Rajah Caruth will pilot a special throwback paint scheme in the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Darlington Raceway, as the 20-year-old will pay tribute to Wendell Scott.
The paint scheme represents, what Scott called, “the best car I had ever drove,” in an interview with Ned Jarrett on an episode of Inside NASCAR. The car was a 1971 Mercury Cyclone that had been tuned by Leonard Wood. Unfortunately, Scott never got the chance to show what the car could do, as he was swept up in a crash on lap eight of the 188-lap event.
While the scheme represents Scott’s best opportunity behind the wheel, it also represents the incredible perseverance that the driver displayed over the course of his 13-year NASCAR Cup Series career, as Scott suffered substantial injuries in the crash, which led to him spending 32 days in the hospital recovering from multiple fractures in his leg, as well as other injuries to his knees, pelvis, and ribs.
Determined to go out on his own terms, Scott returned to action later in the 1973 season to compete in one final race before retiring from competition.
“Although this car is associated with tragic circumstances to some extent, to me it represents a dream that came true,” Explained Warrick Scott, the grandson of Wendell Scott and CEO of the Wendell Scott Foundation. “It was the best car that my grandfather could put together being unsponsored throughout his career, and he willed it happen. Just like anything else in the world you never know what will happen, but for him the pursuit of his purpose made it all it worth it.”
Caruth, who has carried the Wendell Scott Foundation as the primary sponsor on his GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado this season, says it is a truly special throwback paint scheme.
“Having the opportunity to run a throwback scheme to Wendell Scott that honors his legacy next weekend is really special,” Caruth said. “That paint scheme in particular is very special for the entire family, and having their support for not only this race, but the entire season, is incredible. Being able to carry on his legacy is truly a blessing and a dream come true. Hopefully we are able to make him proud and give this truck the good run that he was looking for all those years ago.”
Scott was a true trailblazer in the NASCAR Cup Series, and he was a driver that defied the odds on the track throughout the course of his NASCAR Hall of Fame career.
Caruth, a native of Washington, D.C., sits 18th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver standings after the opening seven races of his rookie campaign.
As Caruth continues to learn behind the wheel, he has begun to put together some promising runs on the track for the GMS Racing team. The young racer finished 13th at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, which kicked off a three-race top-20 finishing streak.
Caruth finished 19th and Texas Motor Speedway the following week, and then recorded his season-best finish of 11th at the Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
While Darlington is typically a track that suits veteran racers, Caruth will look to break through for a solid run as he honors Wendell Scott and the Scott family in the Throwback event.
