NASCAR Driver Rajah Caruth Reflects on Time at Walls

On Friday, Mar. 1 2024, Rajah Caruth (‘20) achieved one of his lifelong goals. He became both a NASCAR pole winner and race winner on the same day in Las Vegas. Yet, in the highs and lows, he still remembers when he was “doing an internship my junior year [at Walls], and I was at the box office at the Smith Center down the street and I just dreamt and dreamt and dreamt of being a driver.”

Caruth first developed his interest in racing when he saw Pixar’s Cars. “I saw the Cars movie … whenever it came out … and from that point I had a really deep interest in the sport, but until I went to my first race at Richmond, I was 12 that the day forward I knew I wanted to be a racer.”

Looking back on his time at Walls, Caruth said “I'd like to say I kept myself a little bit.” He was in Electric Car Club, Men of Strength Club, on Film Team, ran track for all four years, and played JV soccer and JV basketball. And one of Caruth’s highlights from high school was off campus lunch, spending time at the Marvin Center and the deli across the street. However, he described himself as a “lone wolf in terms of someone that liked racing.” Caruth had the unique challenge of balancing school with racing. He had been doing sim racing for a couple years before he “started … regional racing the summer before … senior year.” Luckily, Caruth adds, “I'd already handled my internship. My senior project was getting traction to go,” allowing him to go back-and-forth between DC and North Carolina, where many racing teams and tracks are located.

Caruth then went to Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, where he would split time between working in the race shop in Concord, NC and taking classes in college. In retrospect on balancing college with racing, Caruth believed communication was key, saying, “I was at my best at school whenever I was able to communicate with my professors and let them know I'd be traveling or doing stuff ahead of time as much as possible.”

The journey wasn’t easy. Caruth had to retake multiple classes in college, while on the racing side he said, “I think the hardest part was getting my foot in the door … being an outsider.” Caruth is one of two current full-time African American NASCAR drivers. Since he started driving in the middle of high school, which is late for racing, Caruth said, “I just had to kind of work a little extra to get people to know my name at the racetrack … from a performance standpoint it only gets harder the higher you go, but nothing was harder than getting started.”

On an average week, Caruth does strength and endurance training Monday through Thursday and visits the go kart track every other week, while using GM’s simulator and his simulator at home to get driving practice in. Races tend to be on Fridays or Saturdays, and Caruth often leaves on Wednesday or Thursday depending on the race day and the distance to travel. And when he’s not training, prepping for the upcoming race, or fulfilling media commitments, Caruth tries to spend time with friends and family.

For Caruth, racing is living the dream. Even though the first few races of the season haven’t panned out as planned for Caruth, he still feels grateful to be “able to race … to go to all these tracks, wear a fire suit, be a part of this industry.” In the future, Caruth’s goal this year “is to win the [NASCAR Truck Series] championship.” However, long term Caruth wants to accomplish something greater. Caruth said, “I just would love to leave the sport better than when I came in.”