. While the program may inspire future drivers, his primary goal is to broaden perspectives and provide exposure to different career paths.
Caruth believes there’s still work to be done in creating opportunities in NASCAR. He emphasizes that the industry goes far beyond drivers, with roles in engineering, marketing, legal affairs, and more. By highlighting these opportunities, Caruth hopes to encourage more young people to pursue careers in motorsports, whether behind the wheel or behind the scenes.
“There are only about 40 drivers in each division, but behind each car are teams of three to nine people. Then you have officials, parts vendors, legal teams—hundreds of people working in NASCAR. There’s so much more to the sport than just the drivers,” he shared in a recent interview.
As Caruth continues to rise in NASCAR, his impact extends far beyond the racetrack. Through his mentorship, outreach, and dedication to the sport, he is paving the way for future generations of racing enthusiasts.
