A lot can happen in 25 days.
On Feb. 7, Rajah Caruth was named the driver of the Spire Motorsports No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado for the full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
At the time, HendrickCars.com was slated to be the primary sponsor Caruth for 10 races, with 13 events still to be determined.
Four weeks later, Caruth snagged a third-place finish in the season-opening event at Florida’s Daytona Int’l Speedway and gained primary sponsorship from the automotive group for the remaining 13 races that were yet to be covered.
An eighth one week later at Atlanta Motor Speedway set up the 21-year-old for a breakthrough.
On Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Caruth made history.
After starting on the pole and leading 38 laps, Caruth became the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series event.
“I’m pretty speechless,” Caruth said. “It’s been a tough journey so far. A lot of people have helped me get to this point. Thank you to every single one of y’all.”
Caruth detailed the trials heading into the season with a ride not secured as the calendar flipped to 2024.
“Definitely ups and downs. But this journey has been fruitful at times and testing at times,” Caruth began. “I’m just super grateful for Mr. H (Rick Hendrick) because he’s the only reason why I got in this thing full time.
“This winter was a lot of uncertainty about where I’d be driving, not having a bunch of funding behind me at the time. I just stayed true to my faith and my family. Fortunately, a lot of people put a lot of stuff together for me to be in this spot.”
Now with a berth in the NASCAR Playoffs likely, Caruth can tackle the remaining 13 regular season races with security.
“I just feel relieved, right, to be locked in a playoff spot,” Caruth said.
His approach to the season, however, remains steadfast.
“Besides that, man, I mean, it doesn’t change,” Caruth said. “We prepare just as hard, do all the little things right the best way we can each race, adjust accordingly.
“It doesn’t really change my outlook for the rest of the season. I feel relief because I haven’t won anything since I’ve been racing late models. I’ve been really close.
“The ARCA stuff I raced over the last couple years, obviously a couple times last year, to finally get a win, it’s been a long time, but it feels special.”