He’s racing into history!
On a Friday night in Nashville, 22-year-old Rajah Caruth made history once again, capturing his second career victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and reigniting a winning legacy for Spire Motorsports. The Washington, D.C. native took the checkered flag at the Nashville Superspeedway on May 30th, ending a 31-race winless streak for the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado—and marking his first victory of the 2025 season, BET reports.
Caruth’s triumph didn’t just secure a win, it sent a message. After claiming the lead on pit road at the end of Stage 2, he never looked back, holding off fierce competitors Corey Heim and Layne Riggs by mere fractions of a second. Over the final 51 laps, Caruth drove with the kind of determination that champions are made of, finishing 0.518 seconds ahead of Heim and 0.629 seconds ahead of Riggs.
“I didn’t expect that at all,” Caruth said, breathless after the race. “Those guys were breathing down my neck the whole run. My pit crew won that race—Jarius, Zico, Dawson, Josh, Cody—they won that race for us. Thanks to them, thanks to everyone at HendrickCars.com, the men and women at Spire Motorsports. We’ve been off this year, but good to get a dub tonight, man. I’m out of breath.”
Caruth becomes only the third driver to notch multiple wins for Spire Motorsports in the Truck Series, joining NASCAR greats Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. More than a win, this was a statement, a reminder that young Black talent is not only present in motorsports but pushing the sport into a new era.
“I was just asking myself, ‘How bad do you want it?’” Caruth shared. “I don’t know, I just tried my best and we had clean air and their stuff was better, but I just did my best. That was it.”
Corey Heim, who finished just behind him, echoed the sentiment. “But big congrats to Rajah. He did an awesome job managing from the lead… It’s nice racing against people that aren’t going to wreck you, racing for the race lead.”
Because of his victory, Caruth clinched a spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, a huge milestone for the young driver who is steadily blazing a trail through a sport still learning how to fully embrace diversity.
The road ahead continues June 7th at Michigan International Speedway, where Caruth will carry not only momentum but the hopes of a new generation of fans who see themselves in every turn he takes.
Cover photo: HBCU Grad Rajah Caruth Secures Second Career NASCAR Truck Series Win/Photo credit: WME Sports/Instagram