Rajah Caruth becomes 3rd Black driver to win NASCAR series race - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Rajah Caruth made a promise after taking the checkered flag in the Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

«There's more to come, for sure,» the 21-year-old Spire Motorsports driver said moments after securing his first NASCAR Truck Series win from the pole position in Friday night's race.

An alumnus of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, Caruth is the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race, joining Hall of Famer Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace.

Wallace took to social media to congratulate Caruth, calling it a «a monumental win for our sport!»

What a massive win for the little bro!

What a monumental win for our sport!

Proud is an understatement!

LFG!!! <a href=«https://twitter.com/rajahcaruth_?ref_src=» https:>@rajahcaruth_

It was a day for firsts for Caruth, who earlier on Friday won the initial Truck Series pole of his career by 0.001 seconds over Christian Eckes. It was Caruth's pit crew that helped decide the issue.

During a 62-lap green-flag run to the finish, crew chief Chad Walter called Caruth's No. 71 Chevrolet to pit road early in the cycle. The over-the-wall crew performed a flawless stop, and after other contenders made their stops during the cycle, Caruth inherited the lead on Lap 114 with an advantage over Taylor Gray of nearly two seconds.

That margin enabled Caruth, who led 38 laps, to finish 0.851 seconds in front of fast-closing Tyler Ankrum, who passed Gray for the second spot on Lap 120.

«It's surreal,» Caruth said. «Thanks so much to [sponsor] HendrickCars.com and Mr. H [Hendrick] for putting me in this thing all year, and with the men and women at Spire.

»So many people have helped me get to this point, and I can't believe it. I just stayed cool.