Professional NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth received a hero’s welcome in his mother’s hometown of Barrouallie, where he shared personal reflections on his career, the importance of education, and his excitement to reconnect with his Vincentian heritage. Addressing a crowd of “new and old family,” Caruth expressed his joy at returning to the island for the first time since he was a toddler. “It’s great to be back. I’ve heard a lot of stories from my mom… the last time I was here, I really don’t remember. I was four or five years old,” Caruth shared. He noted that his maternal roots are in Barrouallie and his paternal roots are in Stubbs, and he is eager to “create some new memories as an adult”,. Beyond family time, Caruth aims to use his visit to promote the island, stating, “hopefully i’ll get more people from the States to come down here and have a great trip like we’re about to have”. Drawing on his background as a middle and high school track athlete who ran the 400m and 800m, Caruth offered advice to the local youth involved in sports. He emphasized that success is determined by what happens outside of formal practice. “The real difference that you make is what you do on your personal time, whether it’s eating right, getting your sleep, or just putting in extra practice,” Caruth explained. He noted that this same discipline translates to the racetrack: “Everybody does team practices. It’s how you sell yourself apart and do the extra little things to be excellent”. He encouraged youngsters not to focus on accolades but on the “process and the craft,” asserting that the journey should be the primary driver of success. Caruth, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Management from Winston-Salem State University, spoke passionately