JR Motorsports is shaping up to be a powerhouse in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. Justin Allgaier was a beast on the track, and with him returning for 2025, JRM is definitely going to be a team to watch. But that’s not all – the 2025 season is shaping up to be a big one for owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his squad.

First off, Sammy Smith is taking over the #8 car, running in the same iconic font that Dale Jr. used back in the day! Plus, NASCAR’s rising star, Connor Zilisch, is stepping up to run the #88 car for a full season next year. And let’s not forget Carson Kvapil, who will be behind the wheel of the #1 car. But here’s where it gets interesting – there’s a rumor floating around that another big-name driver could be joining JRM in 2025.

Could Rajah Caruth be the next big thing at JR Motorsports?

While Ty Majeski might have taken home the Truck Series Championship, the one driver who really caught everyone’s eye was Rajah Caruth. The Spire Motorsports driver grabbed his first-ever win this year, becoming just the third African-American driver to win in NASCAR’s National Touring Series. On top of that, he snagged two pole positions and wrapped up the season with a solid P7 finish. There was a lot of buzz about him possibly moving up the ranks, but those are now put to rest.

Spire Motorsports has retained him for another year in the #71 truck, as HendrickCars.com will serve as his primary sponsor for 2025. In Spire’s press release, co-owner Jeff Dickerson couldn’t hide his excitement: “He took the incredibly high expectations we placed on him to start the year and exceeded them in every way…Our organization believes in Raj, and he has consistently shown the leadership, form, and work ethic that every team looks for in a driver. We’re really happy to run it back with him next season.”

With his 2025 full-time plans sorted, let’s talk about his part-time ones. With no news on the #9 car piloted this season by Brandon Jones, for the next season, there is a possibility that Rajah Caruth could pilot it on a part-time basis in the 2025 season. This possibility had also come after Caruth impressed the NASCAR world with his maiden victory in Las Vegas earlier this year.

But, at that time, Caruth was more focused on his Truck Series commitments as well as juggling to finish his Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Management from Winston-Salem State University. But with that done and dusted, he could look at JRM as a possibility in the Xfinity. Even in 2023, he was linked with JR Motorsports, rumored to pilot the #8 car, but it did not go through. Maybe the third time’s the charm!

It wouldn’t be too much to assume as well, as there are rumours floating for the same with one Instagram account writing, “Good morning and happy Friday to all. I hear Rajah could be getting a few Xfinity starts with JRM.”

He’s already got some Xfinity experience under his belt. Before going full-time in the Trucks, Caruth ran a few races for Alpha Prime Racing in 2022 and 2023. He even raced for Hendrick Motorsports in the Xfinity Series last year, finishing 14th at Phoenix.

It’s clear if Hendrick had a full Xfinity program, Caruth would’ve been a big part of it. But with their limited schedule in 2024, it looks like JRM might be his best shot for 2025. Plus, Rick Hendrick is a big fan of Caruth – he’s invested in his career and sees big things for him. So, he would definitely vouch for Caruth.

The Hendrick-Caruth Bond

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In a clear sign of support, Caruth’s No. 71 truck in 2024 was fully sponsored by HendrickCars.com, which is owned by none other than NASCAR legend Rick Hendrick. This sponsorship deal shows that Hendrick is all in on Caruth, believing in his potential both on and off the track.

Hendrick himself had high praise for the young driver, saying, “Rajah is a man of incredible character and has really stepped up as a great representative of HendrickCars.com and our nearly 11,000 teammates across the country. We’re so proud to announce this on the same day Rajah and his family celebrate his college graduation. He has a bright future in NASCAR, and we’re excited to continue supporting his journey in 2025.”

Caruth also expressed how thankful he is for Hendrick’s support: “It’s really special to have Hendrick Automotive Group and HendrickCars.com backing me. When I got the chance to race their Xfinity car at Phoenix in 2023, it felt like an audition for 2024. I didn’t have any plans at the time, but I’m super grateful for everything Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick and the whole team at HendrickCars.com have done for me. I’m ready to show them what I’ve got next season.”

So, will Rajah Caruth be driving for JR Motorsports in 2025? Only time will tell, but with his talent and the backing of Rick Hendrick, it’s looking more and more like a possibility. What do you think? Will he make the jump to the Xfinity Series next year? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!