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Shigeaki “Shige” Hattori, whose team won the 2018 Nascar Craftsman Truck Championship, passed away on Saturday after a car accident in North Carolina. He was 61.
Nascar said on Monday morning: “Shigeaki Hattori was a passionate racer and very successful team owner, but above all his team’s statistics – which includes a Nascar trucking championship championship – was a real, beloved member of the garage who worked tirelessly to lift our sport and his people.
The Huntersville (North Carolina) police division mentions that its preliminary investigation indicates that Hattori’s vehicle crossed the midline in oncoming traffic and collided with a vehicle. Hattori was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to police, investigators do not believe that speed or disability contributed factors to the accident on NC Highway 73 about 20 miles north of the center of Charlotte.
Hattori founded Hattori Racing Enterprises in 2008 after his driving career that made him compete in 33 Indycar races, including the 2002 and ’03 Indianapolis 500, and 10 Nascar Craftsman Truck Series in 2005.
Hattori’s team competed in the Truck series in 2013 and 2015-24. His team competed in Xfinity Races in 2014-15 and 2019-21.
His truck team started 14 races in 212. Brett Moffitt won six races with Hattori in 2108 and claimed the series title that season. Austin Hill took over the ride next season and won eight races of 2019-21 and finished as high as the fifth place in 2019.
Hattori’s team started winning in 72 xfinity. Hill gave the team its best Xfinity result when he was fifth on Kansas in October 2020.
Hattori Racing Enterprises issued a statement on Monday morning.
“Shige was known for his relentless driving force, focus and competitive spirit. Team possession by (Hattori Racing Enterprises) and Hattori Motorsports became his passion and his life work. He had a unique gift to constantly spray a light-hearted attitude and one-of-a-kind humor in his race team that would never be forgotten.
