WS Chronicle

Winston-Salem State University remains the first and only HBCU to have a motorsports management degree program. WSSU is now set to claim another monumental first. Sophomore Rajah Caruth will be the first professional driver in a NASCAR series to represent an HBCU. Rajah will be racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27 as part of the Coca-Cola 600 weekend in Concord.

Rajah originally came to NASCAR as part of the Drive for Diversity program. In 2018, he was one of a dozen applicants ages 12-17 selected from a national pool to compete for four spots on the team. Caruth was the only racer who came from an iRacing background and had never set foot in a race car until he was 16 – very rare for NASCAR drivers. The Drive for Diversity program aims to get more people of color and women participating in NASCAR, as they have been historically underrepresented in the sport.

To date, Rajah is one of only three professional Black drivers in a NASCAR series.

Over the past few years, Rajah has been making major waves in the racing circuit. He currently sits in first place in the National ARCA Menard Series, where he is a full-time driver representing Rev Racing located in Concord, North Carolina. He has also had significant finishes in Talladega, Phoenix, and Daytona. Most recently, Caruth has his career best placement as the runner-up in the Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway.

“I learned the importance of HBCUs at an early age. My father went to an HBCU and is currently serving as a professor at Howard University, so I’ve been exposed to a culture and support system that is like no other. Being in WSSU’s Motorsports Management allows me to learn while doing what I love,” said Rajah Caruth.

WSSU’s Motorsports Management program was established in 2007. Students get a complete immersion into the industry with hands-on opportunities in operations, marketing, sponsorship, and event planning.

“WSSU is leading the way in motorsports. We’re one of only two programs in North Carolina. Motorsports is a multi-million-dollar industry that encompasses a variety of career opportunities. Most students don’t think about motorsports needing doctors, nurses, social media strategists, or accountants. We’re opening the doors and exposing students to paths they never imagined,” said Dr. Clay Harshaw, associate professor of Motorsports Management.  

To find out more about Rajah Caruth’s racing journey, please follow him on social @rajahcaruth.