Rajah Caruth Bio
Rajah Kirby Caruth, born on June 11, 2002, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports and the No. 32 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Jordan Anderson Racing. He also runs a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports. Recognized for his trailblazing presence, Caruth is the first Caribbean-American driver to win at Tri-County Motor Speedway.
Beyond the racetrack, Caruth is an advocate for diversity in motorsports and works closely with the organization Young Minority Mentorship in Motorsports. He has been honored with the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver Award, underscoring his impact on and off the track.
Early Life and Background
Rajah Kirby Caruth was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a Vincentian father and a Vincentian-Barbadian mother. Although born in the South, he spent much of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C., giving him a richly multicultural upbringing. His interest in racing began as a young child after watching the Disney Pixar film Cars, a movie that sparked a lifelong passion for the sport.
When he was twelve years old, his parents surprised him with a trip to a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway in September, an experience that deepened his dream of becoming a professional driver. Caruth graduated from the School Without Walls High School, a magnet school in Washington, D.C. known for its humanities programs, in 2020. He later attended Winston-Salem State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Management in 2024.
Path to NASCAR
Caruth began his formal racing journey in 2018 through virtual competition. While balancing school, basketball, track, and a summer job, he and his family fundraised for an iRacing simulator. On his sixteenth birthday, June 11, 2018, he began racing virtually in the eNASCAR Ignite Series. His online performances caught the attention of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which gave him the chance to race a legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2019 at the Bojangles’ Southern Shootout, where he finished his rookie season with two top-tens and thirteenth in semi-pro points.
In 2020, Caruth moved up to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and won his first late model race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. By 2021, he had added wins at Hickory Motor Speedway, and on May 1, 2021, he won at Tri-County Motor Speedway, becoming the first African-American driver to win there. His growing reputation earned him a full-time ride with Rev Racing in the ARCA Menards Series East, launching his path toward NASCAR’s national series.
Rajah Caruth Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Caruth’s earliest stock car results came in 2019, when he competed in a legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the Bojangles’ Southern Shootout. He finished his rookie season with two top-ten results, placing thirteenth in semi-pro points. In 2020, he moved into the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and earned his first late model victory at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, finishing the year with three top-fives and nine top-tens across nineteen starts.
The 2021 season elevated his profile. He won both Hickory Motor Speedway late model features and a Tri-County Motor Speedway event, earning his fourth late model win. That same year, he ran the ARCA Menards Series East full-time for Rev Racing, recording two top-fives, three top-tens, and a third-place finish in the final standings. He also made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the Shore Lunch 150 at Iowa Speedway.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Caruth made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2022 with Spire Motorsports. On December 6, 2022, it was confirmed that he would drive full-time for GMS Racing in 2023, with sponsorship from the Wendell Scott Foundation for part of the season. Although he endured a difficult start with three consecutive DNFs, he posted a career-best sixth-place finish at Darlington Raceway in May 2023 and finished sixteenth in the final standings, fourth in Rookie of the Year.
In 2024, Caruth moved to Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 71 truck full-time, with HendrickCars.com sponsoring all 23 races. After a third-place run at Daytona, he scored his first career victory at the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas, becoming only the third African-American driver to win in one of NASCAR’s three national series, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. He advanced to the playoffs, was eliminated in the Round of 8, and finished seventh in points. He was also named the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver.
Spire Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
Caruth returned to Spire Motorsports in 2025, driving the No. 7 truck. He opened the year with a 30th-place DNF at Daytona but rebounded with his first win of the season at the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville. He advanced to the playoffs for a second consecutive year and was eliminated in the Round of 8 at Martinsville, finishing the year sixth in the final standings. Across his Truck Series career, he has recorded two wins, thirty top-tens, and two poles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Caruth is known for his smooth, consistent driving style and his ability to navigate traffic on intermediate tracks. He has shown a particular strength on 1.5-mile ovals, where his patience and race craft have produced his strongest results. His partnership with his spotters and crew has been a key factor in his steady improvement since his Truck Series debut.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature moments are his first Truck Series win at Las Vegas in 2024, his second Truck Series win at Nashville in 2025, and his third-place finish in the 2024 Daytona season-opener. He has also been part of Hendrick Motorsports efforts, including a 2023 Xfinity Series start at Phoenix Raceway and select NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events in 2025.
Rajah Caruth Career Wins
Rajah Caruth has recorded two career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories. His first came at the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024, and his second at the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in 2025. Both wins came in the playoffs, highlighting his ability to perform under pressure.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Caruth’s first Truck Series win at Las Vegas in 2024 was a defining moment, making him the third African-American driver to win a national NASCAR event. His second win at Nashville in 2025 confirmed his growth as a championship contender. He has also earned two poles and thirty top-ten finishes across his Truck Series career, with a career-best points finish of sixth in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
In regional and developmental competition, Caruth won late model features at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Hickory Motor Speedway, and Tri-County Motor Speedway. In the ARCA Menards Series, he recorded a best finish of second at the 2022 Dutch Boy 150 and finished third in the 2022 final standings. He also placed third in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East standings with Rev Racing.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 2 | 30 | 2 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Rajah Caruth Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Caruth was born to Roger Caruth and Samantha Caruth. His father is Vincentian and his mother is Vincentian-Barbadian, giving the family a strong Caribbean heritage. His parents supported his early racing dreams, including a memorable twelfth birthday trip to a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C., where he discovered his love of motorsports.
Personal Life
Caruth is currently in a relationship with actress and producer Marsai Martin. He has been the subject of two documentaries, the 2020 NASCAR film Through the Fences and the 2023 film Outside Line, which premiered at the Doc NYC Festival. He is also good friends with fellow driver Bubba Wallace, who has served as a mentor during his Truck Series career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season marked another strong step forward for Rajah Caruth. After a difficult 30th-place DNF at Daytona, he found his rhythm and captured his first win of the year at the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. He qualified for the playoffs for a second consecutive season and remained a factor throughout the postseason.
Caruth’s consistency in the regular season allowed him to enter the playoffs as a contender, although he was eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 8 at Martinsville. He closed the year with a career-best sixth-place finish in the final Truck Series standings. His partnership with Spire Motorsports and crew chief support helped him post multiple top-ten finishes and demonstrate clear growth from his 2023 rookie campaign.
Looking ahead, Caruth is also scheduled to compete part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, splitting time between JR Motorsports in the No. 88 and Jordan Anderson Racing in the No. 32. With his Truck Series momentum, growing fan support, and ongoing advocacy work, his 2025 campaign positioned him as one of the most promising young drivers in American motorsports.
