WSSU’s NASCAR program brings rising star Rajah Caruth back to campus for marketing event
Winston-Salem State University’s NASCAR Campus Lab Program students got firsthand confirmation from one of their own that careers in the racing industry are available – even for newcomers to the sport.
Rajah Caruth, an alumnus and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver, signed autographs and spoke with students and members of the WSSU community at the program’s “Beyond the Track: NASCAR Uncovered” celebration on April 1, which drew more than 400 people.
Inflatable slides, food trucks and raffle prizes were part of the fun at the intramural field, where students danced to music on a sunny, 80-degree afternoon. Several NASCAR vehicles, including the motorsports management department’s No. 24 stock car wrapped in WSSU branding, were displayed throughout the grounds.
While Caruth mingled and signed autographs under a large tent, NASCAR human resources representatives provided information about careers in the racing industry.
“It’s truly inspiring to see our students so engaged,” said WSSU Chancellor Bonita J. Brown. “This experience reflects the meaningful opportunities we are creating to connect students with real-world pathways.”
The NASCAR success of Caruth, 23, a 2024 motorsports management graduate, has been an inspiration to current program members, who view him as a role model. In the current O’Reilly season, Caruth drives the No. 88 car for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, JR Motorsports.
Caruth did not have the opportunity to participate in the Campus Lab Program, which launched in 2025, a year after he graduated.
“I have a lot of great memories here,” said Caruth, who lives in Concord. “To see more students involved and chasing that dream to work in sports is cool. I’m very proud to see it, for sure.”
“Beyond the Track” was planned, organized and executed by the program’s 12 students this spring. Participants are chosen by NASCAR in the fall through a process that includes video submissions and interviews.
“We’ve been planning this event for about three months now,” said campus lab student Jaedon Kearney, a photographer and a communications major from Rocky Mount. “We’ve had some ups and downs, but it’s gone well.”
“We wanted to bring students out to have fun, of course,” he continued. “But we also wanted to let them know NASCAR offers many opportunities for success.”
Caruth said the motorsports management education he received at WSSU has been valuable.
“It’s great because it adds dimensions to what I do as a driver,” Caruth said. “You can’t be a one-trick pony, so it’s important to have those skills.”
Students in the lab program are introduced to business careers in marketing, administration and media. Those who complete the one-semester course receive $3,500, and the group’s case study winner earns an additional $1,500.
The WSSU program, designed to connect NASCAR with HBCUs, was NASCAR’s first in North Carolina and second in the nation.
“In NASCAR, there’s something for everybody,” said Dr. Clay Harshaw, associate professor of motorsports management. “We hope to grow this program.”
The campus celebration capped an exciting week for students, who traveled to the March 29 NASCAR Series Cup race in Martinsville, Virginia, where they attended a drivers’ meeting, met with NASCAR officials in the media center and visited the Fox Sports trailer.
They also had the opportunity to shoot video and photos on pit road and sit with fans in the stands for a well-rounded experience.
“That experience was amazing,” said campus lab student Bryce McCutcheon, a communications major from Colorado. “I’d never been to a track or a race. It was amazing to be in the pits, see the crews change tires and hear how loud it is down on the track.”
Another campus lab student, motorsports management major Zamore Williamson of Greensboro, is preparing for a career in marketing. She greeted Caruth, escorted him into the event and helped coordinate media interviews.
Williamson said the program exposed students to more opportunities within NASCAR that she didn’t realize existed.
“I didn’t know there were this many options within the field, she said. “I knew marketing was what I wanted to do. Now, I know there are more options and bigger roles. It’s been very enjoyable and a chance to connect with a lot of people.”
It’s been a great ride for McCutcheon, who knew little about WSSU before arriving from Denver. He said his faith and a campus Bible study group were the decisive factors in bringing him to WSSU.
“Now, I’m working with NASCAR,” he said. “I just showed up and took that risk. It’s been nothing but blessings.”
Other WSSU students in the NASCAR Campus Lab Program include: Cole Boykin, Jayda Carson, Jynez Davis, Nyla Harris Bradley, Josiah Johnson, Justin Jones, Raiana Obie, Sydney Price and X'Zavier Stephens-McIntosh.
