Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Rajah Caruth’s Name Swirling Around JR Motorsports Ahead of Kansas Test

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Gowtham Ramalingam | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 12:01 AM ET

JR Motorsports is steadfastly shaping itself for the 2026 season as it cruises strongly towards the 2025 Xfinity Series championship. After securing Rodney Childers’s signature as crew chief in a groundbreaking development, the team could next bring in 23-year-old Rajah Caruth as a part-time driver.

Caruth is currently employed full-time by Spire Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series. He also races for Jordan Anderson Racing in the Xfinity Series on a sporadic basis. What the rumor mill has spun for some time now is that the driver is close to signing for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports.

It has been confirmed that the team’s No. 1 entry will be shared by Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. The No. 7 will remain with Justin Allgaier, and the No. 8, with Sammy Smith. The speculation is that the No. 88 will be shared by Caruth and one other driver. Official confirmations are yet to arrive.

Expect JRM 1 & 88 as full time but not necessarily one driver (Kvapil/Zilisch in 1, tba 88) ... 7-Allgaier and 8-Sammy Smith full time ... and then 9 when needed ... could depend on Cup limit rules/number of races Hendrick does for its drivers (current Cup drivers/Corey Day) https://t.co/FWCgWpggWW
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 24, 2025

Caruth made history in Las Vegas last year when he became the third Black driver ever to win a NASCAR national series race. He could achieve greater things with the resources of a team like JR Motorsports. Rick Hendrick is a key part of the ownership at JR Motorsports, along with Dale Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt.

Which is why it’s rather interesting that the driver will be piloting the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports car at the Kansas Speedway this weekend. This could very well be an audition of sorts.

Caruth Is Eager To Perform Well at Kansas

Caruth said in a team statement when the news of his participation in the Xfinity Series race at Kansas broke, “I believe my experience I've accumulated the last few years in the 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.”

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

The youngster has been backed by HendrickCars.com throughout his Truck Series career and is a proven winner, finishing the 2024 season in seventh place on the final standings. Among 21 starts in the Xfinity Series so far, his best result was 12th at the Martinsville Speedway (2022).

A top-10 or a better result would go a long way in making the rumors of his position with JR Motorsports a reality.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: