RAJAH CARUTH: SUCCESS AGAINST ALL ODDS BY ASHLEIGH FIELDS
R ajah Caruth has made a living by pushing limits, foot pressed against the pedal, speeding around elite NASCAR tracks at more than 200 miles per hour. As a professional race car driver, Caruth thrives in high- octane environments where focus, precision, and passion collide. A proud graduate of Winston- Salem State University (WSSU), Caruth earned his degree in motorsports management in the fall of 2024 and has been accelerating toward greatness ever since.
the university as a whole,” said Dr. Clay Harshaw, associate professor and coordinator of WSSU’s motorsports management program. “Rajah’s success has played a major role in that.” Even before walking across the graduation stage, Caruth made history — becoming only the third Black driver to win a national NASCAR series race, joining the ranks of trailblazers Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. That same year, he was honored with NASCAR’s 2021 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award for his national performance, sportsmanship, and service to the community.
His dream of racing professionally began after high school in Washington, D.C., but Caruth’s childhood was rooted in more traditional sports. “I grew up taking public transportation and playing basketball, running track and cross-country, and playing soccer in rec leagues,” he said. His high school, School Without Walls, located just five blocks from the White House, placed him in the heart of the nation’s political hub.
a lot about government, foreign policy, and how to respectfully engage with differing opinions,” he explained. “That experience gave me a valuable toolbox to function at a high level wherever I go.” At age 16, Caruth began his racing journey in the virtual world, competing in the eNASCAR Ignite Series. But while the digital tracks offered a start, real-world opportunities were harder to come by. Accessing the predominantly white world of stock car racing proved challenging for a young Black teenager with bold ambitions.
“I’ve seen a significant increase in interest in our program and in
“I was always surrounded by diverse perspectives and learned
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