Veteran INDYCAR driver Shigeaki Hattori died April 5 in a car accident in Huntersville, North Carolina. He was 61. Photo courtesy of the NTT IndyCar Series.

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Shigeaki “Shige” Hattori, one of eight Japanese-born drivers to compete in the Indianapolis 500, died Saturday, April 5, 2025 in a car accident in Huntersville, N.C. Mr. Hattori was 61.

According to nascar.com, the Huntersville Police Department confirmed Hattori’s death on Monday, April 7. Officers responded to a two-vehicle collision on NC Highway 73 at approximately 9:15 a.m. (EDT) Saturday. According to the release, the department’s preliminary investigation indicated Hattori’s 2025 Toyota Crown was traveling westbound when it crossed the centerline into the oncoming lane and collided with another vehicle.

Hattori was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators do not believe speed or impairment were contributing factors in the crash. However, the incident remains under investigation.

“Everyone at Toyota and TRD, USA is saddened to learn of ‘Shige’ Hattori’s tragic passing,” Tyler Gibbs, president, TRD, USA, said in a statement. “Toyota’s history with Shige spans decades. Through his long run as a driver to his history-making championship success as an owner, Shige’s motivation and work ethic to achieve at the highest level never wavered. His endearing personality was infectious and unforgettable. We are thinking of his family and friends as they process this terrible loss.”

In addition to his INDYCAR career, Hattori competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series before transitioning to team ownership. His Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE) teams made starts over several years in the Xfinity Series but emerged as a contender in the Truck Series, winning the 2018 championship with driver Brett Moffitt.

“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,” HRE said Monday in a statement. “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.”

A native of Okayama in southern Japan, Hattori competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway three times, earning a pair of starts on the famed 2.5-mile oval. After serving as first alternate to the 33-car field in 2001, he finished 20th in 2002 for Bradley Motorsports, completing 197 of 200 laps in the No. 12 Epson Dallara/Infiniti. Hattori was among nine rookies competing in the 86^th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” a class that featured future Indy 500 champions Dario Franchitti of Scotland and Tony Kanaan of Brazil.

The following May, Hattori finished 30th when the fuel system in his No. 5 Epson/A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Toyota failed after 19 laps. That race included fellow-countrymen Tora Takagi, Roger Yasukawa and Shinji Nakano. Those two Indy 500s were among Hattori’s 34 career INDYCAR starts over a four-year span that ended in 2003.

Hattori’s best INDYCAR finish was recorded on Texas Motor Speedway’s high-banked/1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth. Hattori started and finished sixth in the No. 12 Epson Dallara/Infiniti in the Boomtown 500k night race on June 8, 2002. Hattori led 28 of 200 laps (102-129) that evening in what proved to be his final start at “The Great American Speedway.”

Hattori began his career in go-karts before shifting to Formula 2 and 3 racing in Japan. Hattori moved to the U.S. in 1995 at age 32, embarking on an opportunity in Indy Lights _ now known as the INDY NXT by Firestone developmental series. He won races at Homestead-Miami Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., starting in the top three on both occasions for Indy Regency Racing.

Hattori made his INDYCAR debut in 1999 via eight Champ Car World Series starts for Bettenhausen Motorsports. In 2000, he transitioned to Tony George’s fledgling Indy Racing League, scoring four top-10 finishes in five races for Treadway Racing.

Hattori’s INDYCAR career featured rides with five teams utilizing five different engine brands.

Hattori competed in parts of four INDYCAR seasons before exploring the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, the same year Toyota entered NASCAR. Hattori made 10 Truck Series starts before turning his attention to leading Hattori Racing Enterprises.

“I decided, ‘OK, no more,’ and I stopped driving,” Hattori told NASCAR.com in 2022. “Two or three years after, I didn’t do anything. I took some classes at UCLA, traveling and doing nothing with my life. I was thinking, I should do something. I really liked NASCAR racing, and so I decided I should start my race team and put young drivers (in it). So, I started in 2008.”

The team fielded Johnny Sauter, Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain and Ryan Truex among its roster. Hattori scored 14 wins as a Truck Series team-owner from 2018 to 2021 _ six by Moffitt and eight by current Xfinity Series regular Austin Hill.

Hattori also served as an ambassador for NASCAR in Japan, building partnerships with his team and Toyota dealerships, and creating a NASCAR training program for aspiring mechanics there.

“Shigeaki Hattori was a passionate racer and highly successful team-owner, but 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,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by his tragic passing. NASCAR extends its thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends.”