Amidst the essence of Founders Library, Rajah Caruth engaged with fellow visionary leaders at Howard University. Chronicling his journey, the professional stock car driver and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) alum exemplified the transformative power of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
On April 16, Caruth relished the moment by discussing life before and after racing on some of NASCAR’s most prominent tracks.
He credits his D.C. upbringing for initially molding him into the high achiever he is today.
“Everybody[‘s] transplants…that’s crazy,” the native jokingly exclaimed once he questioned where attendees were from.
The lighthearted statement set the tone for further recollections as the once timid room began to relax, immediately bursting into laughter.
Despite being born in Atlanta, Georgia, “Kirby” grew up immersed in the lively D.C. culture. From living in a house on K and 10th street to “taking the Metro, going around the city,” he possessed what he felt was a normal childhood. The only factor that distinguished him from others was that he took to racing so early.
Like most youth, the racer played sports such as basketball and soccer. Though racing became a passion that extended beyond a love for cars, let alone the 2006 Disney film itself. His first real introduction to the sport was through online racing because there were no racing tracks nearby.
Reflecting on his experience, he shared a brief story about how he got started behind the wheel, even from the comfort of his own home.
“We had to do a GoFundMe family fundraiser to get my first simulator at the house,” Caruth said.
Evidently, the tool came in handy for the talent, who was one of four drivers chosen to participate in NASCAR and Rev Racing’s Drive for Diversity Program. Back in 2019, at just 17, Rajah gained developmental exposure that was uncommon for many to receive at the time.
A year later the young hopeful made history, becoming the first African American driver to win a late-model race at South Carolina’s famed Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
Because he is no stranger to achieving esteemed accolades, the now 23-year-old is also the third African American driver to win a race in NASCAR’s National Touring Series.
Prompted by the discussion’s moderator, senior Public Relations manager, Olivia Brown, Caruth went on to elaborate about his years at WSSU. He attended the institution while simultaneously establishing his earlier footing at NASCAR. In 2024, the former ram graduated with a bachelor’s degree in motorsport management.
WSSU is the only public university to offer a bachelor’s degree in the field of study. More specifically, it is the only HBCU in the country to do so.
Caruth recalled some of the skills he learned during his matriculation and observed their contribution to his work ethic to date.
“Whether it’s time management, money management, there’s a lot of things that I’ve gained from my time at Winston,” he said.
Serving their purpose back then, these same skills are now relevant today.
“Not only were those [aspects] super important to help me get to where I’m at now with building a brand, [they] gave me the [ammunition] to [navigate] the world,” Caruth said.
Furthering the narrative around the impact of HBCUs, Caruth spoke to their underlying presence in NASCAR. He expressed that many HBCU alumni work behind the scenes, whether as pit crew members, PR managers or engineers.
“We’re around, not [always] in front of the camera. Hopefully, that continues to grow over time,” Caruth said.
His message spoke volumes to those like Gabrielle Whitfield, who was one of many students present during the conversation. The second-year junior, international affairs major appreciated the sense of transparency that it offered.
“It’s cool hearing from a Black male that’s around our age and a HBCU grad, doing big things on the global stage in NASCAR,” Whitfield said.
Harrison Brown, a sophomore sports management major, echoed these sentiments, recognizing that Caruth’s authenticity equally influenced his ability to reach the career heights he has.
“Just being himself, figuring out what he wanted to do his whole life, that’s inspiring to hear,” he said. “It inspires me to follow my passion more.”
The event represented a collaboration between the Howard University Esports Association and Viszy Sports. In their own ways, both organizations provide athletes with the resources necessary to succeed in their sport. The university’s Esports community prioritizes competitive gaming, whereas Viszy is an all-in-one sports social media platform. It mainly prides itself on providing athletes with the visibility and opportunities they sometimes lack.
Representatives from the two entities expressed interest in Caruth’s visit, associating it with their core values.
Karis Lewis is the vice president of the university’s Esports Association. The senior computer science major felt that Caruth’s dialogue is a testament to increased popularity of esports.
“It shows that you can go places with esports… esports is not just a nerdy thing that people do,” Lewis said.
Goba Dan-Princewill and Richard Ninamou, co-founders of Vizzy Sports, agreed, attesting that esports is an avenue for spreading awareness of other sports.
“It’s very important to set a precedent. One thing we believe in is that you should always try to be the standard,” Dan-Princewill said.
“We need these platforms to really push student athletes to that next level to give them the opportunity they deserve,” Ninamou added.
Highlighting themes of resilience and consistency, Caruth demonstrated why it’s important to hear from those who once wore similar shoes. With respect to HBCUs and the prevalence of esports, there are various opportunities for students to achieve their goals with no little to no barriers in the way.
Jaiden Thomas is a reporter for HUNewsService.com
