Two black drivers are set to compete in the same race for the first time NASCAR Xfinity series at Richmond
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Jesse Iwuji and Rajah Caruth
NASCAR always has been a white-dominated sport just like any other motorsport racing event due to the huge sum of money that will cost an individual to reach their dream of one day becoming a successful racer. This has to do with the income and wealth inequality that exists amongst the race and ethnic groups around the world.
Alongside most of the major sporting events around the world, NASCAR has been at the forefront of bringing meaningful changes to the sport in terms of diversity and inclusion. The win of Bubba Wallace in Talladega last year only made their efforts more worthwhile as he became only the second-ever black driver to win a cup series race.
Now NASCAR has achieved another historic feat in diversity, as for the first time since 2001 Camping World Truck Series, a NASCAR event will have two Black drivers competing on the grid. The Richmond NASCAR Xfinity series race, ToyotaCare 250, will see Rajah Caruth and Jesse Iwuji competing for a win.
Rajah Caruth will be driving the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing and Jesse Iwuji, an officer in the United States Navy Reserve will be driving the No. 34 Chevrolet Camaro for Jesse Iwuji Motorsports.
“Representation is so important,” Rajah Caruth on NASCAR’s diversity initiatives
Rajah Caruth said that it is important to have minority representation in the track not just at the back of the grid or garage. He backed his argument by suggesting that the face of the relevant is the drivers and having a minority face between them is extremely important. Rajah Caruth added that Cup Series Driver Bubba Wallace and Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton have been the inspiration behind his NASCAR dream and he welcomes the responsibility to be that to other upcoming drivers.
“Representation is so important. It’s especially important in racing for us minorities, just because, yes, we’ve got a lot of us behind the scenes … but the faces of the sport are the drivers, and so to have representation in that avenue, it’s extremely important,” Rajah Caruth said.
“Like, [with] how important [Cup Series driver] Bubba Wallace and [Formula 1 champion] Lewis [Hamilton] were to me as I grew up, seeing them do it made me believe that I could and chase my passion. So to not only be in the field myself, but to share it with Jesse, along with 38 other guys, it’s important and I know the responsibility that brings, and I welcome it,” Rajah Caruth added.
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