Shigeaki Hattori, a two-time competitor in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR team owner, has passed away due to injuries suffered in a car accident.
The two vehicle collision occurred on the morning of Saturday, April 5 in North Carolina, and Hattori was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hattori, 61, competed in Indy Lights from 1996 to 1998, then moved up to CART and IndyCar on a part-time basis.
He drove for various teams during his five years at the top level of the sport, including AJ Foyt Racing in his final racing year in 2003.
Hattori logged Indy 500 finishes of 20th and 30th position in his two starts, becoming only one of eight Japanese drivers to compete in the famous race.
Hattori transitioned to stock car racing after that, driving a few races in the Craftsman Truck Series before becoming a team owner for the same series.
His efforts culminated in a Truck Series championship in 2018, with Brett Moffitt earning six victories that season and the title.
Tributes
News of Hattori’s passing was first shared by the Huntersville Police Department, then was later confirmed by IndyCar and Hattori Racing.
A statement was shared by his Hattori Racing team on Monday morning paid tribute to his life:
“We are heartbroken to confirm that Shigeaki “Shige” Hattori was pronounced deceased on the morning of Saturday, April 5 in Huntersville, NC following a motor vehicle accident. He was 61.
“A native of Okayama, Japan, Shige moved to the United States in the 1990s to pursue his dream of becoming an open-wheel race car driver. He won two Indy NXT by Firestone races and made two starts in the Indianapolis 500.
“His passion for motorsports ultimately led him to NASCAR, where he competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2004 and 2005. He transitioned to team ownership in 2008 and founded Hattori Racing Enterprises. He won 14 NCTS races as a team owner and reached the ultimate achievement by winning the 2018 series championship.
“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.”
