NASCAR driver and team owner dies in highway crash
On average, nearly 120 people die in car crashes every day. But a recent crash in North Carolina left the motorsports community grieving. Retired NASCAR team owner and racing veteran Shigeaki Hattori appears to have crossed into oncoming traffic and was killed.
The colorful, successful life of Shige Hattori
NASCAR is full of personalities. And even there, Hattori stood out. He was born in Okayama, Japan in 1963. His career as a racing driver was as varied as it was successful. He began in carts, Formula 2, and Formula 3, before winning Japan’s Formula Toyota championship. He moved to the U.S. when he transferred over to Indy Car and finally the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Hattori drove in the Indy Racing League from 2000 until 2003. He started in 26 races, including twice at the Indy 500, leading 28 laps total. In NASCAR, Hattori drove the N0. 9 Toyota Tundra sponsored by Aisin in the Craftsman Truck Series during the 2005 season before graduating to team owner.
Hattori built on his experience as a driver to found Hattori Racing Enterprises. Hattori won the 2018 Camping World Truck Series championship with Brett Moffit behind the wheel of his No. 16 Toyota.
The racing community remembers Shigeaki Hattori
HRE remembered, “Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus and competitive spirit.” The team added, “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.”
NASCAR added, “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.”
The tragic death of a NASCAR fixture
Hattori remained loyal to Toyota, even when other manufactures courted his successful NASCAR Truck team. On the morning of Saturday, April 5th, he took his brand new Toyota Crown sedan for a drive in Huntersville, North Carolina. At approximately 9:15 he crossed the yellow line on State Highway 73 and collided with an oncoming Lexus GX550 SUV. The Lexus driver went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Hattori was declared dead at the scene.
