Shigeaki Hattori, a prominent figure in American motorsports and owner of Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE), died in a car crash on Saturday morning, April 5, in Huntersville, North Carolina. He was 61.
According to local authorities, the accident occurred around 9:15 a.m. on N.C. Highway 73 near McGuire Nuclear Station Road. Hattori, a resident of Mooresville, was driving a 2025 Toyota Crown when he crossed the center line and collided with an oncoming 2024 Lexus GX550. He died at the scene. The driver of the Lexus was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators do not suspect speed or impairment as contributing factors.
A Racing Legacy
Hattori was originally from Japan and began his motorsports career in go-karts before moving up to Formula 2 and 3 in his home country. He won the Japan Formula Toyota Championship in 1994 and later moved to the United States to pursue open-wheel racing. His career highlights include two Indy Lights wins in 1998 and two starts in the Indianapolis 500.
He transitioned into stock car racing in 2005 and founded Hattori Racing Enterprises in 2008. Under his leadership, the team competed in several major NASCAR series, including the Xfinity Series, the ARCA Menards Series, and most notably, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
From 2018 to 2021, Hattori’s team scored 14 wins in the Truck Series. Their crowning achievement came in 2018, when Brett Moffitt and the No. 16 team captured the Truck Series championship in only their second full-time season.
Tributes Pour In
HRE released a heartfelt statement on Monday confirming Hattori’s death. “Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus, and competitive spirit,” the team said. “Team ownership through HRE and Hattori Motorsports had become both his passion and his life’s work. He had a unique gift to inject humor and a light-hearted attitude into his race teams that will never be forgotten. We’ll miss you dearly. Farewell, Shige.”
NASCAR also honored Hattori’s legacy, calling him “a passionate racer and highly successful team owner.” The organization added, “Beyond all his team’s statistics — including a NASCAR Truck Series championship — Shige was a genuine, beloved member of the garage who worked tirelessly to lift our sport and his people.”
Former colleagues Scott Zipadelli and Mike Greci, who helped Hattori start his NASCAR Truck Series team in 2017, remembered his loyalty and enthusiasm. “We won six races and a championship in 2018,” Zipadelli recalled. “He was a lifelong Toyota TRD racer and stayed loyal to the brand despite other opportunities. Even after we moved on, Shige would always come by to say hi and check in.”Shigeaki Hattori’s influence extended far beyond the track. As a driver, team owner, mentor, and friend, he was admired for his integrity, commitment, and genuine care for the people around him. His unwavering dedication to the sport, his loyalty to Toyota, and his tireless support of young talent made him a respected figure in the NASCAR community and a role model to many.
Though his life was tragically cut short, the legacy he built will continue to inspire racers and fans alike. From his early days in Japan to becoming a championship-winning team owner in America, Hattori’s journey was one of passion, perseverance, and heart.
