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. Caruth is also a part-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports, where he pilots the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST. Known for breaking barriers in motorsports, he became the first Caribbean-American driver to win at Tri-County Motor Speedway and only the third African-American driver to win in one of NASCAR’s three national series.
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 was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and later in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the School Without Walls High School in 2020, a magnet school recognized for its strong humanities programs. Caruth has spoken often about being inspired by the Disney Pixar movie Cars, which sparked his childhood fascination with racing.
At the age of twelve, Caruth’s parents surprised him with a trip to a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway in September, deepening his passion for the sport. By 2018, while balancing school, basketball, track, and a summer job, Caruth and his family fundraised to buy an iRacing simulator. The moment he turned sixteen on June 11, he began racing virtually in the eNASCAR Ignite Series, marking the start of his competitive career.
Path to NASCAR
Caruth’s talent on the simulator caught the attention of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which gave him an opportunity to race a legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2019 during the Bojangles’ Southern Shootout. He finished his rookie season with two top-ten finishes and ended thirteenth in the Semi-pro points standings. In 2020, he moved up to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and won his first career late model race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, finishing the year with three top-fives and nine top-tens in nineteen starts.
In 2021, Caruth returned to the Weekly Series and added two more late model wins at Hickory Motor Speedway. On May 1, 2021, he won at Tri-County Motor Speedway, becoming the first African-American driver to win there and earning his fourth overall late model victory. That same year, he joined Rev Racing to run full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, finishing third in the standings and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
Rajah Caruth Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Caruth’s early career was defined by steady progress through NASCAR’s development ladder. After his 2019 legends car debut with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, he moved into late model racing in 2020 with strong results. The 2021 season was a breakthrough year, as he collected three late model wins and earned a full-time ARCA Menards Series East ride with Rev Racing.
He also made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the 2021 Shore Lunch 150 at Iowa Speedway, finishing ninth. Caruth’s performance in ARCA East included two top-fives and three top-tens, helping him finish third in the final standings. These results established him as one of the most promising young drivers in the NASCAR pipeline.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
On August 30, 2021, Rev Racing announced that Caruth would drive full-time in the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season. He responded with the best finish of his career at the 2022 Dutch Boy 150, finishing second. Across the year, he posted eight top-fives and fourteen top-tens, ending the season ranked third in the final standings.
He also expanded into the ARCA Menards Series West, starting and finishing eighth in the 2021 Arizona Lottery 100 and adding a fourth-place result in the 2022 General Tire 150. His consistent performances across all three ARCA series helped position him for a step up to NASCAR’s national touring divisions.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Caruth made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2022, driving for Spire Motorsports. His first full Truck Series season came in 2023 with GMS Racing, where he drove the No. 24 truck with support from the Wendell Scott Foundation. After a difficult start with three DNFs, he earned a career-best sixth-place finish at Darlington Raceway in May.
Caruth failed to make the playoffs in 2023, but he improved during the postseason, posting three top-ten finishes with a worst result of fourteenth. He closed the year sixteenth in the overall standings and fourth in the Rookie of the Year race. His growth in 2023 laid the foundation for a major leap forward the following season.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Wins (2024–2025)
In 2024, Caruth moved back to Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 71 truck full-time, with HendrickCars.com sponsoring all 23 races. He opened the year with a third-place finish at Daytona and picked up his first career victory at the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 in 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 into the 2024 playoffs, was eliminated in the Round of 8, and finished seventh in the standings. On November 22, 2024, he was named NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver. In 2025, he won the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville, advanced to the playoffs again, and was eliminated in the Round of 8 at Martinsville. He ended the 2025 Truck Series season sixth in the final standings.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2022–Present)
Caruth made his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Richmond Raceway in 2022 with Alpha Prime Racing. He ran a partial schedule in 2022 and 2023, posting a best finish of twelfth at Martinsville. In 2023, he closed the year driving the No. 17 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway, where he ran inside the top ten before a late incident dropped him to fourteenth.
In July 2025, Jordan Anderson Racing announced Caruth would drive the No. 32 car at Dover, and he later returned to Hendrick Motorsports for a Kansas start. On October 21, 2025, it was announced he would run part-time for JR Motorsports in 2026, and the following day he confirmed he would return to Jordan Anderson Racing as a full-season driver. In January 2026, JR Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing confirmed he would split a full-time 2026 schedule, running 23 races in the No. 88 and 10 races in the No. 32.
Driving Style and Strengths
Caruth is known for his smooth, patient approach behind the wheel, especially on long runs and intermediate tracks. He has shown strong race craft in traffic, often saving his equipment for late-race surges. His ability to learn quickly from veteran mentors, including his close friend Bubba Wallace, has been a key part of his development into a consistent contender.
Notable Races and Milestones
Caruth’s most memorable moments include his 2024 victory at Las Vegas, his 2025 win at Nashville, and his breakthrough at Tri-County Motor Speedway in 2021. He has also been featured in the documentaries Through the Fences (2020) and Outside Line (2023), and joined Richard Petty on NASCAR’s float in the 2023 Rose Parade.
Rajah Caruth Career Wins
Rajah Caruth has built a growing list of victories across stock car racing’s development ladder and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His two national-series wins came in the Truck Series, bookending a 2024 breakthrough and a strong 2025 playoff run. He has also added multiple late model wins and a number of top ARCA finishes.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Caruth has two career wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with his first coming at the 2024 Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 in Las Vegas. His most recent victory was the 2025 Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville. Across the series, he has recorded 30 top-ten finishes and two poles, with a best championship result of sixth in 2025. He was also named the 2024–2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the Truck Series, Caruth has multiple late model wins, including his first at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in 2020 and a pair of victories at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2021. He finished third in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East standings and third in the 2022 ARCA Menards Series standings, with eighteen top-tens across the main ARCA series and eight top-tens in ARCA East.
| 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
Rajah Caruth was born to Roger Caruth, his father, and Samantha Caruth, his mother. His father is of Vincentian heritage, while his mother is of Vincentian and Barbadian heritage, making Caruth proud of his Caribbean-American roots. He credits his parents with supporting his early racing dreams, including surprising him with a Richmond Raceway trip and helping fundraise for his first iRacing simulator.
Personal Life
Caruth is currently in a relationship with actress and producer Marsai Martin. He maintains close ties to fellow NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, who has served as a mentor during races. In 2024, he graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Management. He is also actively involved with Young Minority Mentorship in Motorsports, an organization that promotes diversity in racing.
2025 Season Performance
Rajah Caruth’s 2025 season was highlighted by his second career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at the Rackley Roofing 200 in Nashville. He opened the year with a 30th-place DNF at Daytona, but quickly turned his season around with steady top finishes. His performance was strong enough to lock him into the playoffs for a second straight year with Spire Motorsports in the No. 7 Chevrolet.
He was eliminated in the Round of 8 at Martinsville, closing the Truck Series season ranked sixth in the final standings. Caruth also expanded his schedule in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, making starts with Jordan Anderson Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. These part-time appearances kept him sharp on intermediate tracks and oval mile-and-a-halves.
Heading into 2026, Caruth’s momentum is strong after a sixth-place Truck Series finish and a confirmed full-time split ride between JR Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing. With a veteran crew chief group behind him and continued support from HendrickCars.com, he is positioned to chase his first national-series championship in the years ahead.
