When Rajah Caruth crossed the finish line at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2024, the raw emotion in his voice said it all. His first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win wasn’t just a career milestone—it was personal. Caruth had fought his way through high school doubts, long internship hours, and years of grinding just to get a shot. That night in Vegas, it all came together. He thanked Rick Hendrick and his family.

“I can’t believe it. There’s more to come, for sure,” he said post-race. It was a breakthrough moment. Caruth became just the third Black driver to win a national series race in NASCAR history. He’d joined a short, historic list alongside Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. More than that, it felt like a beginning. He spoke about staying calm during the race, playing the long game, and trusting his pit crew. He was grateful, grounded, and driven.

But nearly a year later, things have shifted. Caruth’s hot start has cooled. The No. 71 team hasn’t kept pace. And now, fans are taking notice of his performance, hitting a plateau. Some still believe in the talent. Others are starting to wonder if Rick Hendrick’s pipeline is faltering. The results from 2025 have left many asking: Is Rajah Caruth hitting a bump in the road, or is this just who he is as a driver?

Rajah Caruth fails to match the 2024 performance!

Through the first seven races in 2025, Rajah Caruth’s season has looked nothing like the start he had a year ago. Back in 2024, in his first six races, he racked up five top-10s, a win, and a third-place finish at Daytona. He was sixth in the standings and riding high. Now? He’s 14th, 36 points outside the playoff cutline. Yes, Caruth has shown glimpses of hope with top-10s at Vegas, Martinsville, Bristol, and Rockingham, but early-season crashes at Daytona and Atlanta have buried those flashes.

He also had a disappointing 22nd at Homestead. His average finish has slipped to 15.6. He’s only scored nine stage points and has cracked the top five only once. The numbers paint a picture of a driver searching for rhythm and results. And his recent performances have triggered a massive debate on social media. The NASCAR community, while rallying behind him it also feels that he hasn’t lived up to his potential.

One comment sums up the divide: “Yeah, which sucks because I really like him and thought he’d be solid. He’s just not performing well.” It’s a fair take, especially considering how he started last season. In 2024, Caruth opened the season with five top-10s in six races. He never dropped below seventh in the standings the entire year. He earned a playoff berth, finished consistently, and looked like a rising star. This season, he has scored just nine stage points and has struggled to find consistent speed.

He finished fourth at Rockingham, his lone bright spot so far, but that result was overshadowed by a wreck he caused that ruined Stewart Friesen’s day. Caruth admitted fault, which earned him respect, but it also reminded everyone how thin the line is between progress and problems in NASCAR. Despite the inconsistency, Caruth still has major backing. Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick remain supporters. HendrickCars.com continues to sponsor his full Truck Series season.

Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also backs him. On the Dale Jr. Download, he hinted at Caruth making more Xfinity Series starts in the No. 17 Hendrick Chevrolet this year. “They got Day, Rajah, Finch,” he said. It wouldn’t be new territory as Caruth has run in Hendrick-backed cars before, and his sponsorship from HendrickCars.com shows the team’s investment in him is still strong.

But let’s be honest—Spire Motorsports isn’t exactly dominating. Aside from Cup stars like Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson coming down to run Truck races, their trucks have struggled to break into the front of the field. Caruth remains one of those drivers in their truck lineup who has won without a Cup pedigree. This reflects that the playoff gap isn’t impossible. A win would put the driver in the postseason automatically. But turning the season around will take more than hope. It’ll take consistent speed, cleaner races, and some luck

Trending

1

Ex-NASCAR Champion & Motorsports Hall of Famer’s Death Leaves Racing World Mourning

2

NASCAR Rumor: Rick Hendrick Pulls Away Toyota Prospect As Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lets Slip Major Xfinity Update

3

NASCAR Fans Confused as Kyle Larson’s Insanity Forces Roger Penske to Bring the “Larson” Rule to IndyCar

4

Embarrassment for Joe Gibbs Racing as Early Leak Leaves NASCAR Fans Gutted

5

Kevin Harvick Opens His Door For NASCAR’s Next Female Driver Switching Up her Career After Nearly 10 Years

Fans in split as Caruth continues to hunt a win!

NASCAR fans are never short on opinions, and when it comes to Rajah Caruth, they’re clearly divided. Some are ready to hit the brakes on the hype, while others are calling for patience. A user said, “Spire’s truck program isn’t as good as you think, outside of a cup guy, coming down their trucks run mid-pack. He consistently outruns his peers in the same equipment. He brings funding, has a great story, and by all accounts, is a great dude. His ceiling isn’t in a cup, and that’s ok.”

Another user echoed the sentiments and said, “Spire trucks are only fast when they get Cup guys in them.” It’s true—outside of Cup ringers, Caruth is Spire’s only Truck winner. Even with average equipment, he’s managed competitive finishes. But fans expect more as he has shown glimpses of his racing skills. Another fan kept it simple: “Out of the 6 races this year… he has finished in the top 10 three times. I think he is doing fine.” There’s plenty of racing left this year, and given his talent, Caruth can stage a comeback run.

That’s valid. More than fifty per cent top-10s in a field as volatile as the Truck Series isn’t terrible, especially with two DNFs already on the record. Meanwhile, some fans asked to be patient. “Give the guy a break. He’s 22 and in the truck series, and like you said, has around 50 starts. He has won a race, gotten some poles, and generally runs pretty competitively. Give him time to develop and learn. It’s not like he’s wrecking all the time and getting in fights and then telling people he should be in Cup.”

The 2024 champion, and Caruth’s teammate, Andrés Pérez de Lara, is in a similar boat. In fact, he’s just scored a single top 10 so far this season and is 16th in the points standings, two spots below his teammate. If anything, Spire hasn’t been able to roll out a competitive setup for their drivers. #71 truck has led 110 laps, which is the third highest among any drivers in the Truck garage. So Caruth has found himself in the right place at the right time, but execution has been off so far.

It’s true—Caruth hasn’t been wrecking every week, nor has he gotten into heated rivalries. He’s kept his head down and worked hard. Despite two DNFs this season, he is still in contention for the playoffs with just 36 points behind the final-place driver. For now, Rajah Caruth remains a prospect under pressure. He has talent, sponsorship, and people in his corner. But as the 2025 season pushes on, he’ll need to answer the growing questions on the track.