From his humble beginnings in the eNASCAR Ignite Series to becoming only the third Black driver after Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace to win a national series race, Rajah Caruth has come a long way. When HendrickCars.com announced they’d sponsor the 22-year-old for the entire 2024 season instead of just 10 races, it was almost like they knew he would win in Vegas! However, success on the track also demands the right guidance and mentorship, and Caruth is fortunate to have the support of Wallace, who has been instrumental in shaping his career.

With the sun shining bright and the trucks lining up on the Pocono pit lane, Rajah Caruth had an exclusive chat with EssentiallySports, the official media partners of Real American Beer. Caruth opened up about the invaluable advice he’s received from Bubba Wallace. He also talked about his future Xfinity and Cup Series debut plans and reflected on his journey of growth in NASCAR.

The right counsel and guidance have kept Caruth on track

Speaking of Bubba Wallace, he started racing when he was just 9. Not to mention, he was just 12 when he won 35 of the Bandolero Series’ 48 races held in 2008 and became the youngest driver to win at Franklin County Speedway in Virginia. This is Bubba for you all! And guess what Caruth was doing when he was 12?

Racing wasn’t what he was doing. His love for racing came after watching Disney Pixar’s Cars as a kid. And, when Caruth was 12, he had his first ever trip to a NASCAR Cup Series race in Richmond. Soon after, he joined the eNASCAR Ignite Series, and that’s when he caught the attention of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.

One certainly needs more than just a need for speed and a competitive spirit to excel as a NASCAR driver. Wallace, who has already put in the hard yards to land on his feet in the Cup Series with Michael Jordan’s ever-so-fast-growing team, surely knows about it. Therefore, ever since Rajah Caruth started his journey, Wallace, like a mentor, has been with him every step of the way. Not only did the 23XI Racing driver guide him on how to improve as a racer, but he also showed him how to carry himself on and off the racetrack.

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Rajah Caruth certainly values the input he receives from Bubba Wallace and is grateful for the continued support. Talking to EssentiallySports’ Bharat Aggarwal at Pocono, he said, “He’s been there every step of the way, just helping me obviously handle the racetrack stuff, but also what I need to do as a young man on the sport and how to carry myself. So he’s been a big instrument in my life’s success so far.”

Caruth, in his full-time debut for Spire, finished third in the season opener at Daytona and then, just two race weekends later, drove to victory lane at Vegas. So far, he has 6 top-10 finishes and is 5th in the points standings. Clearly, Mr. H and the team are impressed with the 22-year-old. While he aims to make the most of his ride this season in the Truck Series, he’s optimistic about making it to the Cup Series soon.

Rajah Caruth’s support and future plans

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As drivers like Josh Berry, Zane Smith, and Carson Hocevar continue to run their first full-time seasons in the Cup Series, it looks like Rajah Caruth is already eyeing a championship in his first-ever season in NASCAR Nationals.

This confidence stems from the solid backing he has from great mentors. While Caruth deeply appreciates Bubba Wallace’s constant support, he acknowledges the crucial roles played by his Spire Motorsports crew chief, Chad Walter, and his sponsors.

“Rajah Caruth is an exceptional young man. He’s a very talented driver with a bright future. He’s obviously young in his career, but he’s mature beyond his years,” said Chad Walter when HendrickCars.com extended their partnership with the No. 17 team. But his maturity isn’t the only thing enticing about the youngster. “You hear people talk about an ‘it’ factor and when you talk to him and get to know him, it’s pretty obvious he has ‘it’.”

As for Rajah Caruth, revealing what it will take for him to make a Cup series debut, he told EssentiallySports, “Just perform well and have solid days. I don’t really know. It takes a lot. With people supporting you like HendrickCars.com and Chevrolet on my side, really just try and execute and carry myself well on and off the racetrack in addition to performing here well.”

Despite the silly season drama being quite a spectacle, Caruth isn’t too bothered and instead sounds confident. When Bharat Aggarwal asked if he had been in contact with any Xfinity team owners for a potential ride next season, Caruth mentioned, “I haven’t. I have really enjoyed my time here at Spire so far and I’m focused on hopefully making the championship for this year.”

In his last Truck start at the Tricky Triangle, Caruth finished P16. This time, he secured a P10 finish—a good result for Spire Motorsports No. 17 and the team.