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Akinori Ogata Starts NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Seth Eggert | Last updated Feb 7, 2025 6:28 PM ET

Veteran Japanese driver Akinori Ogata announced Friday the creation of his own NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team, Akinori Performance.

Ogata created the team in partnership with longtime sponsor KYOWA Industrial. The new team will attempt to make its debut in the Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 22.

The Yokohama, Japan native will utilize the No. 63 on his Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Ogata chose the 63 to honor Mike Mittler. It was in Mittler’s No. 63 that Ogata made five of his 15 career Truck Series starts to date. Mittler passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer.

"This is a huge opportunity for me, but this will be a huge challenge this season," said Ogata. "I have a great Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and great help. I'm ready to fight all season."

Ogata joins Shige Hattori as a Japanese native to own a Craftsman Truck Series team. The 50-year-old leads Japanese drivers in starts in both the Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. Ogata sits 31^st all-time in National Touring Series starts by internationally-born drivers.

.@NASCAR_Trucks Series NEWS: @AkinoriOgata has formed his own Truck team, Akinori Performance.

Ogata's No. 63 Toyota will debut at @ATLMotorSpdwy. Ogata has 25 combined starts in @NASCAR_Xfinity & Trucks.

Kenko Miura will drive the road courses. Remaining schedule TBA#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/EaZn43EjGE
— Seth Eggert (@SethEggert91) February 7, 2025

In the announcement it was included that fellow Japanese driver from the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, Kenko Miura, would compete on the road courses. The Truck Series will compete at three road courses in 2025, including Lime Rock Park, Watkins Glen Int’l, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Miura has one previous Truck start at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2022.

The complete limited schedule for Akinori Performance will be announced later.

The Fr8 208 is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. The race will also be broadcast on both the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

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

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