Rajah Caruth is living a normal life after his first victory in the NASCAR Truck Series

For a young man who has just entered the motorsport record books, Rajah Caruth is unabashedly laid back. On March 1, he became the third black driver to step into a NASCAR victory lane when he won the Craftsman Truck Series race in Las Vegas. The victory was a great source of pride for the people of NASCAR, not to say his hometown of Washington.

For the 21-year-old, who hadn’t even graduated from college yet, in some ways last weekend was just one other one on the track, ending with him joining fellow NASCAR winners Wendell Scott (1963) and Bubba Wallace (2013). He has a lot on his mind, including the upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway, what his favorite sports teams are doing and ensuring his hair is in order.

Full disclosure: When I first met Caruth, he was just graduating from highschool and was already moving into real cars after a well-documented profession in iRacing. Reminds me of a lot of my younger brother and his “it is what it is” approach to life – not to say that they each went to high schools where they competed against one another in sports.

We caught him doing media interviews at a automobile wash on Monday, where he asked questions while one in every of his homies frolicked with him. He knows his place in the game and hopes this week’s headlines won’t be his last.

You took pole position and won the race. How much did you’re feeling like you truly ran the best race of your profession, versus just having a good race that you simply happened to win?

I definitely feel like I had a good race simply because I didn’t really make any mistakes. Fortunately, you realize, (I) did very well. (I) didn’t put myself in any bad position, either aerodynamically or positionally. I feel overall I just ran the complete one. Overall it was pretty good and the whole lot worked out for us, so I used to be happy with myself for the way it went.

Honestly, we do not do the rest. We customize each truck with little things for every race track. Honestly, it’s just business as usual. Luckily the whole lot worked out this weekend, nevertheless it won’t occur every weekend. So you simply have to organize for once they do and prepare for once they don’t.

DC has your back. My brother went to BASIS and GDS (Georgetown Day School) and knows a group of children from the school without partitions who’re about your age. And he said, “Hey, everyone I know is talking about it.” What does it feel like when your generation talks about your achievements?

It’s a crazy day in Georgetown. I remember playing against them in basketball games and track games, so man, that is something special. You all the time take into consideration exhibiting something there on your city. As an athlete, you think that, “Oh, well, if I can go somewhere, I can go somewhere with this.” I’ll always remember where you come from, where I come from. I definitely feel it and it’s truly amazing.

Compared to other sports, I used to be best at track and field (and on the court), but I probably loved basketball the most. I just wasn’t the best athletically as a basketball player. I could do well enough defensively and stuff just by being strong, short and having good cardio. But basketball was the first game I played. I played football until my sophomore yr of highschool. I ran track until my senior yr, (played) basketball until my sophomore yr of highschool. (I) definitely learned a lot during these team sports days.

How are your parents doing now? One of the things about your story is the involvement they’d in your development. What do their faith, faith and sacrifice mean to you that you may fulfill a minimum of this a part of your dream?

My family includes not only my parents and younger sister, but in addition my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother, friends, prolonged family and friends. They all really lifted my spirits, so it was great to have the support of my village from the very starting. I feel very blessed.

My parents go to most of the races now, so it’s pretty cool. But everyone else goes to the one nearby. I actually do not know in the event that they even prefer it. I mean, after all I’m driving and so they’re like, “I’ll meet him afterward,” and all that, and I visit him after the fact, but beyond that, I truthfully do not know.

Racing is obviously not a team sport and the mental side is completely different. How do you address this burden personally and in competition?

I actually have a therapist now. But our training in the Chevy program is amazing. In mental training, response time is really the whole lot. It really draws us into what we experienced in the trucks.

It was interesting to learn something – or not – but see the similarities and differences from other sports I played growing up. Sometimes it’s camaraderie, sometimes it’s something like “we’re not cool.” It was interesting, but after that weekend I felt a lot of affection and respect from my competitors. So it felt pretty special.

If anything, go a little deeper because you might really hurt someone. I’m interested by Daytona, right? And I caused this latest crash, not on purpose. But one in every of the guys I’m cool with is flying through the air. I look in the mirror and think, “Hey, I caused this.” Honestly, it’s crazy.

Do you watch other sports? Or are you simply closed off?

I like watching NBA basketball, it’s probably the only thing I (watch) a lot. But I’m a Wizards fan, man. So times are difficult.

Man, (Oklahoma City Thunder guard) Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) should win MVP. I could walk for a while. First of all, I feel prefer it’s a lot easier to attain nowadays than once I remember watching the Heat or the Celtics in the Finals in early 2010, or the Celtics and the Lakers. These aren’t very point-scoring games, are they? Now it’s like having each teams over 110 points every night. I do not know what’s modified… persons are so a lot better, nor do I do know what’s modified in terms of it being easier to attain. I truthfully love basketball. It’s probably my second favorite thing about sports, after NASCAR.

Separately Commanders (Washington): I ponder who we’ll pick (second overall in the NFL draft), but perhaps we’ll take over the league next yr? I do not know. We’ll see. I’m saying it hasn’t worked for the last five years. Who do I would like? Not Drake Maye. Not him. Definitely.

Hair is getting longer and we love seeing it. Is there a particular reason why you’re feeling there is a way of expressing yourself in this? Or perhaps it’s just a part of your lifestyle?

Well, to be honest, I’m at a loss. But I like my hair growing. During the winter, I did a little bit of fiddling around. But since I exercise almost day-after-day, my hair is itchy. I am unable to stand not washing my hair, so I identical to to have a little fun, whether it’s combed or curled, you realize? My girlfriend likes my long hair, so I plan to maintain it that way. So you realize where my priorities lie.