This weekend, Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports are giving Rajah Caruth the biggest opportunity of his career. Caruth is suiting up in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevy Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. It’s the place Gordon first noticed Caruth.
In a disappointing P4 result in the 2022 ARCA Menard’s Series race at Phoenix, Rajah Caruth didn’t completely miss out by not winning the race. Jeff Gordon was in attendance and he took notice of the sim-racer turned real-life race car driver.
According to a story in Arizona Central, Gordon thought Caruth was “very driven.” Now after a season with GMS Racing in the Truck Series, Caruth gets a big break in the 17 car.
“You just never know what a driver is getting into as far as equipment,” Gordon said. “This time we’re going to know he’s going to be in good (HMS) equipment. We’re looking forward to giving him a good race car and good race team. I’d like to see him go put a solid effort in there (and) make every lap. I think that’s probably going to be the most important thing first.”
Rajah Caruth was P17 in practice. He will try and improve upon that result in qualifying coming up this afternoon. Several times, Caruth has come close to winning a Truck Series pole award. He’s run up front in select races.
When you really watch Rajah Caruth race, he’s steady. He has that inate ability to not only avoid wrecks and hold a steady wheel, but also make those risky moves on the track that pay off in the biggest ways.
Rajah Caruth ready for his chance with Hendrick
So, let’s just call it what it is, Caruth does not have a ride in 2024. At least, not publicly. When he gets this opportunity with Hendrick, he has to make the most of it. The 17 car has had speed this year and it is up to Rajah to do what he will with it.
He knows what he’s been given.
“I’m excited to have those at my disposal,” Caruth said. “(I’m) just trying to mitigate my excitement, but also be as present as I can because it’s important, personally, for me to be at the racetrack with my team and be at the shop there to show the men and women that I care about it and I’m committed.”
A top-15 finish would be great. However, I think there is potential for a top-10 finish if he has the perfect race. Between 2022 and 2023, Caruth has made 18 starts in the Xfinity Series. He has a best finish of P12 at Martinsville in each of those years. Last year, he was P17 in an Alpha Prime Racing car at Phoenix. Not to mention, four times, Rajah Caruth has been top-10 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Not to get too far into the weeds, but the Xfinity car seems to fit his style of racing better. Rajah has been alright at GMS. He’s also had some mechanical failures and bad luck at the same time. If he was P17 a year ago with Alpha Prime, a career-best finish in the Xfinity Series might not be out of the question.
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