Rajah Caruth returning to Spire for 2025 Truck Series season

Spire Motorsports announced Friday that Rajah Caruth will return to the race team in 2025 to pilot the HendrickCars.com No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Wanna do it again?@rajahcaruth_ returns to the @HendrickCars No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado in the 2025 season!

📰: https://t.co/oZAa8mJb6A pic.twitter.com/skdfL5avEi

— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) December 13, 2024

Caruth, 22, joined Spire ahead of the 2024 season, and was behind the wheel of the No. 71 truck in a full-time capacity. He finished seventh in the points standings, notching his first career Truck Series victory in the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas in March, becoming just the third African American driver to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race. Caruth tallied 12 top 10s and five top 5s in 23 starts. He made his full-time debut in 2023 with GMS Racing in the No. 24 Silverado, finishing 16th in the standings.

Spire’s 2025 crew chief lineup will be announced at a later date.

“It is great to have a home and stability heading into next year,” Caruth said. “I believe this is the first time in my career I won’t be with a new team. Or competing in a different series at the start of the season. I really appreciate the opportunity [Spire co-owners] Jeff [Dickerson] and T.J. [Puchyr] have given me, and I’m excited to continue preparations for 2025.

“Our organization has really grown over the past year, and we have shown what we are capable of. We have set the bar high for the season. And the expectation is to win more races and compete for a championship.”

Rajah Caruth collects degree from Winston-Salem State

Friday turned out to be a big day both on a professional and personal level for Caruth. Just before Spire made things official for the 2025 campaign, Caruth walked the commencement stage to accept his college diploma. Caruth earned a Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Management from Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University.

“I’m glad to be done with school,” Caruth said. “It required a lot of hard work and sacrifice, along with diligent time management between coursework and everything associated with racing including team meetings, simulator time and travel. I appreciate everything Dr. [Clay] Harshaw, Dr. [Dennis] Felder and all my professors at Winston-Salem State have done to help me finish school while chasing my dream.

“It is super cool to have the faculty, student body and WSSU National Alumni Association following me in my journey and cheering me on. The crew chiefs I’ve had through the years have been flexible with my schedule so I could finish this chapter. And I’m ready for racing become my lone focus.”