DAYTONA BEACH, Fla: With a clear mind and mission, Rajah Caruth looked forward to contending for a win in Friday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
The third-year racer out of Washington, D.C. knew that he had to finish well in the Fresh From Florida 250 in order to be in contention for his second career Truck Series win and a likely return to the Truck Series Playoffs.
“Make it to Phoenix. I think that’s what is most important. It is hard to set goals for race wins, laps lead and other stats like that. A lot of the time, that is out of your control,” said Caruth ahead of his third Truck Series run at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
“If we execute as we should and end up in Phoenix with a shot at the championship, the numbers will take care of themselves.”
Starting the race in the 13th position, the No.71 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet driver hovered around his starting position. Multiple cautions brought the 20-lap Stage 1 to a quick end with Caruth securing the 13th position.
Coming to the pit road for fuel only, the Spire Motorsports driver would return to the field in the 13th position for the start of Stage 2.
Dicey movement from the pack quickly changed the demeanor of the former Truck Series winner as clearly frustrated, Caruth would get bogged down in traffic and began to get antsy in the driver’s seat. His spotter Eddie D’Hondt reminded him, “Long way to go. I got you. This is where everyone gets antsy. Be cool.”
A wild bumping and banging three-wide finish would conclude Stage 2, leaving Caruth in 10th place and earning a valuable stage point.
Bringing his truck to pit road for a set of new Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel, Caruth would leave only to be told that he would need to come back down pit road for repairs to his front left fender that was damaged in the melee at the end of the second stage.
Returning to pit road, the team quickly got to work, popping out the fender and sending it back out on the track to join the field.
“It’s back to 100%. You would never have been able to lead like that,” the team informed their driver.
Back to racing for the third and final stage on Lap 56 from the 25th position.
However, the young driver quickly made up positions, and by Lap 76, Caruth had climbed to third place.
Looking through the windshield and seeing the way to the front came to a halt when a multi-truck accident ensued. While he was busy avoiding the carnage, Toni Breidinger’s No.5 truck proceeded to run him over from the rear, pushing his truck out of the way and into the inside ending his night.
