Rajah Caruth is set to return to JR Motorsports this weekend at Iowa Speedway, taking over the No. 88 Chevrolet for the final stretch of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season,. Caruth will remain in the seat for the final two regular-season races and the entirety of the 10-race postseason.
Caruth was originally named the primary replacement for Connor Zilisch, who moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing following a dominant 10-win season. However, Caruth’s initial agreement with JR Motorsports only covered 23 of the 33 scheduled races. The remaining 10 starts were allocated to Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Chase Elliott.
Most recently, Chase Elliott piloted the No. 88 to a fourth-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, contributing to the first-ever 1-2-3-4 finish for a single team in the history of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
As he returns to his primary ride, Caruth faces a high-stakes battle to qualify for the playoffs in his first full season. He currently sits 20 points below the cut line with only two races remaining in the regular season: this weekend at Iowa and the following race at Daytona International Speedway.
If Caruth manages to bridge the gap and qualify, he will be driving for a No. 88 team that currently ranks third in the owner standings, providing him with a strong platform for a deep postseason run.
To remain eligible for the driver playoffs despite not running the No. 88 full-time, Caruth secured a separate 10-race deal with Jordan Anderson Racing. He completed his final start in the No. 32 Chevrolet at Indianapolis, where he finished 22nd.
With Caruth transitioning back to JR Motorsports, Carson Brown—an 18-year-old development driver for Richard Childress Racing—is scheduled to make his series debut in the No. 32 car at Iowa. Brown has been impressive in the ARCA Menards Series this year, recording one win and an average finish of 2.5 across six starts.
How to Watch The Hy-Vee PERKS 250 at Iowa Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, with live coverage beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET on the CW Network
