Bubba Wallace’s Mentee Exploits Rick Hendrick’s Secret Weapon Bagging a NASCAR Playoff Spot

Rajah Caruth’s NASCAR journey is anything but ordinary. Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., Caruth didn’t grow up at the track. Instead, he fell in love with racing through iRacing, teaching himself the ropes long before he ever sat in a real race car. His breakthrough came when he earned a spot in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, making him the first driver with only a sim-racing background to do so. Caruth’s rise wasn’t smooth.

He lacked big financial backing and faced tough breaks in his early Xfinity and Truck Series starts, including DNFs and on-track incidents. But his perseverance paid off. In 2024, he became only the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race, joining trailblazers Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. Now, in 2025, a season where every playoff spot counts, Caruth has found a new edge that’s turning heads across the garage.

Rajah Caruth’s playoff dream comes true

Rajah Caruth’s path to victory in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway was anything but straightforward. While Caruth mastered the restarts throughout the race, he struggled to hold the lead in the opening two stages. However, in the final stage, he put all the pieces together. Caruth led the final 51 laps, demonstrating both composure and speed under intense pressure.

Coming into the night, Caruth sat 13th in the points standings, trailing the playoff cutline by 17 points. His average finish this season was 14.3, which is about 2.7 spots lower than his 11.6 average finish in 2024. This marked a slight dip in performance, but his recent win at Nashville shows he’s closing the gap and gaining momentum as the season progresses. But, where does this win root from? Let’s just say, it’s from Hendrick Motorsports’ ‘Secret Weapon’.

In the post-race presser, Caruth said, “I didn’t expect that all. Those guys were breathing down my neck that entire run. My guys won me the race, got us off pit road [in the lead] twice. We’ve been off this year, but good to get it done tonight. I’m out of breathe.” So, his ‘guys’ are the secret in the recipe! His Nashville win was a combination of flawless teamwork and steady focus during the high-pressure final laps. His crew executed perfect pit stops that put him in a prime position. Not just once, but twice!

The whole team came together for this one. @rajahcaruth_ talks with @JoshRSims after his NASCAR Truck Series victory in Nashville. pic.twitter.com/0GuCwNZ6Zg

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 31, 2025

First, Caruth’s crew gained him two positions, sending him into the lead as stage two officially restarted on lap 53. Once again, during the stage 2 pit stop, Caruth’s crew helped him gain two more spots, securing the lead for him. Stage three began differently. Caruth surged past Heim and quickly built a one-second lead. Caruth didn’t look back afterward. On the other hand, Layne Riggs, who was also fighting for a playoff spot, saw his chances slip away due to pit road misfortune. A slow stop during the critical stage three pit cycle dropped Riggs from contention. What a way to outdo the competition!

Caruth’s playoff dream, which seemed distant at the start of the night, became a reality thanks to the combined efforts of his crew and his own unwavering focus. As Josh Sims put it, “You had said you were one excellent day away from a win and getting back into the playoffs. How is that for an excellent day?” Going by the end result, it definitely was an excellent day for Rajah Caruth.

Wild night at Nashville in the Truck Series field

The 2025 Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway delivered the kind of drama and unpredictability that defines the NASCAR Truck Series. With 32 trucks on the grid, the 1.33-mile oval set the stage for 150 laps of intense racing, featuring a mix of veterans, rising stars, and Cup regulars like Kyle Busch.

Corey Heim started from pole after qualifying was rained out, earning his fourth pole of the season. Heim showed speed early, leading laps and battling at the front throughout the night. Layne Riggs, another playoff contender, was aggressive from the drop of the green flag.

Riggs muscled his way past Heim to win Stage 1, using bold blocks and smart moves to keep the lead. Heim responded in Stage 2, reclaiming the top spot and taking the stage win. On the other hand, Daniel Hemric, Corey Day, and Kaden Honeycutt stayed in the mix near the front.

The final stage was a showcase of strategy and execution. Pit stops shuffled the order, and while Rajah Caruth ultimately took the win, Heim and Riggs were relentless in pursuit. Heim kept the pressure on, never letting the gap grow beyond a second in the closing laps. With five laps to go, Heim tried to pass on the outside but had to lift, allowing Riggs to catch up and battle for second. The two even made contact, fighting hard as the laps wound down.

Behind the podium, Daniel Hemric finished fourth, nearly four seconds behind the winner, while Corey Day rounded out the top five. Kaden Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, Ty Majeski, Bayley Currey, and Grant Enfinger completed the top ten, each running competitive races and capitalizing on late-race opportunities.

In the end, the 2025 Rackley Roofing 200 was a testament to the depth of talent and fierce competition in the Truck Series, with Rajah Caruth, Corey Heim, and Layne Riggs proving they’ll be contenders all season long.

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