Rajah Caruth entered Daytona needing at least 15 points to stay alive in the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race. He started the night with a strong performance, claiming pole position to set the stage for his championship push.
Caruth then controlled the opening stages, collecting 18 of 20 possible stage points—a critical advantage in the tight Chase standings. The momentum briefly swung in his favor, but a late-race deficit left him short of the points needed to secure his spot for 2026.
The near-miss leaves Caruth’s Chase hopes hanging by a thread ahead of the next race, where every point will matter.
