What’s Happening?

The NASCAR season draws ever closer, but free agents are still without a ride, including Rajah Caruth. What is the hold-up with Caruth, and what are the latest updates on his 2024 season?

• Rajah Caruth became a free agent after GMS Racing shut down following the 2023 season. Since then, he has been shopping around for a ride, but, nothing has been announced to the public yet.
• Caruth competed full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2023 with four top-10s. He also races part-time in the Xfinity Series with 11 starts for Alpha Prime and one start for Rick Hendrick.
• Fans are intrigued to see where Caruth can go in 2024. He has a decently sized fanbase, and they are all waiting to see what his 2024 plans will be.

Most Recent Updates

Rajah Caruth spoke with Bob Pockrass back in November, the first week of the offseason. In there, Caruth indicated that he has plans set for the 2024 season saying he could bring, “Some of my guys” to his 2024 destination. Pockrass later indicated that Caruth would likely stay in the Truck Series.

The offseason has gone on, and Truck Series rides have been taken up. Still no announcement on Caruth. Not even a peep from him or anyone associated with him. So, what is the hold-up with no ride announced two months later?

What’s the Hold-Up?

If there is anything certain about NASCAR Silly Season, it’s that there is constant change. Early in the offseason, it seemed like a slam dunk that Ty Dillon was heading to Kaulig Racing, but, that never materialized. However, that was from “Inside sources”, and this Caruth update comes from Caruth himself.

That does not mean things cannot change behind the scenes. Trevor Bayne opened up to Kelly Crandall about how he had a full-time Truck Series ride locked down before a sponsor backed out. Things may have changed behind the scenes with Caruth.

It’s also possible that his plans are part-time rides, and, generally speaking, teams fielding part-time drivers take a while to announce them. Two chartered Cup Series entries do not have their seats filled for the full season, and one possible reason is that they are fielding part-time entries.

There are plenty of options for Caruth to race part-time in 2024. In the Truck Series, there is Spire Motorsports, which has been aligned with Hendrick Motorsports, whom Caruth drove for once in 2023. Alpha Prime still needs to fill races with the part-time 45 car, and Caruth has raced with them.

There are still full-time options out there for him, although, things are getting a bit sparse. Young’s Motorsports or Hattori Racing Enterprises are maybe the best Truck Series rides available. Hattori has not won a race since 2021, and Young’s Motorsports failed to qualify for three races in 2023.

AM Racing and Sam Hunt Racing are probably the two best Xfinity Series teams left, but, those would require a manufacturer change. Does Caruth want to switch manufacturers?

Caruth may be holding off announcing plans for some reason or another. However, the longer things go on, the more uncertain things become.