Winston-Salem State senior Rajah Caruth finished a career best third on Friday night in the NASCAR Truck Series season opener. But the finish wasn’t without controversy. Caruth was battling for the lead on the final lap and ended up triggering a twelve truck crash causing the Fresh From Florida 250 to end under caution.
Caruth’s No. 71 truck drifted up the exit of Turn 2 while running third and tapped Jack Wood’s No. 91 Chevy and calamity ensured afterward. After the race Caruth said he’d have to watch the replay to see exactly what happened but felt that he had some help in the accident.
“Man, I felt like I got a bad push there, and you‘re already getting tight off of the corner, and everybody is going for all they have on the last lap. I feel terrible to see trucks like that torn up. I hope Taylor (Gray) is all right. But a good night to start the year,” said Caruth.
Caruth took the lead with nine laps remaining before a freight train of trucks lined up along the outside to shuffle him back in the draft. He remained in the mix surging back to the front in the closing laps. On the final restart of the race he lined up on the outside of eventual winner Nick Sanchez in second place. Caruth was initially listed as the second place finisher but NASCAR ultimately ruled him in third place after sorting through the final caution after the wreck.
With the finish Caruth starts the 2024 season eighth in the standings. He collected 34 points on Friday night, but despite the good finish missed out on the opportunity to collect stage points along the way.
Rajah Caruth will be back in action in the Truck Series next Saturday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.