NASCAR News: Rajah Caruth wins Vegas Truck race

Polesitter Rajah Caruth drove his HendrickCars sponsored Chevy truck to a 0.851s victory over Tyler Ankrum in the Victoria Voice Foundation 200 NASCAR Truck race in Las Vegas Friday night.

It was Caruth’s first career win in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace as the only Black drivers in history to win a NASCAR national series race.

Caruth led the final 21 laps, pulling away to win.

“I’m just very speechless,” Caruth said. “It’s been a tough journey so far, and a lot of people have helped me get to this point. There’s been ups and downs, but this journey has been fruitful at times and testing at times.”

Caruth, driving the No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports, led the second-most laps, 38, in a race that featured nine leaders and 20 lead changes.

“I just stayed cool,” Caruth said. “We lost track position for a little portion of the race, and we just stayed in the game. It was one step, one punch, one round at a time. My guys got me a great pit stop, and we just executed.”

The front two Chevy trucks were followed across the line by three Toyotas of Corey Heim, Taylor Gray and Christopher Bell.

ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski led the most laps at 40, sweeping the first two stages. However, a pit-road speeding penalty late in the race cost the No. 98 Ford valuable track position, but still managed to get a 10th-place finish.

HendrickCars.com extended its partnership with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rajah Caruth and Spire Motorsports and will continue to serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 71 Chevrolet for the rest of the 2024 season.

It was announced before the season that HendrickCars.com would initially partner with Caruth for the first 10 races of the Truck Series season, but the 21-year-old standout from Washington, D.C., drew attention after finishing third at Daytona International Speedway and eighth at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“Rajah has had a tremendous start to 2024,” Gary Davis, executive vice president of the Hendrick Automotive Group, said in a press release. “When you combine his on-track potential, how he represents himself and HendrickCars.com, his impressive social media presence, and the incredible fan support he receives, we couldn’t pass on supporting him for the entire season.”

Caruth is an alumnus of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program and is currently fifth in the Truck Series standings. With the backing of HendrickCars.com and a solid start to the season, Caruth aims to build off the early momentum and become a budding contender as the season progresses.

“It’s pretty special to have HendrickCars.com on my chest,” Caruth said in the release. “I think about Phoenix last year when I drove the Xfinity car for Hendrick Motorsports. That, within itself, was an incredible moment. Knowing that HendrickCars.com has extended their relationship with Spire Motorsports and my No. 71 team kind of leaves me speechless. I’m super grateful because they don’t do that for just anyone. For me, to be affiliated with that group and have their support is an honor. I’m excited to get on with the rest of the season.”

Related Article: Rajah Caruth on being a college student and racer at the same time

Note: Post-race inspection in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is complete. All clear.

Victoria Voice Foundation 200 Results

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MANUF	BEHIND	LAPS
1	71	Rajah Caruth		—	134
2	18	Tyler Ankrum		0.851	134
3	11	Corey Heim		1.287	134
4	17	Taylor Gray		2.732	134
5	1	Christopher Bell(i)		3.364	134
6	19	Christian Eckes		12.562	134
7	88	Matt Crafton		13.837	134
8	91	Zane Smith(i)		14.445	134
9	9	Grant Enfinger		17.886	134
10	98	Ty Majeski		26.819	134
11	13	Jake Garcia		29.892	134
12	32	Bret Holmes		30.852	134
13	99	Ben Rhodes		31.515	134
14	66	Conner Jones #		-1	133
15	7	Kyle Busch(i)		-1	133
16	77	Chase Purdy		-1	133
17	2	Nick Sanchez		-1	133
18	52	Stewart Friesen		-1	133
19	45	Connor Mosack		-1	133
20	15	Tanner Gray		-1	133
21	02	Mason Massey		-1	133
22	38	Layne Riggs #		-1	133
23	33	Lawless Alan		-1	133
24	43	Daniel Dye		-2	132
25	46	Thad Moffitt #		-2	132
26	25	Ty Dillon		-2	132
27	22	Keith McGee		-3	131
28	41	Bayley Currey		-5	129
29	76	Spencer Boyd		-6	128
30	5	Dean Thompson		-9	125
31	42	Matt Mills		-9	125
32	56	Timmy Hill		-59	75

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