Cameron Bebeau

Most NASCAR drivers start their careers at a local track. For Rajah Caruth, it started behind a computer screen.

“Growing up in D.C., there weren’t really any racetracks close by, nor connections to help get involved in the Virginias or Carolinas,” Caruth said in a Zoom interview. “So I started my racing career online.”

Instead of letting the distance between him and Charlotte define him, Caruth stayed connected to the sport however he could – by watching races, collecting diecasts and playing NASCAR video games.

In a sport built on deep-rooted connections and early karting success, Caruth’s path stands out. Raised in Washington, D.C., nearly 400 miles from NASCAR’s hub in Mooresville, he lacked the early access that can make or break a driver’s career.

Caruth, who comes from a family of educators rather than racing, said his path required a different kind of persistence. So he adapted.

“It was almost impossible to get behind the wheel of anything,” Caruth said. “It took a lot of people to get me here. Nothing is guaranteed. My next race isn’t guaranteed. My next season isn’t guaranteed.”

Caruth built his foundation on iRacing, competing in the eNASCAR Ignite Series – a developmental league for young drivers – early on, before turning his virtual experience into real-world opportunities.

The unconventional path is now producing results. With two wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series over the past two seasons, Caruth is now competing full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, splitting time between the JR Motorsports No. 88 and the Jordan Anderson Racing No. 32. Seven races into the season, he has three top 10 finishes.

Even while racing nationally, he remained a full-time student at Winston-Salem State University, where he studied motorsports management. Higher education is a pathway rarely followed by drivers, but he balanced coursework with race weekends – something he says sharpened his discipline and communication skills.

“It took a lot of communication, for sure. Time management, setting my priorities … I had a lot of great professors that helped me,” he said.

That experience didn’t just help him prioritize his schedule. It also helped shape how he views pressure.

“Getting to drive race cars, that’s not pressure,” Caruth said. “I’m not struggling to pay rent or put food on the table. There’s real pressure out there.”

As a graduate of an HBCU, Caruth also recognizes the broader impact of his journey.

“I love how diverse the HBCU community is. We have our rivalries, but we’re one big family and it’s all love,” he said.

For him, that sense of community remains central to his journey.

“I think it’s a blueprint, not just for drivers but for engineers and mechanics,” he said. “As long as schools continue to keep that as a viable option, you’ll see people involved.”

For students at HBCUs and beyond, Caruth’s story offers a different model – one less based on guaranteed access, and more based on persistence, discipline and adaptability.

As his career continues to evolve, he isn’t worried about his legacy yet.

“I’m just trying to make a good impact on a daily basis, with my on-track and off-track teammates. Move with grace more than anything,” he said.

In a sport steeped in tradition, Caruth is showing that there’s more than one path to make it – and he’s already carved his.

Photo courtesy of Frank Albrecht on Unsplash.

Originally Published at: https://www.fsuthevoice.com/more-than-one-path-rajah-caruths-road-to-nascar/