While full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers, regardless of their career experience at NASCAR's top level, are ineligible from competing in postseason races in both the Craftsman Truck Series and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, full-time drivers from those two lower series are eligible to run any national series' postseason races.
Rajah Caruth, who made a late charge to qualify for the O'Reilly Series postseason in his first year as a full-time driver, splitting time with both JR Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing, spent three full seasons in the Truck Series before landing in the O'Reilly Series full-time this season. In two of those seasons, he competed full-time for Spire Motorsports.
The late Kyle Busch was supposed to compete at Nashville Superspeedway back in late May, but after his passing less than a week and a half prior, Caruth took over behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet and placed second at the same track where he had earned his second career win in 2025.
He hadn't been back in the series until this past weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He returned to Spire Motorsports for this race, although behind the wheel of the team's other full-time entry, the No. 77 Chevrolet. He was involved in a late wreck which knocked him out of contention.
Rajah Caruth replacement confirmed for Phoenix Truck race
With just four races on the 2026 O'Reilly Series postseason schedule, and Caruth having yet to record a top 10 finish in the playoffs, he finds himself 12th, last among the championship contenders, in the standings. While his title hopes are effectively over for the year, he is set to focus exclusively on the O'Reilly Series from now until the season concludes.
Caruth has no more Truck Series starts lined up for the remainder of the year. This weekend, it's Spire Motorsports development driver Tristan McKee who is set to pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet at Phoenix Raceway.
McKee has made three Truck Series starts since turning 16 years old in August, and he has turned heads in each of those starts, placing eighth at Richmond Raceway, sixth at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and fifth at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The 2026 ARCA Menards Series East champion is widely believed to be on his way to a Spire Motorsports Cup ride at some point within the next few years.
While a full-time Truck Series ride has not been confirmed for 2027, he is set to return to the team for an expanded schedule in the No. 7 Chevrolet, not the No. 77 Chevrolet, next year. Spire Motorsports have already announced that NASCAR veteran Kasey Kahne is set to end an eight-year retirement and run the No. 77 truck full-time.
Live coverage of the Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 is set to be provided by Fox Sports 2 from Phoenix Raceway beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET this Friday, October 16. Begin a free trial of FuboTV today and catch all of the action from Avondale, Arizona!
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