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Rajah Caruth entering Xfinity Series race at Kansas with Hendrick Motorsports

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 12:16 PM ET

For the first time since 2023, Rajah Caruth is getting behind the wheel of the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. This will be the third NASCAR Xfinity Series start for Caruth this season.

Rajah Caruth made one start with the Hendrick Motorsports Xfinity Series team back in 2023. He finished P14 at Phoenix in that race. However, we have seen him run P12 at Martinsville in Alpha Prime Racing cars.

Kansas is an interesting track to choose for this start. Caruth has two Xfinity starts at Kansas, and neither race went spectacularly. P25 and P29. This Hendrick car has had a few development drivers take the wheel this season. Corey Day is the most notable, as well as Jake Finch.

Kansas is a track that Rajah Caruth has raced at many times. In his three years in the Truck Series, it has been on the schedule twice a year every year during that time. On top of that, he has starts in ARCA and, as mentioned, Xfinity at the track. Now, he’s back with the big team.

Next stop: Kansas!@rajahcaruth_ will drive the No. 17 @HendrickCars Chevy at Kansas next weekend. pic.twitter.com/BbSpv4VwZ0
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) September 18, 2025

Rajah Caruth has two career wins in the Craftsman Truck Series. He has prevailed at Las Vegas and, this year, at Nashville. Those intermediate tracks appear to be his best in his full-time series. So, we will see how he reacts to Kansas in the Xfinity car.

“I feel extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity and for me, I think about how much I’ve grown since the last time I was fortunate enough to drive a race car out of this building,” Caruth said, via HendrickMotorsports.com. “I believe my experience I’ve accumulated the last few years in the (CRAFTSMAN) Truck Series, and my partial Xfinity stuff will put me right where I need to be to run up front and hopefully have a good race.”

So, Rajah Caruth is seeing a good opportunity ahead of him right now. However, he has to keep his focus this week on New Hampshire and the Truck Series Playoffs. Making it to the Round of 8 won’t be easy, but with a points cushion, Caruth is in a good position to make it happen.

Hendrick Motorsports has a few irons in the fire as far as development drivers. Corey Day has a ton of backing from Kyle Larson. He’s a sprint car driver and phenom who has impressed many this season as he has made the transition from dirt to pavement.

Rajah Caruth has been with HendrickCars.com for two years now. Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports took an interest in Caruth in 2023. Since then, they have supported his career through sponsorship at Spire Motorsports.

Make no mistake about it, Hendrick is always looking for the next thing in racing. Could Caruth start developing into the kind of driver who could make the Cup Series in a few years? That, for now, remains to be seen. If he can win more in the Truck Series, it definitely wouldn’t hurt.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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