By Christian Koelle, Staff Writer
Saturday Night was a night full of success stories in the final stand-alone event for the ARCA Menards Series East. Rajah Caruth was one of three drivers in the top-five to tally his career-best finish.
Making his ARCA Menards Series East debut at New Smyrna earlier this year, Caruth has been a part of a wild roller-coaster season that hit its high note Saturday Night at Southern National Motorsports Park. Caruth battled hard alongside drivers like Daniel Dye, Joey Iest, Parker Retzlaff, among others. He was able to hold off Retzlaff for the third position but still found himself a lap down as Smith lapped him before the checkers was displayed.
“It’s weird to get lapped there and still finish third,” said Caruth. “I am really proud of this REV Racing/Max Segal Racing group, but I hate to get beat like that though. I am really learning that I need to be more disciplined behind the steering wheel and just not charging as hard throughout the run as the tires age but overall, a solid night. We got some good points that we lost at Dover and we’ll take this momentum to Iowa in a month and a half and keep going from there.”
In the small period of time, Caruth has been using the races this season as learning periods as he looks to move up the ranks in NASCAR. With a strong finish Saturday, Caruth was able to learn some things that he’ll take to the races that finish the season that aligns with the national ARCA series where he’ll race alongside his REV Racing teammate Nick Sanchez. On Saturday, Caruth feels discipline was the number one thing he learned.
“Discipline,” said Caruth. “That was the biggest takeaway from the night. Just not slipping tires, not charging the corners too hard, and just keeping your race car and saving it for the end. That is the biggest thing I learned tonight but this car is all thanks to Rev racing and everyone on this team. I wish we would’ve run a little bit better but best run of the year so far.”
As noted above, the ARCA Menards Series East returns to action on July 24th at Iowa Speedway alongside the ARCA Menards Series. That race will mark the Iowa Speedway debut for both Caruth and Sanchez so the two may team up to benefit both drivers’ long-term run towards a championship.
Best finish so far this year. Learning and trying to improve, thankful for this opportunity. Onto Iowa. Thank you @Max_Siegel and @RevRacin! https://t.co/LlFueBC3uy
— Rajah Kirby Caruth (@rajahcaruth_) June 13, 2021
Photo: Brandon Zumbach