The former driver of Indycar and owner of the Nascar team, Shigeaki Hattori, died at the age of 61 after a car accident.
Hattori’s death was confirmed on Monday by Huntersville police in North Carolina. The accident in question occurred on Saturday morning.
According to preliminary surveys, Hattori’s vehicle – a Toyota 2025 crown – deployed west when it crossed the median and in the opposite track when it collided with another vehicle. He was declared dead on the scene.
The police do not believe that speed was a problem, and they do not believe that Hattori was driving under the influence.
Hattori ran in the Indycar and Nascar Craftsman Truck series and then stuck with sport by the property.
His Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE) team participated in the Nascar Xfinity series, the Truck series and several Arca Menards series.
The former Indycar pilot, Shigeaki Hattori, died at the age of 61 after a car accident in North Carolina
Hattori ran to Indy Lights before jumping to Indycar and then the Nascar truck series
“We have a broken heart to confirm that Shigeaki” Shige “Hattori was declared who died on Saturday April 5 in Huntersville, in North Carolina, following an engine vehicle accident,” said HRE in a statement on Monday.
“… Shige was known for his relentless motivation, his concentration and his competitive spirit. The possession of a team through Hre and Hattori Motorsports had become both his passion and his work of his life.
“He had a unique gift to constantly inject a light attitude and a unique sense of humor in his race teams that will never be forgotten. We will miss you a lot. Farewell, Shige.
Nascar also published a statement after Hattori’s death: “ Shigeaki Hattori was a passionate runner and a very successful team owner, but beyond all the statistics of his team – who includes a championship of the Nascar series of trucks – Shige was a real beloved member of the garage who worked tirelessly to raise our sport and his people. ”
“We are deeply saddened by his tragic death. Nascar extends his thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends.
Hattori began his racing career as a young man who led Karts. He also briefly run in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in Japan.
His race career in the United States began in 1995 when he moved to the Indy Lights series, participated for five years and winning two victories.
Hattori was then promoted to the Indycar series and ran in certain parts of Four Seasons from 2000 to 2003. He appeared in two Indianapolis 500 – with a peak of 20.
Hattori (R) then became the owner of a race team, winning 14 races in the truck series
After that, he ran a part of two seasons in the Craftsman Truck series from 2004. He participated in ten races before the gloves in 2005.
After three years far from the race, Hattori started Hre in the Arca series – then known as the Nascar K&N series – in 2008. In 2013, his race team was in national level.
As the owner of the 2018 truck series to 2021, Hattori drivers scored 14 victories – six by Brett Moffitt and eight by Austin Hill.