HBCU Alum Turns Heads With Impressive NASCAR Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Under the lights at Nashville Superspeedway, Rajah Caruth didn’t just win a race, he made a statement. The Winston-Salem State University graduate powered his No. 71 Spire Motorsports truck to victory in the Rackley Roofing 200 on May 30, cementing his place in the 2025 playoffs.
It wasn’t just a feel-good moment. It was a gritty, wire-to-wire triumph rooted in skill, composure, and vision, All qualities nurtured on the campus of an HBCU and now showcased on motorsport’s national stage.
“My pit crew won that race,” Caruth said post-race. “I just kept asking myself, how bad do you want it? And I did my best. That was it.”
Caruth led the field for 58 laps, held off veterans like Corey Heim and Layne Riggs, and secured his second career Truck Series win, his first in the 2025 season. With that, he ended a 31-race drought and clinched a spot in the NASCAR playoffs. He’s now 10th in the standings with 186 laps led and seven top-10 finishes in just 12 starts.
Caruth’s journey isn’t traditional. He started with a steering wheel and a dream, developing his talent through iRacing simulations before entering the real-world grind of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. All while earning his degree at an HBCU.
He’s not just chasing trophies. He’s redefining NASCAR’s future.
Caruth’s success is rippling far beyond pit lane. As one of the few Black drivers in NASCAR, and a proud HBCU product, his visibility represents a seismic cultural shift. He’s carrying the legacy of institutions like WSSU into spaces where Black faces have long been underrepresented.
And with every checkered flag, he’s opening doors for the next generation.
The playoffs are now in view, and Caruth’s momentum is real. He’s not just racing to win, he’s racing to change the game.
And make no mistake, HBCUs are right there with him.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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