Exclusive: Aspiring Driver Rajah Caruth On Going From iRacing To Entering NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Program
Recently featured on an episode of BET’s The Family Business is 18 year-old Rajah Caruth, who’s the newest member of NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Program. The series showcased a storyline that integrates this NASCAR program with the characters in the story.
For Caruth, not only was he able to make his TV debut but also spotlighted a program and sport that many African Americans are not heavily aware or involved in.
NASCAR Drive for Diversity provides opportunities for women and minorities to pursue careers in NASCAR in the driver’s seat and on pit crews through the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Program and off the track through the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.
From playing iRacing back home in Washington D.C to moving to North Carolina to pursue his dream, Caruth has twice won races in the eNASCAR IGNITE Series, and earned two heat wins with Rev Racing in the 2019 Bojangles’ Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
BlackFilmandTV.com spoke exclusively with Caruth on taking his dream to reality and hoping he can be successful as a driver.
Where did this drive from iRacing to doing the real thing come from?
Rajah Caruth: Well, I knew what iracing was for a couple years prior. I just sat down and I didn't look at it as something I'll just play with friends. I look at it as a way to try to get my foot in the door, and my way up the ladder to be in the cup some day. That's really where it started. I went from there and competed and worked on there and was able to make National Drive for Diversity Youth last year.
At what point did your parents talk to you about the seriousness of race car driving?
Rajah Caruth: The event that got my parents more involved was when I made Drive For NASCAR Diversity Youth. That’s when we made the commitment to be down here in Charlotte last summer, and at that point, we started doing college conversations as well. So that's really where it became serious in their eyes on me. For me, I've been about it since day one, but just from a physical standpoint, from my parents, I think that's really hit them about my level of focus.
Why was it important to be included in the Drive For Diversity Youth program?
Rajah Caruth: The reason I really wanted to get into this program was because it was the opportunity that was available for me and it just seemed like it was a good statement from the tryout. Honestly speaking, it was one of the few options I really had at that point in time, just try to get something going and give it a shot.
Growing up, was there anyone else that felt the same way, a classmate, a buddy or was it just you on your own?
Rajah Caruth: It was just me. I went the school that was in DC and I was only person that really a passion for motor sports in general. There’s not a lot of people that were interested in stuff like that, but I was really on my own there. So it was cool.
When you’re not focus on this, what else are you doing?
Rajah Caruth: The life of a racer driver is hectic. I had to miss some parts of my senior year last year just for different commitments, but I still made time to be able to go to the big things. Due to COVID-19, we didn't have things like prom or graduation but I still was able to go homecoming and other events. Although things are busy, I'm still able to make time for the stuff that I care about and enjoy being at. I try to embrace everything as much as I can.
Can you explain what iRacing is?
Rajah Caruth: iRacing is a motor sports simulator. There's NASCAR stuff, INDY, Formula One, the cheaper cars, and literally almost every form of racing in the world. Almost every form of auto racing on the planet. It has tracks from from America, Canada, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They're scanned really to such fine details to be replicated on on a computer and the physics are really worked on to replicate what happens in real life.
How good were you at the game?
Rajah Caruth: I was pretty good, I guess. I was pretty decent in terms of putting in the work. It was the summer into junior year when I got my focused into it. I was really having to carve out time around sports as well to be able to put in time on the set.
You also happen to appear on BET’s The Family Business. Can you talk about that experience?
Rajah Caruth: It was cool. They had just reached out and we went out to Daytona for a day and came back. That was my first real experience doing a series or being part of one. Honestly, looking at where I was a couple years ago, it’s crazy to see what I have done already in the last few years.
Who did you idolize growing up?
Rajah Caruth: Growing up, there was Jimmie Johnson, 7-time Cup champion. Not just for what he did on the track but how he was on camera and off the track, in terms of treating people right respectfully and being a great ambassador for the sport. There's Darrell Wallace Jr. So those are two people that I look up to.
Within the documentary, there’s a segment in which Bubba Wallace is featured. How was talking with him, knowing that there’s another Black driver in the sport and someone you can go to for advice?
Rajah Caruth: I just try to focus on just trying to do what I can, and not necessarily read into all the hype but to have fun. Having somebody there that can share the same experiences is pretty cool. I just want to go out, put in the work and have fun
You're expected to go to Winston Salem State. How will you balance school and racing?
Rajah Caruth: Being at an HBCU and only an hour away from the race track will be cool just because I already have my classes to where I'll be able to make time for everything and put in the work and go have fun and be able to do stuff on campus. So I'm ready for that experience.
Is there a way you can get credit from the racing?
Rajah Caruth: I’m not sure yet. We'll see. I’m not doing engineering. I'm just doing more of the management side and business stuff. I would’t expect to learn that much technical stuff from school. I'm learning technical stuff really from being on the shop every day and working. Getting a good knowledge of the pattern for the business side of it will be helpful just because I can get an understanding of it. As I go through the ranks, and hopefully I make cup one day, I'll have a different understanding of it than other people and I can set myself apart.