Rajah Caruth is proving as soon as once more that HBCU excellence extends effectively past the classroom and into the winner’s circle.
The Winston-Salem State College alum and rising NASCAR star made historical past on Friday night time, Might 30, by capturing his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence victory on the Rackley Roofing 200 in Nashville. The win not solely ended a 31-race winless streak—it additionally locked Caruth and his No. 71 Spire Motorsports crew into the 2025 NASCAR playoffs.
A Victory Rooted in Grit
Caruth’s efficiency at Nashville was nothing wanting dominant. After taking the lead with simply over 50 laps remaining, he held off a decent pack of opponents to cross the end line first. Corey Heim and Layne Riggs adopted shut behind, nevertheless it was Caruth’s tenacity and clean driving that sealed the win.
“My pit crew gained that race,” Caruth stated post-race, giving credit score to the behind-the-scenes work that powered his No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado. “I simply stored asking myself, how unhealthy would you like it? And I did my finest. That was it.”
The win marked Caruth’s second profession victory within the Truck Sequence and his first of the 2025 season. It additionally made him one in every of simply three drivers—alongside Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson—to earn a number of wins for Spire Motorsports, a rising power in NASCAR.
From HBCU Grad to NASCAR’s Large Stage
Caruth’s rise is extraordinary, and never simply due to his expertise on the monitor. A proud graduate of Winston-Salem State College, Caruth represents a brand new wave of HBCU alumni breaking into elite areas in skilled motorsports.
Earlier than going professional, Caruth honed his craft in iRacing, a simulation platform the place he constructed his racing expertise in digital settings. From there, he turned heads at NASCAR’s Drive for Variety program and started making actual strikes on actual tracks—all whereas finishing his diploma at an HBCU.
Now, with this win, he’s ranked tenth within the collection standings, with 186 laps led and 7 top-ten finishes in simply 12 begins this season.
Greater Than Racing
Rajah’s affect goes past simply what he’s doing on the monitor. As one of many few Black drivers in NASCAR—and a consultant of HBCU tradition—Caruth is shifting perceptions and creating new pathways for younger Black expertise interested by motorsports.
He’s utilizing his platform to talk up for illustration, group involvement, and inclusion in a sport that has traditionally lacked variety. That vitality carries the spirit of the yard onto the nationwide stage.
What’s Subsequent?
With the playoffs locked in, Caruth and his crew now have momentum heading into essentially the most essential stretch of the season. His Nashville win has put the remainder of the sphere on discover—and reminded the world that HBCU grads belong in each lane, together with the quick one.
Rajah Caruth’s victory isn’t only a win for him—it’s a win for Winston-Salem State, for HBCUs, and for everybody watching the tradition proceed to shift gears.
