Rajah Caruth wins Craftsman Truck Series pole award at Indianapolis Raceway Park

For the second time this season, Rajah Caruth is the pole sitter in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, this time on a short track. Last time Caruth was on the pole was back in Las Vegas, he won the race.

A year ago at IRP, Rajah Caruth was P7 in the race. This season he has been more consistent, and a lot faster in the Spire Motorsports equipment. He is coming off a P4 and P10 finish in the last two races. Is he cooking up another win?

While the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series are racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Truck Series is running around the short track, Indianapolis Raceway Park. IRP has been home to some fun races in the past. Tonight could be another great battle.

Repost to congratulate Rajah Caruth on his NASCAR Truck Series POLE at Indianapolis Raceway Park! #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/N0yUK6AWKu

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 19, 2024

“I was honestly surprised. Um, you know, I was enthused with our HendrickCars.com Silverado,” Caruth said after clinching the pole. “Kind of after a long run in practice I’m honestly really surprised by the qualifying speed. So, got to thank the men and women there at Spire Motorsports, Team Chevy … Mr. H, Mrs. Linda and everybody that’s behind me. Hopefully, have a good night today, good night this evening I should say, and something good for my team to think about for the Olympic break.”

Rajah Caruth did have a big swing from practice to qualifying. P23 in practice to P1 in qualifying, whatever the HendrickCars.com team did to the truck, it worked.

Rajah Caruth leads the field at IRP

When Rajah Caruth put up his qualifying time of 22.863, he cleared Tyler Ankrum by 0.049 seconds. That’s a close one. However, things would get even closer for Caruth when Grant Enfinger hit the track.

Enfinger came up 0.017 seconds short of matching Caruth. These three drivers will have their hands full with a talented field behind them.

Ty Majeski, Matt Crafton, Christian Eckes, Daniel Dye, Stewart Friesen, Corey Heim, and Chase Purdy made up the rest of the top-10 in Truck Series qualifying. Majeski is the defending winner from 2023. Enfinger won the 2022 race at IRP.

With his second career pole award locked up, Rajah Caruth will have his eyes on a second career win. WIll he be able to get the job done on the short track in Indy?