As NASCAR moves from Black History Month into March, it’s important to acknowledge the sport’s long-standing diversity challenges. Historically, NASCAR has lacked representation, with only a few Black drivers breaking through, such as Wendell Scott in the 1960s and Willy T. Ribbs, who competed in the Trans-Am Series for Jack Roush’s team. Ribbs openly criticized NASCAR’s diversity efforts, calling them ineffective and pointing out the absence of outreach programs for minority youth interested in racing.
Although pioneers like Ribbs and Bill Lester made strides, their presence remained isolated. It wasn’t until Bubba Wallace’s emergence that NASCAR saw a Black driver consistently competing at the Cup Series level. Wallace’s success has since inspired a new wave of diverse talent, including rising star Rajah Caruth.
At just 22 years old, Caruth has quickly gained recognition in the racing world, thanks to his background in sim racing and determination to break barriers in a sport with limited opportunities for minority drivers. As he returns to Las Vegas, he reflects on a major career milestone—his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2024.
That win made Caruth only the third Black driver to win a national NASCAR series race, following in the footsteps of Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. Driving the No. 71 truck for Spire Motorsports, he led 38 laps and edged out Tyler Ankrum by 0.851 seconds to secure the historic victory. However, Caruth later realized he had been too focused on moving forward and hadn’t taken the time to fully appreciate the moment. This reflection has changed his perspective, and he now hopes to celebrate future achievements more meaningfully.
Caruth’s journey into NASCAR was far from traditional. Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., his love for the sport began as a child when he became fascinated with a book titled NASCAR: The Complete History. Without the financial means for karting or early racing, Caruth turned to iRacing, a competitive racing simulator, logging over 500 races in his first year. His talent in the virtual racing world earned him a spot in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program in 2019, making him the first driver to enter the program solely based on sim racing experience. Caruth later acknowledged that without iRacing, his career wouldn’t have been possible.
In 2022, he debuted in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series with Alpha Prime Racing, showing promise despite modest early results. A 12th-place finish at Martinsville hinted at his potential. By 2024, Caruth had secured a full-time ride in the Truck Series with Spire Motorsports, where he quickly made a name for himself.
Now heading into the 2025 season, Caruth is fully committed to his racing career, no longer balancing school and competition. With lessons from the past and a renewed outlook, he is determined to embrace every success and fully appreciate the journey ahead.
