Perhaps a pat on the back from the Hendrick family is a lucky charm. Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series, with Kyle Larson securing four wins. Likewise, Rick and Linda Hendrick’s support seems to be working in the Craftsman Truck Series as well, with Rajah Caruth, a protégé of Bubba Wallace, earning his fourth top-five finish of the season at the perfect time.
The playoff race, the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway, presented by Ohio Logistics, was an intense battle among four drivers. Layne Riggs played spoiler for playoff contenders, while Caruth engaged in a fierce duel with Corey Heim for second place. Although Caruth didn’t clinch the spot, he still praised his team.
“It’s super cool to see him go through all the motions… being in the right spot and right mindset,” Bubba Wallace proudly remarked after Caruth secured his first Truck Series win at Las Vegas this year. Wallace, who has mentored Caruth for five years, continues to be impressed by his protégé’s performance in 2024, as does Rick Hendrick.
Qualifying third in the UNOH 200, Caruth claimed his first-ever stage win. A fierce fight for the podium followed between Heim and Christian Eckes. In a photo finish, Heim edged Caruth by just 0.022 seconds. Reflecting on the race, Caruth said, “I had a chance to win… I don’t feel like I executed that well. I should have run in the top five… It was fun racing with Corey and Christian, who are always contenders. It was great to be in the mix with them all night. I’m just replaying what I could’ve done differently in those last 2-3 restarts.”
Although he narrowly missed second place, Caruth expressed his gratitude toward the Hendricks and his Spire Motorsports team. “Really proud of my Hendrick Cars.com crew, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick… Spire, Ally, everyone… I wish it was a win, but I’m proud of this,” Caruth shared.
He also praised the truck he drove and looked forward to the next race in Kansas, saying, “This was a really good truck, and the guys gave me a great setup… I love Bristol, so it was cool that my first stage win came here – a great place for us to get in. I’m excited for Kansas next week.”
Caruth’s victory in Las Vegas remains a standout in his impressive season. However, his unofficial mentor missed a promise that day.
Back in March, Caruth grabbed attention in the Spire Motorsports Truck Series. Driving his blue and white No. 71 truck, Caruth led for 38 laps, including the final 21, finishing 0.851 seconds ahead of Tyler Ankrum to secure his first Truck Series win.
Over 600 congratulatory messages flooded in from friends, teammates, and family. Caruth once again thanked Mr. Hendrick, saying, “Thanks so much to HendrickCars.com and Mr. H for giving me this opportunity all year.” Even Cup Series drivers like William Byron and Kyle Larson celebrated his achievement.
But the person who promised to be the first to congratulate him in Victory Lane was missing—Bubba Wallace. Wallace later explained his absence, saying, “With 28 laps to go after the final pit stops, I realized my fists were clenched. I thought, ‘That’s weird, relax.’ By 15 to go, I was super focused, and with 10 to go, I got up. I didn’t want him to get ahead of himself.”
Despite not being there in person, Wallace praised Caruth’s progress. “I was really proud. (Tyler) Ankrum was closing in, but I knew Caruth was saving his stuff. Once he took the white flag, I felt a huge relief. When he made it through Turns 3 and 4, it was home free, and that was awesome.”
It’s clear that Rajah Caruth’s mentors continue to push him toward even greater success. With a 35-point cushion above the playoff cutline, Caruth leaves Bristol in a strong position to make a serious championship run.
Bubba Wallace’s Protégé Fights Back Tears: Heartfelt Gratitude to Mr. & Mrs. Hendrick After Epic Playoff Journey!
