Rajah Caruth’s Daytona effort finished 32nd after a late spin, but the rookie still clinched a spot in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase.
Victory‑styled start and point haul
Caruth opened the day with pole at Daytona, accelerating the JRM No. 88 to the front of a tight 1‑2‑3 mount with teammate Carson Kvapil and Justin Allgaier trailing. He capitalized on early stage momentum, earning 18 of the 20 possible points, a critical boost as rivals Brent Crews and William Sawalich encountered damage.
Three laps to go: a push‑induced wreck
With only three laps remaining, a sideways push from Allgaier sent Caruth’s car twisting off the line, spinning and clashing with the wall. The incident left the vehicle battered and carved a sharp drop from the front‑row position to 32nd in the overall finish.
Post‑race reaction on pit road
On pit‑lane floor, Caruth shared the floor with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Allgaier. “I was in a great spot, came to a white flag or two, didn’t know if it was a bad push or not. I hate that we tore the car up when we were with the best chances,” he said. “But we still make the Chase. Thanks to our strong engines and the whole team’s effort.”
Season snapshot and Chase implications
Splitting time between the JRM No. 88 and Jordan Anderson Racing’s No. 32 Chevrolet, Caruth already owns a career‑best second at Iowa. Daytona’s result ensures that all four JRM full‑time drivers are in the Chase, with Caruth as the No. 12 final seed after the reset and the No. 3 seed in the owners’ standings.
Looking ahead
Caruth acknowledges the disappointment in the crash but remains focused on rebuilding a “bullet” for the next race, reinforcing JRM’s resolve to stay competitive as the season progresses.
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