After securing his inaugural triumph in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Rajah Caruth expressed gratitude towards Rick Hendrick for his unwavering support. Driving the No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado, Caruth clinched victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday night, representing Spire Motorsports.
“It’s surreal. Thanks so much to HendrickCars.com and Mr. H for putting me in this thing all year,” Caruth told FS1’s Josh Sims after the race.
“Glad to get the win for Team Chevy. I can’t thank my family enough. So many people have helped me get to this point. I can’t believe it.”
In his 30th start in the Truck Series and his third race with HendrickCars.com on the truck, Caruth clinched victory, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace as the only Black drivers to win a NASCAR national series race. Starting from his first pole position in the Truck Series, Caruth led 38 laps, including the final 21 circuits, to secure the win.
The 21-year-old driver, also a senior at Winston Salem State University set to graduate this fall, has kicked off the 2024 season strongly with a win, two top-five finishes, and three top-10s.
Departing Las Vegas, Caruth, an alum of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, sits fourth in the points standings, with the win propelling him into the ranks of the 10 drivers eligible for the Truck Series playoffs.
During the final stage, Caruth’s pit crew executed a stellar pit stop under green, propelling him to the lead for good on lap 114.
Comprised of five athletes from Hendrick Motorsports—Daniel Bach (front changer), Cody French (jackman), Jarius Morehead (tire carrier), Mike Moss (rear-tire changer), and Anthony Pasut (fueler)—the crew’s precision was instrumental in Caruth’s victory.
French, Morehead, and Moss, part of the Garage 56 pit crew, previously triumphed in the GTE class portion of the Pit Stop Challenge at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last June.
In recent news, HendrickCars.com extended its primary partnership with Caruth from 10 races to the entire season of 23 races.
Last season, Caruth drove the No. 17 HendrickCars.com NASCAR Xfinity Series Chevrolet Camaro at Phoenix Raceway in November, securing a commendable 14th-place finish for Hendrick Motorsports.
“Building that relationship with Mr. H, Miss Linda (Hendrick), and not only the Hendrick family and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports but also the Hendrick Automotive Group has been pretty special,” Caruth said.
Third time’s the charm in 2024.
Congrats on your first Truck Series win, @rajahcaruth_! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eVOrN7QDGX
— Hendrick Automotive Group (@HendrickCars) March 2, 2024
