JR Motorsports Re-Signs Rajah Caruth for 2027
Caruth will drive JRM's No. 88 Chevrolet full-time in the 2027 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series after a second season with the team.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Motorsports
JR Motorsports has re-signed Rajah Caruth to drive its No. 88 Chevrolet full-time in the 2027 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced the return on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's "The Morning Drive" on November 3, 2026.
Why it matters
The move gives Caruth a full-time ride for a second consecutive season, with a team he has driven for since August. Caruth has no championship and no Chase berth yet, so a stable seat gives him a platform to pursue those goals.
Caruth has two top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 32 O'Reilly starts this season, with 89 laps led and a 17.6 average finish. He ranks 12th in the Chase standings with 2,205 points, though the final standings depend on the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The players
Rajah Caruth
A 24-year-old driver from Washington, D.C., and one of three African-American drivers to win races across NASCAR's top three national series, alongside Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace.
JR Motorsports
A NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series team fielding the No. 88 Chevrolet that Caruth will drive full-time in 2027.
Kelley Earnhardt Miller
A JR Motorsports executive who announced Caruth's return on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The details
Caruth, 24, spent 2023-25 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with GMS Racing and Spire Motorsports, where he recorded his first two career wins. He has driven JRM's No. 88 since the Iowa Speedway race in August and earned his first career pole at Daytona International Speedway that month.
Timeline
August 2026: Caruth began driving JRM's No. 88 entry after Iowa Speedway.
November 3, 2026: Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced Caruth's return.
November 7, 2026: Caruth competes in the Homestead-Miami Speedway season finale.
Season Trajectory
Caruth joins Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace as one of only three African-American drivers to win races across NASCAR's top three national series. A full-time seat with JRM would extend that lineage into the O'Reilly Series, where he is currently ranked 12th in the Chase standings.
Caruth's full-time seat in the No. 88 for 2027 gives fantasy and race-watching audiences a consistent driver to track across a full season. The 2026 Chase standings will set his starting position heading into the Homestead-Miami finale.
The takeaway
Caruth's return shows JR Motorsports is building continuity around him rather than rotating drivers. A second full-time season gives him the consistency needed to compete for wins and a championship.
What happens next
Caruth's full-time 2027 season with JR Motorsports begins with the 2027 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series calendar, with the 2026 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 7, 2026 coming first.
Further reading
For more on the series, see Motorsports coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Speedway Media.
