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NASCAR Truck Champion Team Owner Shigeaki Hattori Passes at 61
Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver, and team owner Shigeaki Hattori has passed away at the age of 61.

The owner of Hattori Racing Enterprises, competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, was pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident on April 5, according to a Facebook post by the Huntersville Police Department.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2025 Toyota Crown, operated by Shigeaki Hattori of Mooresville (originally from Japan), was traveling westbound on NC Hwy 73 when it crossed the centerline into the oncoming lane and collided with a 2024 Lexus GX550,” the post stated.

The police department also shared that neither speed nor impairment was believed to be a factor in the crash.

The Lexus driver was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Japanese competitor made is move into North American motorsports with CART in 1999. Competing in the NTT IndyCar Series over the next four years, he qualified twice for the Indianapolis 500 and recorded a career best finish of sixth at Texas Motor Speedway.

In 2004, Hattori switched to stock truck racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Germain Racing. Later, he opened his own team with Hattori Racing Enterprises, earning 14 victories in the Truck series and a 2018 championship with Brett Moffitt. The team rescinded back to a part-time schedule last year, and has not attempted a start yet in the 2025 season.

The team posted an announcement Monday morning of his passing.

“Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus and competitive spirit,” said the post. “Team ownership through HRE and Hattori Motorsports had become both his passion and his life’s work. He had a unique gift to constantly inject a light-hearted attitude and one-of-a-kind sense of humor into his race teams that will never be forgotten.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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