Shigeaki Hattori, NASCAR Truck Series team owner and former IndyCar driver, dead at 61
Former IndyCar driver and Craftsman Truck Series team owner Shigeaki Hattori has died at the age of 61. Hattori was known to race fans for his career in IndyCar and CART, as well as his Hattori Racing Enterprises organization in NASCAR.
The Huntersville Police Department confirmed this morning that Shigeaki Hattori was involved in a two-vehicle collision on the evening of April 5. Hattori was pronounced dead at the scene. Police do not believe speed or impairment were contributing factors at this time.
The report states that Hattori’s 2025 Toyota Crown crossed the centerline on NC Hwy 73 and hit a 2024 Lexus GX550. The driver of the Lexus went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Born in Okayama, Okayama, Japan, Shigeaki Hattori came to the United States in 1995. He won the Formula Toyota championship in 1994 before making the trip to the Indy Lights series when he was 32 years old.
During his time as a driver, Hattori won two races in Indy Lights. By 1999, he was racing in CART. With stops in IndyCar and NASCAR along the way, Hattori never gave up on his dream of racing.
In more recent years, Hattori was known more as a NASCAR and ARCA team owner. Hattori Racing Enterprises won the 2018 Truck Series championship with Brett Moffitt. Austin Hill raced for the organization from 2019 to 2021. In total, Hattori has 14 Truck Series race wins.
Shigeaki Hattori gave a lot of drivers and crew members opportunities in NASCAR. His influence on the sport and the Truck Series will be missed.
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During the Cup Series race on Sunday, news started to leak out. There were former crew members posting their memories of Shige Hattori online last night. Sadly, the news was confirmed this morning.
Hattori Racing Enterprises statement on Shigeaki Hattori
This morning, the Hattori Racing Enterprises organization posted a statement. Since entering NASCAR and ARCA, the organization made a lot of memories. When Japanese drivers and fans got a taste of stock car racing in the 1990s, it was a great match.
More than most, Shige Hattori kept that Japanese presence in the sport. He did it with great success, too.
“We are heartbroken to confirm that Shigeaki ‘Shige’ Hattori was pronounced deceased on the morning of Saturday, April 5, in Huntersville, N.C., following a motor vehicle accident. He was 61. … 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.”