NASCAR champion owner Shigeaki Hattori dead at age 61

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Shigeaki Hattori, the versatile journeyman driver turned NASCAR championship owner, has died. He was 61.

The Huntersville (N.C.) Police Department confirmed Monday that Shigeaki Hattori died in a head-on crash. It happened Saturday morning on North Carolina Highway 73, near McGuire Nuclear Station Road.

Shigeaki Hattori came to the United States from Japan in the 1990s with the dream of being an open-wheel racer. He won two Indy NXT races and made two starts in the Indianapolis 500 before transitioning to stock car racing.

In 2004 and 2005, Hattori made starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Then, three years later, he formed Hattori Racing Enterprises and began fielding his own entries in the series.

The effort paid off in time. HRE won 14 races and claimed the 2018 Truck championship with Brett Moffitt behind the wheel.

HRE has seen its share of talent, including Christopher Bell, Austin Hill and Tyler Ankrum among others.

Shigeaki Hattori himself was well-liked in the garage and admired by many, especially those who worked for HRE. The team issued this statement in memoriam:

“Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus and competitive spirit. 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.

We’ll miss you dearly. Farewell, Shige.”

Tyler Gibbs, the head of manufacturer partner TRD USA, Toyota Gazoo Racing, issued this statement on the passing of Shigeaki Hattori:

“Everyone at Toyota and TRD, U.S.A. is saddened to learn of Shige Hattori’s tragic passing. Toyota’s history with Shige spans decades. Through his long run as a driver to his history-making championship success as an owner, Shige’s motivation and work ethic to achieve at the highest level never wavered. His endearing personality was infectious and unforgettable. We are thinking of his family and friends as they process this terrible loss.”

NASCAR also issued a statement on the passing of Shigeaki Hattori:

“Shigeaki Hattori was a passionate racer and highly successful team owner, but beyond all his team’s statistics – which includes a NASCAR Truck Series championship – Shige was a genuine, beloved member of the garage who worked tirelessly to lift our sport and his people. We are deeply saddened by his tragic passing. NASCAR extends its thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends.”