Rajah Caruth made history earlier this year when he became the third black driver in history to win a NASCAR race.
The 21-year-old is currently a student at Winston-Salem State University, an HBCU located just over an hour from the heart of racing country. Charlotte Motor Speedway is the de facto home track for the majority of NASCAR – including Caruth. He is currently a driver for Spire Motorsports, based in nearby Mooresville, NC, on the NASCAR Craftsmen Truck Series.
The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 was held at Charlotte on Friday, and Caruth had plenty of support from his HBCU. Several hundred WSSU alumni and supporters filed into a corner of the speedway for a night of fun, food and fellowship while watching the only active NASCAR driver at an HBCU compete on the track below.
Caruth, a Washington, D.C. native, graciously made his way up to the function to take time signing autographs for fans young and seasoned who showed up to cheer him on prior to the race. After he left, the fans hit the dance floor and for the Cupid Shuffle, Tamia Line Dance and more.
It was a tough night on the track for Rajah Caruth, as his promising start was derailed when he was hit leaving pit road. He managed to get back into sixth place but ultimately finished 17th on the night. While WSSU fans would have liked to see him get his second NASCAR win, the atmosphere of the night was generally a pleasant one for those who took the time out to go.